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CO 2 Extraction and the Entourage Effect
While a clean product tops most people’s
extraction wish list, perhaps the biggest benefit
of CO 2 extraction is its ability to pull plenty of
cannabinoids and terpenes, helping preserve
what we know as the entourage effect. Put simply,
the entourage effect is the beneficial effect of all
the compounds present in your cannabis working
together as opposed to just one or two of these
compounds working in isolation (THC or CBD).
The cannabis plant has more than 110 identified
cannabinoids and hundreds of terpenes and
flavonoids. Even though THC and CBD both have
a wide range of benefits, an increasing number of
experts now believe the real magic happens when
you combine all terpenes and cannabinoids together.
Lesser known cannabinoids such as cannabinol (CBN)
and cannabigerol (CBG) are not found in as much
abundance as CBD and THC, but potentially have their
own health benefits. Cannabigerol could have neuroprotective
properties while CBN is thought to have
links with pain management.
Combine this theory with terpenes and it looks like
all bases are covered. The terpene alpha-pinene, for
example, is thought to help counteract the memory
loss that can be associated with THC. The terpene
myrcene, on the other hand, is thought to reduce resistance
in the blood-brain barrier and lead to a more
comfortable passage of helpful chemicals through the
body, meaning it could assist in enhancing the positive
benefits of THC or CBD for the mind and body.
“Making the choice to go for a
product that has been produced
using CO 2 extraction is the best,
safest, and surest way to know
you are getting a quality product.”
Subcritical Extraction
While not as common as supercritical extraction, there is also
a form called subcritical extraction: a similar process to the
supercritical method but one that requires lower pressure, a
lower temperature, takes more time, and produces less material.
While not as efficient as supercritical extraction, the
product produced through subcritical extraction is still of a
superior quality compared to alternative extraction methods
because, like its supercritical counterpart, it retains most of
the plant’s terpenes, cannabinoids, and essential oils.
In terms of end product, supercritical extraction produces
a thicker peanut butter-like substance due to the higher
pressures and temperatures used which help extract larger
molecules, including waxes, chlorophyll, and omega-3 and
omega-6 lipids. These products are then removed during
the winterization process (the removal of lipid waxes from
crude extract). Following winterization, you are left with pure
cannabinoid oil only.
There are cases where THC or CBD isolate has
its uses, however, for most people a full-spectrum
product produced using CO 2 extraction is usually
the best option, albeit not the cheapest. If you
want quality, you need to be prepared to pay for it.
Ultimately, when you are purchasing any cannabis extract
product, making the choice to go for a product that has been
produced using CO 2 extraction is the best, safest, and surest
way to know you are getting a quality product. Carbon
dioxide extraction ensures you are purchasing a clean
product with no harmful chemical residue. The full spectrum
of the extracts you are left with after CO 2 extraction is also
very attractive as it will, without a doubt, contain the highest
level and array of cannabinoids and terpenes, encouraging
the full exploitation of the entourage effect.
Finally, the fact CO 2 extraction (and particularly
supercritical CO 2) extraction equipment is so expensive
should be reassuring to you as a consumer, because you
know the companies that are invested in this process
must be serious about producing the best, highest quality
products for end users. There is no beating CO 2 extraction
when it comes to cannabis products.
sponsored by
apekssupercritical.com
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