The Benefits of Cold-Pressed Oils
What is Cold Pressing?
Cold Pressing is a natural and organic extraction method of CBD. It is a process that includes freezing the CBD flower and then crushing it under pressure in order to extract all the beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes the plant contains. As the name alludes, cold pressing is carried out at low temperatures. Whilst some heat is still generated due to friction when pressing, this is significantly lower than other forms of extraction, such as the most popular CO2 method. A number of plant nutrients and terpenes are sensitive to temperature and can be damaged during the extraction process. Keeping temperatures low allows for these sensitive nutrients to be preserved, resulting in a greater end product and contributing to the 'entourage effect'.
What is the entourage effect?
The entourage effect is a term used to describe the effects of cannabinoids, such as CBD, when multiple compounds work together to increase the therapeutic benefits. A research paper titled "Cannabis and Cannabis Extracts: Greater Than The Sum of Their Parts."
examined the claims on how cannabinoids interact with terpenes and flavonoids. The research found supporting evidence that extracts containing high amounts of both cannabinoids and terpenes increased pharmacological activity and enhanced the therapeutic effects.
What are terpenes?
Terpenes are a group of chemical compounds found in nearly every plant on earth, including hemp. They are responsible for the flavours, aromas and even colours of the plant and are produced to protect themselves from harsh weather and predators. In humans however, they interact with many of the body's systems in order to regulate important functions such as mood, appetite, sleep and motor control.
Full spectrum or Isolate?
This is an important aspect to consider when purchasing CBD for therapeutic benefits. CBD isolate (products that only contain CBD) may not be giving you the desired effects you are looking for. A 2011 review in the "British Journal of Pharmacology'' revealed taking a combination of terpenes and cannabinoids may help with anxiety, inflammation, pain, seizures, cancer, fungal infections plus much more. It concludes that the use of a full spectrum product is more effective than CBD alone.
You may be wondering - if full spectrum is so amazing, why are the majority of companies on the market offering CBD isolate? Well here's the thing… The cold press extraction method produces a greater quality product but results in a much lower yield. Higher temperature extraction techniques allow the plant to be broken down much easier - resulting in higher yields, therefore higher profits. Some consumers may also want to avoid THC altogether if for example they are taking high doses and undergoing drug testing, even though THC content is very low at 0.3%, super high doses could cause an impaired effect, so they may choose an isolate product to avoid this.
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