FULL-SPECTRUM VERSUS BROAD-SPECTRUM VS. ISOLATE CBD OIL: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Do you know some of the different products of CBD? What is the difference between full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate CBD oil? Which of the three products is the best and most effective? What are some of the benefits of using CBD oil products? This article explains the difference between the three products and their benefits and effectiveness.

CBD Oil, also known as cannabinoid, is a cannabis product derived by extracting Hemp and diluting it with a carrier oil. All the CBD Oil products that exist fall into three categories. The categories are Full Spectrum CBD Oil, broad-spectrum, and isolate CBD Oil. In 2018, a new law and bill were passed, the America Farm Bill. The bill legalized Hemp and separated it from the illegal marijuana plant. Mead (2017) states that both are cannabis plants except that Hemp contains 0.3% or less THC while marijuana contains more than 3% of THC. CBD Oil is made by extracting Hemp from the cannabis plant and diluting it with a carrier oil. CBD Oil usually has a small amount of THC that is less than 0.3%. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is a psychoactive component found inside the cannabis plant. Ever since Hemp was legalized, many CBD Oil products have been released into the market; all these products fall into three categories: the full spectrum CBD Oil, the broad spectrum, and the isolate.

The Full Spectrum CBD Oil

According to Mead (2017), the full spectrum contains small tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) traces of up to 0.3% or less. In addition to that, it contains all the beneficial cannabinoids and compounds found in the cannabis plant. In 2018 discovered that the full spectrum CBD Oil is more beneficial than CBD isolate in treating pain due to the effects of CBD and THC being combined. The beneficial compounds found in the CBD Oil full spectrum include:

Cannabinoids

These are a group of substances found in the cannabis plant. Although more than one hundred cannabinoids have been identified, the main ones are CBD and THC. CBD and THC have been proven to be responsible for the therapeutic and psychoactive effects of cannabis products. According to Sholler & Spinder (2020), cannabinoids have proven useful in treating specific health conditions such as anxiety, epilepsy, glaucoma, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, pain, sleep problems, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Consuming high amounts of THC leads to the risk of addiction and dependence. THC is not yet legal in all states; some still prohibit its use.

Terpene

Terpene is a naturally occurring compound found in the cannabis plant. Even though there are about 20,000 terpenes, the hemp plant alone creates at least 200 of them. They are responsible for the aroma, taste, and fragrance of the cannabis plant. According to Russo & Marcu (2017), Phyto cannabinoid-terpenoid preparation could help with depression, cognitive function, addiction, and anxiety.

Flavonoids

They are found in all kinds of plants, and cannabis has about twenty different flavonoids. They give the cannabis its dark green color. In addition to that, they provide therapeutic effects.

 The Broadspectrum

It is one of the main forms of CBD. It constitutes several naturally occurring compounds from the cannabis plant, such as cannabichromene, cannabinol, and terpenes, except for the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Kurlyandchik, Tiralongo, & Schloss (2021) states that THC is usually responsible for negative side effects such as sedation, drowsiness, and feelings of fatigue. Although most broad-spectrum CBD products do not have CBD, some may have trace amounts and quantities. THC is a psychoactive compound that can make a person feel high and affect the cognitive parts of the body. Individuals who want to avoid the psychoactive effects usually choose to go for the broad spectrum. According to Russo & Marcu (2017), using phytocannabinoids and terpenes can be beneficial for treating anxiety, epilepsy, and fungal infections. There is one type of broad-spectrum CBD Oil that the FDA has approved to treat epilepsy (Epidiolex). Broad-spectrum CBD oils have many additional health benefits such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, and antiseizure effects. Despite these benefits, CBD broad-spectrum does not contain THC, which means its users will miss the benefits it provides.

The Isolate CBD Oil

It is the purest form of CBD extracted from the plant and is devoid of other nutrients. CBD Isolates go through further refining, so they can only contain CBD. It is suitable for CBD users without ingesting its psychoactive component, THC. Shannon & Opila-Lehman, (2015) explains that CBD isolate provides relief from pain, inflammation, and anxiety. According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), some of its side effects include appetite and weight infatuations, insomnia, diarrhea, fatigue, and irritability.

General uses of CBD Oil.

The European journal of the pain of 2018 suggested that CBD Oil could help to reduce pain and inflammation caused by Arthritis when applied to the skin. According to the Brazilian journal of psychiatry 2017, CBD Oil was proven to reduce high anxiety levels in individuals. In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration approved a special type of CBD Oil called Epidiolex to treat a special type of seizure caused by epilepsy. The Journal of Alternative and complementary medicine of 2018 also recommended CBD Oil to treat and reduce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Conclusion

After decades of cannabis and its illegal products, Hemp was finally legalized in the Farm Bill of 2018. CBD Oil has many potential health benefits, such as reducing PTSD symptoms, curing a special type of epilepsy, and helping reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. Ever since Hemp was legalized, many CBD Oil products have been released into the market; all these products fall into either of these three categories: the full spectrum CBD Oil, the broad spectrum, and the isolate.

References

Kurlyandchik, I., Tiralongo, E., & Schloss, J. (2021). Safety and efficacy of medicinal cannabis in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a systematic review. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 27(3), 198-213.

Mead, A. (2017). The legal status of cannabis (marijuana) and cannabidiol (CBD) under U.S. law. Epilepsy & Behavior, 70, 288-291.

Russo, E. B., & Marcu, J. (2017). Cannabis pharmacology: the usual suspects and a few promising leads. Advances in pharmacology, 80, 67-134.

Shannon, S., & Opila-Lehman, J. (2015). Cannabidiol oil for decreasing addictive use of marijuana: a case report. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal, 14(6), 31.

Sholler, D. J., Schoene, L., & Spindle, T. R. (2020). Therapeutic efficacy of cannabidiol (CBD): a review of the evidence from clinical trials and human laboratory studies. Current addiction reports, 7(3), 405-412.