How To Make CBD Oil

CBD oil continues to gain popularity as a way to boost wellness naturally. With so many high-quality CBD brands on the market, you might consider trying one for yourself. However, there are also easy ways to make CBD oil at home, if you prefer. Before we dive into the instructions, let’s talk a little more about CBD.

Patricia Fernandez, Chief Executive Officer, Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center

How CBD Oil Works?

CBD, otherwise known as cannabidiol, is one of the more than 100 active cannabinoids found in hemp and marijuana. It contains a natural ability to bind together with receptors in our body to enhance wellness. 

The body contains an endocannabinoid system that is responsible for the psychological and physical effects of cannabis within bodily systems. It also regulates certain functions, such as mood development, appetite, learning, reproduction, digestion, temperature regulation, cardiovascular function and learning. The ECS system is also known to fight illness within the body. 

CBD is effective at influencing the endocannabinoid system of the body, which is why many consumers turn to it for overall wellness. More scientific studies need to be performed to determine the benefits of CBD oil, but for now, we know the list continues to grow. 
Else Cole, Founder, Meridian Medical Services

Purpose of Using CBD Oil

While CBD oil can be used to boost overall health, supplements can also provide you with the essential oils you may be deficient in with your daily nutrition intake. This might include minerals, vitamins, omega fatty acids, proteins, terpenes and flavonoids, depending on what is in your CBD oil formulation. 

Additionally, CBD oil doesn’t contain high levels of THC. CBD oil will not create a psychoactive effect, so you won’t have to deal with that “high” feeling. 
Dr Peter Strang, Founder, University Disability Consortium

How To Make CBD Oil

1. Choose the CBD Oil Ingredients

It’s important to choose a high-quality carrier oil as the solvent. For increased bioavailability, consider using coconut or MCT oils. However, you could also use hemp seed or olive oil. There are even some recipes out there that suggest using butter. 

You get to choose how much carrier oil you use. Just consider what you want the finished product to be like. During our steps, you will be extracting CBD into your oil with heat and straining. This oil is much easier to work with than if you choose an alcohol method instead. However, there are some precautions you will still need to take. 

Aside from the carrier oil, you must gather other ingredients to make CBD oil. 

• 1-ounce of your flower, finely ground. 
• 16-ounces of carrier oil
• Crockpot or double boiler
• Cheesecloth to strain the oil
• Utensils, such as silicone spatulas and glass or stainless steel bowls
• Cookie sheet

When processing the flower, you should consider the benefits of using a grinder. However, you can also chop up the herb with a knife. The smaller the pieces of the flower are, the more efficiently you can extract the CBD.

Pamela Spiszman, CEO, Pegasus Home Health Care

2. Decarboxylation

Once you grind the herb finely, you are ready to decarboxylate. This is a fancy term meaning to decarb the flower. By doing this, you create a more active form of the CBD, so that the body can process it better. Dried flowers contain CBDA, which is a non-active form. To force it into the active form, you must decarboxylate it. 

Simply place the ground-up herb on a cookie sheet in your oven for about one hour at 220 to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. This promotes a proper conversion of the flower. When the timer is up, remove the flower from the oven and let it cool completely.

 Maxim Gorin, Co-Founder, Lifeline Ambulance

3. Extract the CBD

Once the material is decarbed, it’s time to mix your carrier oil to the flower. Put the two together in your double boiler or crockpot. You don’t want to turn it up any higher than low heat. Otherwise, you could extract the CBD and scorch the oil in the process. 

Overall, it should take between two and three hours for the CBD to fully dissolved in the oil. However, you can opt to go longer; you will not hurt the oil. Also, you don’t need to watch it too closely. Simply monitor it every thirty minutes and give it a light stir. When the solution turns into a deeper brownish-green color, you know that it is done.

After you extract CBD, pour your oil and herb solution through the cheesecloth. If you don’t have cheesecloth, consider using coffee filters instead. With your filter, strain off all of the plant matter, which leaves behind the CBD oil. 

Squeeze your cheesecloth well to remove all of the oil from the plant matter. You can also use a potato ricer to make the job a little easier. Dispose of any remaining starting material. 

Store the CBD oil in a jar or bottle. Keep it in a dry area where the temperatures are cool. It should never sit in the direct sunlight or around any light sources. 
Joe Schifano, Chief Executive Officer, Dependable Health Services

Homemade CBD Oil: What to Do Now

Now that you have made homemade CBD oil, you are ready to use it at will. Take it orally as a tincture, or place it into some gelatin capsules to use as a supplement. If you don’t like the taste, you might even consider adding it to some of your favorite dishes instead. Don’t forget; you can also use CBD oil topically or add some to your body care products. CBD oil is versatile and simple to use. It’s just like the CBD oils you purchase from a retailer, except you made this batch on your own.

If you plan to use the CBD oil, it might help to use an edible dosage calculator to be sure of the amount of CBD you consume. 

Sure, you can purchase any number of CBD oils from a manufacturer, but nothing quite compares to making CBD oil on your own. Not only is the process simple, but it’s also affordable and doing so allows you to know what’s inside the finished product. Because the low heat reduces flammability and there are no harsh fumes created, our method is an easy and safe way to create homemade CBD oil. If you’re not really keen on making your own CBD oil, we recommend trying out Zilis Ultra Cell products. These products are sourced from a certified organic hemp grower in Colorado, USA. We recommend only buying CBD products that are manufactured here in the USA for your health safety.
A Z Soforenko, Founder of Occazo Inc., Occazio