Review: Peppermint and Orange Flavored CBD Oil Tinctures by CBD Oil Creations

Sponsored by CBD Oil Creations

Crafted by CBD Oil Creations, these tinctures are infused with cannabidiol (CBD) and are currently sold as two distinct flavors (peppermint and orange). Both flavors are available in concentrations of either 100 mg of CBD (30mL bottle) or 500 mg of CBD (60mL bottle). The smaller size (100 mg) contains 30 doses of 3.3 mg of CBD per dropper for $24.95; whereas, the larger size (500 mg) contains 60 doses of 8.3 mg of CBD per dropper for $114.95.

The peppermint flavor is made up of ingredients such as grape seed oil, peppermint oil, hemp CBD oil, and stevia extract. The orange flavor has very similar ingredients: grape seed oil, orange oil, hemp CBD oil, and stevia extract.

CBD Sourced From Colorado Grown Industrial Hemp

Unlike many competing CBD-infused products that utilize hemp from countries outside the United States, the hemp used in tinctures produced by CBD Oil Creations is sourced from farms located in Colorado. Because the tinctures contain CBD from industrial hemp and have no significant traces of THC (<.03% THC), these products are legal to be purchased, shipped, and consumed in all 50 states.

To extract the CBD from hemp, the company utilized CO2 as a solvent — a common practice by most major extraction companies in the industry. Once the CBD is collected, it is mixed with the other ingredients (flavors/additives) and sent to Innovatical Laboratories (iLab) out of Montclair, California or Grace Analytical out of Berkeley, Illinois. Here, samples from each batch undergo a variety of comprehensive lab tests designed to ensure quality, safety, and purity.

Third Party Lab Test Results from Steep Hill Halent Laboratories

According to a statement on the company’s website, they have third party laboratories that analyze all of their hemp-CBD extracts and their final products as well (after it is mixed with the other ingredients). All products are tested for cannabinoid potency, heavy metals, bacterial and microbial contaminants, mycotoxins (fungus), and various ubiquitous pesticides.

To verify the validity of these statements, we decided to send various product samples for both flavors to Steep Hill Halent Laboratories with the hope that that we (as a community) could get a glimpse at what is really in these products and how safe they truly are. Steep Hill performed a comprehensive lab test for each 100mg sample which includes screening for cannabinoid potency, terpene profiles, as well as commonly used pesticides. The lab results found that this particular batch is clean/free of pesticides and the product’s labels indicating cannabinoid content for each flavor are indeed accurate.

Orange Flavor – 100mg:

Peppermint Flavor – 100mg:

As you may expect from products using different ingredients/additives, each flavor has a unique terpene profile that will likely produce slightly different effects. The terpene profile for the peppermint flavor mainly contains D-limonene (.96%). This is much more than the orange flavor, which only contains (.017%). This is a bit surprising given the fact that limonene tends to have a very citrusy aroma (typical of oranges). Regardless, limonene is known for its ability to help suppress the growth of many species of fungi and bacteria, making it an ideal anti-fungal agent. The orange flavor has virtually no limonene in it (or any terpenes for that matter), so if you are interested in limonene, you may want to stick to the peppermint flavor.

The Potential Health Benefits of Cannabidiol (CBD)

Not all cannabinoids are colorless. One of the most brightly yellow-colored cannabinoids is CBD; it is what gives this tincture its unique yellow tint. More importantly, CBD is a very valuable cannabinoid with tremendous medical potential. This is particularly true when the correct ratio of CBD to THC is applied to treat a particular condition. Because this product is tailored to be legal in all 50 states, unfortunately, the presence of THC is not possible.

Additionally, CBD has been found to act as an antagonist at both the CB1 and CB2 receptors, yet it has a low binding affinity for both. This suggests that CBD’s mechanism of action is mediated by other receptors in the brain and body.

CBD is known for its unique ability to successfully help ease symptoms of anxiety, rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, diabetes, nausea, bowel disorders, and many other hard-to-control side effects. It can even help to suppress your appetite if you are looking to end those afternoon and late night cravings.

Sublingual Application Continues to Grow in Popularity

It is well established that sublingual application is an excellent way to administer active compounds to your system (eg. phytocannabinoids). Not only do tinctures help you avoid the negative side effects of smoking plant matter (to achieve the same effect), but they also are very helpful when it comes to dosing yourself accurately and regularly.

