In the Footsteps of Those Who Knew…

Or why we utilize ethanol extraction for our hemp CBD oils.

While the boom in CBD-related products is a relatively recent phenomenon that can be attributed to certain folks in Kentucky and their interest in bringing back hemp farming, the use of cannabis sativa in tinctures, oils and other preparations has deep historical roots.

In 1969 Dr. Tod Mikuriya wrote that “In India the use of hemp preparations as a remedy was described before 1000 B.C. In Persia, cannabis was known several centuries before Christ. In Assyria, about 650 B.C., its intoxicating properties were noted.”

But its use in the modern era can truly be ascribed to William Brooke O’Shaughnessy, an Irish born physician, scientist and pharmacologist who worked for the East India Company in India in the 19^th century. During the 1840’s, he pioneered the early work in cannabis tinctures and is credited with testing these extracts on a number of ailments. Their popularity grew substantially in apothecaries in both Europe and the US roughly between 1840 and the early 1900’s until prohibition began to be enforced.

Then in the late 1990’s along comes Rick Simpson, the “inventor” of RSO or Rick Simpson Oil. Rick, a Canadian, first turned to cannabis to help him overcome the after-effects of a work-related fall. But he began to look for a way to more fully concentrate the benefits of the Cannabis, and using what is widely thought as the original “recipe” from O’Shaughnessy, Simpson produced the classic dark, thick cannabis oil that would become the standard.

The common thread with both these pioneers was ethanol extraction, the method Imbue Botanicals employs today. Once the cannabis plants are harvested (and preferably cured), they are mixed in a container with high-proof alcohol (or ethanol). This allows the resin and cannabinoids therein to detach from the buds and flowers. The lack of heat and pressure preserve the cannabinoids and make for a very effective end product. Simply search “Rick Simpson Oil” and you’ll see why it became the standard.

So when we entered into business, we were determined to follow in the footsteps of these two pioneers and not only replicate, but improve their approach. To that end, we utilize a pharmaceutical grade ethanol from organic sugar cane that we “super chill” for better results. Combined with ultra-low pressure, we produce a raw oil for our products that is truly exceptional. Most other companies use CO2 extraction which is faster and less expensive, but in our opinion (and many others) produces an inferior oil to ethanol extraction.

Call us “purists” or “old fashioned”, or maybe just “traditionalists” in our approach to extraction. We like to say that we were simply inspired by great minds that preceded us.

with all our best,

Tom