Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran with CBD, you’re sure to have thought of this, CBD isolate Vs full spectrum how does it work. Let’s take a sneak peek into some information on that thought.
Table of Contents
What is CBD isolate?
CBD isolate is pure CBD that contains no THC. Manufacturers make CBD isolate by extracting all substances and compounds from the cannabis plant, leaving pure CBD behind. What’s left behind is a pure crystalline substance that doesn’t contain THC, terpenes, flavonoids, or other cannabis plant compounds.
CBD isolate is exactly what its name implies: the purest form of cannabidiol (CBD). The process to obtain CBD isolate follows the same route as full-spectrum CBD, with the addition of some extra steps in order to isolate CBD from the rest of the hemp plant extracts. Once the extract is activated after decarboxylation has taken place, it then goes through a type of distillation. The specific method used may vary, but CBD distillation is not much different from the process used for alcohol. What remains after distillation is a white powder that’s typically made out of at least 99% CBD—with the remaining 1% being traces of plant matter that could not be removed. The final product of these processes can be bought in crystal form, or used by manufacturers to create tinctures, vape juice, and a wide variety of CBD isolate-based products.
What is full-spectrum CBD?
While CBD isolate contains no additional cannabis plant compounds, full-spectrum CBD contains all the naturally occurring cannabis plant compounds, including CBD, THC, terpenes, and flavonoids.
But unlike cannabis, full-spectrum CBD contains only trace amounts of THC (less than 0.3%), which isn’t enough to produce psychoactive effects. Full spectrum refers to a CBD-rich product that contains the full profile of organic compounds (cannabinoids, terpenes, etc.) that can be found in the hemp plant.Â
Benefits:
The entourage effect theory suggests that taking CBD and THC together, along with terpenes, may be more effective than taking either cannabinoid alone. That’s why some people prefer to use full-spectrum CBD.
The entourage effect
While a 2015 study reports show that CBD can be beneficial on its own, another one from 2017 suggests that CBD’s therapeutic effects are stronger when combined with other cannabis compounds, including terpenes, flavonoids, and lesser-known cannabinoids. This theory is called the entourage effect.
Broad-spectrum CBD does include other compounds, but the THC found only in full-spectrum products may increase the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving benefits of CBD. The same review also concludes that CBD may help lessen unwanted THC effects, like hunger, anxiety, and sedation.
What are the pros and cons of CBD isolate?
Like full-spectrum CBD, CBD isolate comes with its own pros and cons.
Full-spectrum CBD contains small amounts of other cannabis compounds, like flavonoids and terpenes. It also contains a small amount of THC. CBD isolate, on the other hand, contains CBD only. While the entourage effect suggests that full-spectrum products may work best, CBD isolate may still produce beneficial effects.
If you’re looking for a health boost from CBD but want to skip the THC effects, broad-spectrum is probably your best bet. If you don’t mind THC and want to potentially get more benefits out of your CBD product, full-spectrum is probably the way to go. You may prefer to use both CBD isolate and full-spectrum CBD. For example, low doses of CBD isolate during the day for its stimulating and anti-anxiety (anxiolytic) effects and myrcene-rich, full-spectrum CBD at night for its more sedative effects.
Potential health benefits: CBD isolate has been shown to potentially help with a variety of health issues, including anxiety, depression, pain, inflammation, and seizures. Safe: CBD isolate is considered safe and non-toxic, with no known serious side effects.
If you’re interested in the potential therapeutic benefits of the entourage effect, full-spectrum CBD may be the best choice for you. However, if you’re sensitive to THC or just want to avoid it, you might want to try broad-spectrum CBD. That way, you’ll still get some benefits of the entourage effect but with no THC.
Full-spectrum CBD benefits:
Because full-spectrum CBD contains all cannabis plant compounds, it may have a more potent effect than pure CBD. Research reports suggest that CBD’s health benefits may be more prominent when multiple compounds from the cannabis plant are present. This is what researchers call the ‘entourage effect.’
Full-spectrum CBD products contain some THC, but usually in low quantities of less than 0.3% trusted source. However, during the manufacturing process, THC levels can rise as the CBD converts into a concentrate. People should do their research and look up independent test results before purchasing a CBD product.
With a range of reported health benefits, uses for full-spectrum CBD include the following: anti-seizure, muscle spasm relief, antianxiety, pain relief, treatment for psychotic disorders, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Is CBD isolate right for you?
CBD isolate may be right for you because:
- It is a flavourless, odourless productÂ
- It avoids THC altogether
- It allows one to take large doses of CBD
- It helps if one has to undergo drug testing
Is full-spectrum CBD right for you?
    Full-spectrum CBD may be the right choice because of:
- The benefits of the entourage effect
- Â An earthy flavour profile
- Â A less refined product
CBD isolate has to go through a lot more refining than full-spectrum THC.
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