Whether you are new to the CBD realm or have been enjoying it for many years, the terminology that surrounds it can be a bit confusing if you are not aware of what it all means. The difference between full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD might not be as complicated as it sounds, however, the more you know about this amazing cannabinoid, the better off you will be when it comes to choosing a method and a brand that is right for you.
CBD Tinctures and CBD Oils
Many of the CBD products that are on the market today label their items for sale with a full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate classification. Besides gummies, lotions, softgels, and many other vessels of hemp extract, CBD tinctures and oils are very popular. If you look closer at the differences between tinctures and oils you will learn that there is quite a bit of a difference between the two, although they are similar.
CBD tinctures are hemp extracts that use some sort of solvent to separate the hemp oil that is within the plant from the solids of the plant. At one point in time, many of these extracts were done by way of harsh chemical solvents that proved to be not so safe in later times. However, the way that tinctures are made today uses supercritical carbon dioxide to remove the essential oils from the solids of the plants. When the CO2 has done its job and removed the oils, it simply evaporates and leaves the solution. The end result is essentially the purest form of hemp extract that is on the market today.
CBD oils, on the other hand, are hemp extracts that are derived from the solid of the plant by using oils such as olive oil, or avocado oil to slowly pull the oils from the solids of the plant and infuse them with the oil that is left behind. This creates an oil-based solution that has a significant, but small amount of hemp oil in it based on the ratio of the combined oils.
Hemp Extract Spectrums
Although CBD is considered to be a magnificent cannabinoid that boasts great wellness benefits, whether or not it is so great on its own is a different story. Researchers argue that if you separate the CBD from the rest of the available cannabinoids that are present in the hemp plant you end up with only one small part of a great whole.
Let us explain…
There is evidence to suggest that a factor known as the entourage effect helps to utilize all of the components that are available in a hemp extract to work together as one. The combination provides a set of wellness benefits that works best when all of the components are in place.
Sort of like the way when you bake cookies, or a pie. If you put all of the ingredients together and bake them just right you end up with a perfect dessert. However, if you only use the sugar, or the flower, or the egg, you end up with only one part of the whole. If you were to put a cup of sugar and bake it at 325 degrees for 20 minutes all you would have is some hot sugar.
The hemp plant, which is an offspring of the cannabis genus of plants, is chock full of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. CBD is only one cannabinoid out of over 100 other cannabinoids that exist in the hemp plant. So, if you isolate only one of the thousands of available beneficial parts of the extract, all you get is one component.
A CBD isolate extract is only pure CBD without any of the extra components. With all of the hype on the internet about CBD, you might believe that CBD by itself is a super compound, but in all actuality, the rest of the components in the hemp plant help make it be as amazing as it is.
Full-Spectrum Hemp Extracts
When the manufacturers initiate a full-spectrum extract what they are actually doing is introducing a hemp extract that includes all of the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that are available in the plant. In essence, it is the full spectrum of the plant that has been extracted from the solids of the plant.
The key factor that separates this type of extract from the rest of them is that it includes a small amount of THC. Legally, there can be no more than 3% content of THC in any hemp product. In fact, the hemp plants themselves are not allowed to have any more than a total of 3% THC while they are growing. If there is a higher level than 3% of THC in a hemp plant it is automatically considered marijuana and is illegal in many states.
Broad-Spectrum Hemp Extracts
A broad-spectrum extract is a little bit different because there are a few extra steps in the process that are necessary in order to remove the element of THC.
Although research has pointed out that a tiny bit of THC in the extract has the ability to boost the entourage effect within the user, some people are so sensitive to THC that they want no part of it. Even one step further than people being sensitive to it, there is the possibility that even a tiny bit of THC in a hemp product can produce a positive determination in a drug test.
Whatever the reason that a person would not want any THC whatsoever in their hemp product, the way to use CBD products without having to worry about being exposed to THC is to make sure that they are broad-spectrum CBD products that do not have any THC whatsoever.
The Difference in the Extracts
Obviously, the largest difference between a full-spectrum and a broad-spectrum extract is that broad-spectrum extracts do not contain any THC. However, the means to how a manufacturer removes the THC from the extract may differ. Some techniques go through the whole process of extracting every part of the plant separately by pulling isolated parts of the whole, then recombining them in the end to create a broad-spectrum product. Other techniques are able to single out the THC and remove it from the extract to leave behind a high-quality broad-spectrum product that has all of the other components still intact within the final extract.
CBD Isolate Extracts
Although there are conflicting ideologies as to whether or not CBD by itself is effective there are also CBD isolate extracts available on the market. This is when the extraction process takes place in a way that isolates the CBD cannabinoid from the rest of the components in the plant. The end result is a crystalline powder that can be broken down with the use of oil. There are water-soluble instances of isolated CBD, but they are not truly water-soluble. In any event, the CBD can be used in edibles, gummies, softgels, or even administered under the tongue.
Conclusion
The best spectrum for you, as an individual, will depend on your needs and your expectations of the product. If you are highly sensitive to THC it is probably a good idea to steer clear of full-spectrum products. Whichever product that you find best for your own needs, be sure to purchase them from a high-quality CBD manufacturer that takes the time and precautions necessary to create a CBD product that is both safe and effective. After all, it is your body that you are putting the stuff into.