Researchers are currently looking into cannabidiol (CBD) as a treatment for COVID-19.
Between reducing acne, relieving cancer symptoms, and stabilizing moods, what can’t CBD do?
But as many of us attempt to adhere to some degree of social distancing, we’re starting to consider making more products at home.
Here’s how to make CBD oil in your kitchen.
How to Make CBD Oil at Home
If you’ve landed here, you’re likely wondering how to extract CBD oil at home. There are two basic ways to go about it.
The first is using a carrier oil to extract CBD from the herb.
The second is by using a high-proof alcohol to extract the CBD into a tincture. You can also distill it like an essential oil, but distillation is a complex process that won’t be covered in this article.
Beginner: Carrier Oil
The most straightforward way to make CBD oil at home is to soak hemp or cannabis leaves in a carrier oil. The oil you choose will be based on what you plan to use it for.
For example, you might choose a sweet almond oil if you want to make a lotion, face mask, or cosmetic product. If you want to use your oil for cooking, you might opt for olive or coconut oil.
Here’s how to make CBD oil with a carrier oil.
Step One: Prep the Flower
Use a grinder or knife to chop your flower into small equal pieces. This will ensure that every bit of your flower is extracted. Work on a surface that will allow you to easily pick up and pour all the pieces.
Step Two: Decarboxylation Process
This process activates CBD in raw cannabis. You’ll want to bake the cannabis at roughly 225 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour to one and a half hours. The key here is to bake the flower on low heat for enough time to activate the CBD but not weaken the terpene contents.
The exact time and degrees will likely depend on the oven you’re working with. Use a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. The process is done when the flower looks crisp and golden-brown.
Step Three: Saturate
Once this process is done, fold the parchment paper so that it’s easy to funnel the baked flour into a mason jar. Then pour in the carrier oil. The amount of carrier oil will be dependent on how concentrated you want the oil to be.
But make sure that all the herbs are completely covered by oil. Allow enough oil for some evaporation and soaking by the dry herbs.
Step Four: Extraction
Either use a double boiler or create a DIY double boiler. Fill the bottom pot with water and heat to the point of simmer. But do not bring it to boil.
Place the jar in the top pot and continue to simmer the mixture for two to three hours. It helps to have a cooking thermometer. Because you don’t want the water to exceed 300 degrees Fahrenheit, but it must reach 200 degrees for the extraction process to occur.
Extraction is done when the mixture in the jar looks like swamp water or dirty lake water. A brown-green color is what you’re looking for.
Turn the heat off and leave the mixture in the pot for at least three hours. Some recommend leaving the extraction to sit overnight.
Step Five: Straining
When you’re done with the extraction process, strain the herbs with a sanitized sieve or boiled cheesecloth into a new sanitized jar for storage.
Opt for an airtight, sealable container for longer storage time.
Intermediate: Alcohol
Saturating herbs in alcohol to make a tincture is used to make everything from all-purpose cleaners to naturopath remedies. Use a high-proof Ethyl alcohol like Everclear for this process.
Start by following steps one and two in the “carrier oil” process.
Step Three: Extract
In a glass bowl completely cover the flower with alcohol. Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon for five to 10 minutes. This process extracts the terpenes from the herb into the liquid. You’re looking for a dark green liquid.
Step Four: Strain
Separate the herb from the alcohol by pouring the extracted mixture into a new vessel using a sieve.
You can continue steps three and four until the herb no longer creates green liquid. If the herb no longer creates a green liquid, this means that everything that could be extracted from it, has been.
Step Five: Evaporating Alcohol
This is the step that makes the alcohol method “intermediate.” It involves heating alcohol. Alcohol vapor is highly flammable, and it’s recommended to do this step outside or over a highly ventilated stove.
The purpose of this step is to heat the alcohol out of the solution to create a more viscous oil. Alcohol does not need to be highly heated to vaporize.
Using a double boiler, pour the extracted alcohol solution into the top and water into the bottom. Turn the heat on at a very low temperature, just enough for the oil to eventually simmer. Allow the oil to simmer for about 30 minutes, until bubbles appear.
Stir the solution frequently and keep an eye on the heat. You might want to turn the heat off and on to maintain a low temperature. But only do this if you are not working with an open flame. It’s advised that you do not use the alcohol method over an open flame.
It’s done when you’re left with a thick, tar-like product. When the process is complete, turn off the heat and remove the boiler from the stove-top.
Step Six: The Cooling Period
Once the oil has cooled down, you can dump it into a jar. Or, you can use a syringe to transfer the product to a smaller bottle.
Use sanitized containers that are sealable and airtight for longer storage.
DIY CBD Oil Made Easy
With some patience and a willingness to learn and experiment, you can create a high-quality CBD oil at home.
These are only two of the simplest ways for how to make CBD oil. With some practice, you can specialize your process and craft infusions to share with family or sell.
Click over to our lifestyle section for even more tips for living your best life.