To get started with your first dose of CBD, you will want to give the bottle a good shake. The company recommends you release 1 full dropper under your tongue and hold it there for ~60 seconds before swallowing. This will allow the CBD to be absorbed sublingually through the network of capillaries under your tongue.

The peppermint tincture reminds me of chewing Wrigley’s spearmint flavored gum as a kid; it doubles as a breath mint and its bold minty flavor will help you stay focused for a short period of time. The orange flavor is citrusy and sweet just like you would imagine; absolutely no surprises here.

Is Grape Seed Oil Safe For Human Consumption?

You will note that the top/main ingredient for both of these tinctures is grape seed oil. As you may expect, grape seed oil comes from grapes. Grape seeds are heated, crushed, and pressed to facilitate oil extraction.

The health benefits of grape seed oil itself are controversial. Grape seed oil is mostly proanthocyanidin and has been studied for its antioxidant and cardiovascular properties. Grape seed oil is also high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially omega-6 fatty acids. According to the American Heart Association, these fatty acids may be beneficial to your heart if they are substituted for saturated fats and trans fats in your diet.

However, optimal health depends on the proper balance of omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids, and most people already get more than enough omega-6 fatty acids in their diets and not nearly enough omega-3s.

Too much omega-6 fatty acid may cause inflammation which could lead to chronic diseases. If you are already getting enough omega-6 in your diet from foods like poultry, eggs, nuts and whole-grain breads, you may want to increase your omega-3 intake with foods like tuna, sardines, white fish or hemp, chia and flax seeds. The more omega-3 fat you eat, the less omega-6 will be available to the tissues to produce inflammation. Basically, a diet high in omega-6 tends to increase inflammation, while a diet high in omega-3 tends to reduce inflammation.

“Optimal health depends on the proper balance of omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids. Most people already get more than enough omega-6 fatty acids in their diets and not nearly enough omega-3s.”

Another common practice among many grape seed oil producers is to use hexane or other similar chemicals as solvents for the extraction process. While the use of compounds such as hexane does increase the yield of grape seed oil, these chemicals may be toxic to humans. In order for grape seed oil to be considered “organic,” absolutely no chemicals may be used during extraction.

We reached out to CBD Oil Creations to find out if the grape seed oil they use is organic. They told us it is not organic and is solvent-extracted, claiming they chose the ingredient because it gives the tincture a nice flavor without the need of glycerin or other widely used alternatives.

Although it is true that most commercially available grape seed oil is made using chemical solvents, it is unclear what effect consuming these solvents has on humans, even in trace amounts. Perhaps CBD Oil Creations will consider using organic grape seed oil that has been cold-pressed or expeller-pressed in the future as it is, in my opinion, a far better choice than oil made with solvents.

Always Compare CBD Products w/ Other Similar Products

According to the Hemp Industries Association (HIA), high quality CBD oil comes from the buds and flowers of CBD-rich strains of cannabis, not from by-product plant material. The stalks and fiber of hemp don’t contain CBD either, so where does the CBD in hemp come from? “Indirectly, as a co-product of flowers and leaves that are mixed in with the stalks during hemp stalk processing for fiber,” said the HIA in a statement made in July 2014.

In my five years as a legal medical marijuana patient in California, I’ve come across a wide variety of CBD-infused tinctures that have much more active cannabinoids per mL. However, the products I typically purchase are products derived from feminized cannabis flowers/buds, absent any additives / flavorings (simply CO2/whole plant extracts), so we’re not exactly comparing apples to apples here.

When comparing the amount of CBD, the source of CBD (seeds vs. flowers/buds), and the price of the different products, purchasing these tinctures from CBD Oil Creations makes little sense if you are a card-holder living in a MMJ-friendly state/country. For example, in California, a more potent CBD infused tincture is available in the same price range with CBD derived from the actual cannabis buds/flowers (not seeds).

However, I understand not everyone has the luxury of living in a MMJ-friendly state as a card/recommendation holding patient. Therefore, hemp-based products (with little to no THC) may be your only option as they can be legally shipped to most anywhere in the United States. If this is the case, it is not the end of the world; you simply need to be aware of the differences between the two types of product classifications (CBD from hemp seeds vs. cannabis flowers/buds) and do your own research to determine which is the right fit for your situation.

Don’t expect instant healing or feelings of well-being immediately with these CBD tinctures. In fact, these products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The hemp/CBD used is not psychoactive either, which means you will not process/feel the effects in the brain like you would when consuming decarboxylated THC; you will not feel “high” when consuming this product.