CBD has become a popular supplement option for many, offering more choice than is ordinarily possible when taking supplements. When shopping (overseas only) for CBD oils and other CBD products or talking to your doctor, you will usually and a choice between different strength oils. Depending on the brand, there may also be a range of flavours to select from.
What many people are not aware of is that there is a third choice when shopping for CBD oils. There is an opportunity to choose between a CBD-only (aka 'isolate') oil and full-spectrum hemp oils (which contain CBD and hundreds of other Active Botanical Compounds). The difference between CBD isolates and full-spectrum is one of the most important areas of understanding that you need in order to get the best outcome for yourself or your loved ones. And, it is the area most often misunderstand.
CBD isolate oils are made by extracting CBD from either hemp or marijuana plants. Some companies prefer to use hemp plants as they do not contain the cannabinoid THC, which can cause psychoactive effects. Some countries also place a limit on the amount of THC that can exist in CBD oil. In Australia, for example, CBD oils cannot contain more than 0.3% THC and probably soon no more then 50mg/kg of CBD.
The way in which CBD is extracted and the filtration methods that are used to create CBD oils vary. This variation will determine whether an oil contains the full-spectrum of benets the plant offers or just the benefit of CBD. There is still much debate as to whether CBD isolate or full-spectrum CBD oils are better, but it's commonly accepted that CBD alone has a beneficial effect in either very small or very large doses, whereas Full Spectrum Hemp Oil is expected to have an increased benet the more that is taken (up to the maximum a person or mammal can assimilate at a time).
So, let’s take a look at prescription CBD isolate vs. full-spectrum hemp oil and you can work out which one you think is right for you...
What Is Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil?
Full-spectrum oil contains not only CBD (cannabidiol), but also all the other cannabinoids that naturally occur within both hemp and cannabis plants. By using full-spectrum CBD oils, you can benefit from a range of different cannabinoids. The oils also contain naturally occurring terpenes, essential oils, and flavonoids from within the plant.
Cannabis and hemp plants contain hundreds of different cannabinoids, including the two most well-known: CBD and THC. Additionally, there are plenty of lesser-known cannabinoids such as CBDa, CBC, and CBG. All of the different cannabinoids found within full-spectrum oils help to improve the effectiveness of CBD. But they also have their own health benefits.
Full-spectrum oils are preferred by many as they are thought to pack even more health benefits than CBD isolate oils. Full-spectrum CBD oil allows you to take advantage of the entourage effect. Whereby all of the different cannabinoids from within the plant work in synergy to enhance their impact.
How Do You Make Full Spectrum Oil?
To create a full-spectrum oil, CBD is not extracted from the cannabis/hemp plants, in fact nothing is extracted. Instead the plant undergoes an infusion process to allow the natural transfer of all the active botanical goodness from the plant into the oil, in exactly the same ratios that 28 million years of evolution has found to be the best.
What About Getting High?
Whilst Infusion doesn't remove any THC present, the natural levels are of THC are legal and don't cause a 'high' (less than 0.2-0.3%).
Conclusion
CBD isolate requires a much more intensive filtration process. This is because all cannabinoids, other than CBD, need to be removed.
Some people believe full-spectrum CBD oils to be more natural than CBD isolate, as they retain most of the compounds from within the plant, and therefore a much healthier option.
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