Full Spectrum CBD v.s. CBD Isolate: What's the difference?

  Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the many cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. CBD has been known to treat epilepsy, anxiety, depression, pain, insomnia, and many other health conditions. CBD is commonly extracted and digested as an oil. There are many ways to extract CBD. Typically, companies use CO2 to extract the compound. Other companies use fatty oils combined with heat to bond the compounds together, sometimes even using the whole plant. When extracted, CBD can be isolated. This means that the final product contains no other compounds that are found in the cannabis plant. You may have noticed that many of the CBD products available are advertised as “CBD Isolate” or “Full Spectrum CBD.” Full spectrum CBD contains all the compounds found naturally in the cannabis plant. This could be other cannabinoids, terpenes, and essential oils. Each form of CBD can provide your body with different effects. Even the plant your CBD was derived from can vary on potency. The different forms can become confusing for consumers. You may be wondering, which form of CBD is best for me? I have written this article to discuss the differences between full spectrum CBD and CBD isolate to help you make the best choice.
    Let’s first start with CBD isolate. CBD isolate is commonly seen as a powder, but can still be digested as an oil. The isolate contains only CBD. All of the plant matter and compounds are removed. CBD isolate contains no THC, this means that there is no possibility of psychoactive effects. This can be helpful for those who want to benefit from CBD, but may have to take a drug screening test. This can be ideal for those that are sensitive to THC or first time users. When digested, the product is tasteless and odorless. The product is commonly extracted from hemp, due to the low amount of THC naturally found in the plant.
    Even though CBD isolate can benefit your body, you may not be utilizing the medicinal potential found in full spectrum CBD. The spectrum of all the cannabinoids, terpenes, and essential oils creates an “Entourage Effect.” This means that all of the compounds used together magnify the effects of each cannabinoid. This can provide more relief. Studies have shown that CBD isolate does not increase with higher dosages. Compared with full spectrum CBD, the effects are enhanced with increased amounts. This makes full spectrum CBD the ideal choice for medicinal uses.
    The decision comes down to what the user wants from their CBD. As discussed, CBD isolate will not test positive for THC on a drug screening, and the product is tasteless and odorless. The product has no risk of causing psychoactive effects. This is the purest form of CBD. However, the medicinal benefits are not as broad. Full spectrum CBD will provide you with the full benefits of the cannabis plant. This can be ideal for medical patients that don’t want to get high. Research into CBD will continue as the plant becomes legal. This will be very important for future medicine. Until then, it may take some time to figure out what is best for you. I hope you enjoyed the article. Keep spreading the word on the benefits of CBD! 

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