What Separates the Best CBD Oil from the Great – Cleveland Scene

What separates the best CBD oil from the great CBD oil is the inclusion of natural hemp-derived terpenes. Many - if not most - CBD companies offer terpenes in their oils. But thanks to limitations in the extraction process, these vendors add terpenes from other plant sources. This small but critical detail means your CBD isnt as premium as advertised.

The problem is were hyperfocused on avoiding poor-quality CBD, completely forgetting there are plenty of amazing CO2-extracted, organic, lab-tested oils available. We often see these points and immediately assume weve struck gold.

While signs of quality hemp oil are apparent, separating the best from the great requires deeper research. Fortunately, we did that for you.

Lets look at terpenes, what they are, why theyre essential, and - most importantly - how they help you.

Terpenes are oily organic compounds found throughout the plant kingdom, although some animals produce them too.

While plants span thousands of species and classifications, terpenes serve the same two purposes:

The location, concentration, and terpene profiles vary between plant species. They then secrete the compounds into concentrated crystalline structures. These resinous growths are called trichomes, and appear overtly as a frosty layer on cannabis flower.

The benefits of terpenes are substantial, potentially spanning everything from pain relief to disinfection.

Like cannabis, terpenes are anything but new. They have roots in herbal medicine - even if the creators had no idea terpenes existed. Terpene-rich essential oils extracted from plants appeared throughout the ancient world, and theyre just as popular today.

But its safe to say cannabis - especially the momentum of CBD oil - helped make terpene a household term.

Whether you hope to use CBD for arthritis symptoms, sleep, energy, or general wellness, terpenes are necessary to create the best CBD oil. Lets illustrate this with some common examples.

Myrcene deserves mention for several reasons - and not just because its the most common terpene in cannabis. According to Richter et al. (2021), myrcene is common in plants like hops, lemongrass, mangoes, and basil.

Among its benefits are:

The authors also note that myrcene may help transport cannabinoids to the brain. However, they admit data is scarce for that theory.

Caryophyllene is a spicy terpene found in black pepper, oregano, cinnamon, and basil.

Caryophyllenes benefits include:

Although not as prominent as myrcene, caryophyllene has the unique title of being the first dietary cannabinoid.

But hold on, caryophyllene is a terpene, not a cannabinoid. So how does it get that label? Thats a good question with a unique answer.

Hartsel et al. (2016) reveal that, although caryophyllene isnt a cannabinoid, it still binds effectively to the CB2 endocannabinoid receptor. This is why, according to the publication, caryophyllene is also labeled an atypical cannabinoid.

As the name implies, pinene is best known as the terpene responsible for giving pine trees their familiar aroma. You may also find it infused into air fresheners and household cleaners.

A 2019 academic literature review in Biomolecules examined the existing information about pinenes possible applications, including:

However, the review explains that pinene is a volatile terpene. Consequently, the effects dont last long, as the body expels it quickly.

Although pinene received a lot of examination, it lacks the factual data of complete clinical trials.

While covering every terpene would require an encyclopedia (or book, at the least). However, theres a lot of overlap in their benefits. Now imagine all those terpenes mixed with cannabinoids. This is essentially the core of what separates the best CBD oil from the great - and theres a mechanism behind it.

Theres a lot of chatter about the entourage effect, first proposed by famed cannabis researcher Raphael Mechoulam. Although he first coined the term, his research in this area didnt look at terpenes.

Ethan Russo proposed the role of terpenes in his 2011 article from The British Journal of Pharmacology.

We now know that both Mechoulam and Russo were correct. The synergistic relationship between cannabinoids and terpenes allows these substances to combine forces effectively. In turn, you get a broader, more potent variety of potential medicinal benefits from CBD oil.

Terpenes may have some fantastic therapeutic potential, especially when combined with cannabinoids. However, theres a severe problem that - if solved - truly makes the best CBD oil you can get.

Broad-spectrum and full-spectrum oils both can contain robust terpene and cannabinoid profiles, but dont be fooled by the label.

Terpenes are heat-sensitive. Most extraction methods rely on high heat to remove unwanted ingredients like fats, chlorophyll, and wax. Unfortunately, this creates collateral damage where most terpenes are destroyed.

Vendors solve the terpene issue by adding plant-based terpenes back into their CBD oils. However, this isnt the same as natural terpene retention. Its like the difference between getting Vitamin C from orange juice instead of being artificially infused in sports drinks.

The terpenes issue may seem new, but thankfully CBD oil vendors cant pull the wool over your eyes. If youre unsure whether the terpenes are added or natural, there are three ways to find out.

The ingredients list is a dead giveaway. If terpenes is one of the items listed, that means its a separate component. Natural terpenes wouldnt be explicitly mentioned, as theyre part of the hemp oil extract.

If the label isnt clear or youre still concerned, you can always send a message or call the vendor. Many of them have chat options, so theyll instantly answer your questions.

Well cover this one in detail shortly shortly. Lab reports are more technical than labels, but the best CBD companies can make those analyses easy to read and understand.

Most CBD vendors offer third-party lab reports. Once you understand what is (or isnt) in those reports, youll easily separate the best CBD oil from the great.

Naturally-occurring terpenes will show up on third-party analyses. If your CBD is broad-spectrum or full-spectrum, there should be terpenes present. But if the reports show few to no terpenes - or fail to mention them at all - theres a chance your product contains artificially-infused terpenes.

You can buy lab-tested CBD with terpenes from a select few vendors who dont use heat in their extraction processes.

Mentioned in articles, we came across during our research was Colorado Botanicals. With their proprietary process of using a pharmaceutical approach of separation, they can use low heat, separate the unwanted compounds, and naturally retain hemp-derived terpenes.

As a bonus, CO2 extraction wont leave behind residual solvents the way methods like alcohol and butane often do.

Poor quality CBD oil is still a problem, but the latest headache seems to be finding the best CBD among a vast pool of great CBD.

But we cant stress enough how important it is to find the best CBD. Its a big investment, both financially and in terms of health (not to mention safety).

Like in many similar cases, education is key. Shopping smart is easy if you know where to look and what to look for.

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What Separates the Best CBD Oil from the Great - Cleveland Scene