With so many CBD oil products emerging on the market, it’s only natural to wonder: how is CBD oil actually made? You might see various CBD products in stores, cannabis dispensaries, and online — but what goes into making a premium, high-quality CBD oil that you truly trust?  

 

Most CBD oil is made by extracting the beneficial parts of the hemp plant and leaving behind the unusable parts of the plant, like the stalks and stems. This extracted material is then combined with a carrier oil, like olive oil or MCT oil to help with absorption and to make dosing more consistent. There are several extraction methods used in the cannabis industry to extract cannabinoids and terpenes, but not all CBD oil is created equal. In this article, we’ll break down the fascinating process of how Equilibria CBD oil is made!

 

How is CBD oil made? Learn the process behind our premium CBD oil

 

Cultivation

Here at Equilibria, we know that premium CBD starts at the very beginning — with proper seed genetics. We are proud to partner with a 1,100 acre farm located in Boulder, CO and all of our CBD is sourced from this one farm. It’s important to us that our hemp is from one single source, that way it’s fully traceable and you know exactly what you’re getting and where it comes from.

 

Our farm is organic, non-GMO, and run by a team of expert scientists and doctors with 30+ years experience in seed genetics! Our hemp plants are specifically bred to provide the highest CBD and cannabinoid content possible, while being naturally low in THC (under 0.3% THC). Each hemp plant is closely monitored during its life-cycle and undergoes constant in-house testing. From a tiny seed to a fully-grown hemp plant, our hemp is treated with the utmost care every step of the way!.

 

Harvest

Another unique part of Equilibria’s process: our team hand-harvests only the flower portion of the plant. Why only the flower portion? Because the most beneficial part of the hemp plant is contained here. The flower is where you find a majority of the trichomes, which are the tiny hair-like structures that hold the plant’s medicinal compounds, like cannabinoids and terpenes.  Learn more about terpenes and their special role in our blog post, What Are Cannabis Terpenes And What Do They Do?

 

We never use stalks, stems, seeds – only the most potent part of the plant: the flower. Because we harvest our plants using just the flower portion, Equilibria CBD products have about 3-5x more terpenes and cannabinoids than most products on the market!  

 

Extraction

Once the flower portion of the hemp plant is harvested, it’s time to move onto the next step: extraction.  

 

The purpose of extraction is to separate the plant compounds even further so we keep beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes yet leave behind any remaining plant material that isn’t useful. Here at Equilibria, we utilize a subcritical CO2 extraction method for our full-spectrum CBD oil.

 

Subcritical extraction is a method that is considered gentler than other methods of extraction (like butane or ethanol) because this method uses lower temperatures and pressures. The idea with subcritical extraction is to extract the hemp plant very gently. We don’t want to disturb or lose any of the fragile trichomes, which can happen if the plant is over-stressed or handled improperly.  

 

There are a few different types of extracted CBD on the market. You may see products labeled as “Broad-Spectrum CBD” or “Isolate CBD”, and while these may sound like good options, you really want to be looking for “Full-Spectrum CBD” because this style of CBD offers the greatest therapeutic benefits.  

 

Broad-Spectrum or Isolate CBD

Broad-Spectrum CBD means that an additional extraction process has taken place to remove the THC from the formula. The downfall of removing the THC is that you don’t get the amplifying benefits that THC has to offer.  Including even a trace amount of THC in your CBD product can help it to work more effectively in the body! 

 

Another popular form of CBD is “Isolate CBD”, which means that the CBD has been stripped away from all the other parts of the plant. When you buy products labeled as Isolate or Broad-Spectrum, it’s often difficult to see desired results for stress and sleep, because folks often need large doses (around 1000-2000mg) to see any effect.  

 

Full-Spectrum CBD

Equilibria CBD for women features “full-spectrum” hemp plant extract, which means that it contains a full range of beneficial terpenes and cannabinoids, including a trace amount of THC. The trace amount of THC in our formula acts as an “interpreter” and gives our body “instructions” for how to utilize CBD in the body.  

 

When you combine CBD and a trace amount of THC, this is called “The Entourage Effect”, which is a synergistic effect explaining that the plant compounds work better when combined, rather than when taken alone.  

 

Final Production & Testing

Once Equilibria’s full-spectrum CBD has been extracted and combined with the MCT oil base, it’s ready to be bottled up and sent out for testing.  All Equilibria products undergo extensive in-house testing every step of the way + also 3rd-party lab tests to ensure there are no pesticides, microbials, heavy metals, or residual solvents. Our lab results (often called Certificates of Analysis or COA’s) are available on our website so you can feel confident that your CBD products are safe, and there are no fluffs or fillers.  

 

Farm to Home

Here at Equilibria, we want you to have a true farm-to-home experience. It’s not just enough to provide you with high-quality, organic CBD right to your door — we want you to feel connected to our partner farm and have confidence that you’re getting premium hemp grown right here in the US. 

If you’re brand new to the CBD world and aren’t sure where to begin, buying CBD oil is a great place to start. You can check out our Regular Strength Daily Drops, which feature 300mg of full-spectrum CBD. We also have a Get Started Quiz that you can take to receive a free personalized CBD routine tailored to your specific health goals and lifestyle. Equilibria also believes in unlimited dosage support, so if you get stuck or need help at any point, you can email our Certified Wellness Coaches at wellness@myeq.com.