Cannabidiol, or CBD, is but one of the many chemical compounds in cannabis. It is an increasingly popular product in alternative medicine. However, its relative novelty and newness, combined with questions about its legality, means that most consumers have no idea what they’re looking for except for the hottest health-related product on the market. Here are four things you should know before you buy CBD products.
The Difference Between Purity, Volume and Concentration
The concentration of cannabidiol is probably the most important factor in determining which product is right for your treatment regimen. The CBD percentage volume tells you what percentage of the total volume of the product is CBD. The percentage volume normally ranges between 0.1% and 0.25%. A lower percentage volume equals a lower concentration. Purity is different from both of the first two factors. Purity levels refer to how much CBD oil there is relative to everything else there is in the product. The purity level goes down as they add things like preservatives, solvents, coloring and sweeteners. Depending on the source and manufacturing process used, the purity could be brought down by traces of pesticides and fertilizer from the original source, as well.
The Different Forms CBD Products Can Take
The purest CBD products are in “oil” form. Tinctures are popular but come in a variety of concentrations. Capsules can be found in a variety of concentrations. A major selling point for these is how easy they are to take since the capsule renders it tasteless and odorless, and you can take them wherever you go. Gum is low concentration but discrete to use. You can find these with flavorings to make them easier to take. Topical CBD oil products provide slow relief for various conditions, but can be expensive.
Mislabeling Is Depressingly Common
One study found that around two thirds of CBD products sold online are mislabeled. In general, products were not as concentrated as promised. An FDA analysis of 24 products found that only 2 contained the amount of CBD listed on the bottle. Most were lacking, while some had none at all.
This undercuts the potential therapeutic effects of cannabidiol. The best CBD products are accurately labeled, delivering the amount of the compound you expect and having the intended effect. You can tell who is offering what they’re promising by the fact they discuss on their website how each batch of oil is tested. The best products are tested for purity and quality by a third party to avoid a conflict of interest.
Why Sourcing and Production Methods Matter
You should give preference to CBD oil from plants grown without pesticides, artificial fertilizers or other harmful chemicals. Someone could claim that the product is 100% organic to meet customer expectations, but you should look for third party certifications that the product comes up clean for toxins in purity tests.
However, the chemicals in the end product may not come from the field, but the manufacturing process itself. Extraction is the process of pulling CBD oil from the flower. This may be done using hexane, propane, butane, ethanol or organic ethanol. Ethanol is the cleanest extraction method, and you should choose companies that utilize organic ethanol extraction over the alternatives.
Given how many false claims there are, it is hard to find a good CBD oil product. Now that we’ve shared what you need to know, you can compare CBD products to find one that is right for you.