Full spectrum
CBD oils are a good companion in everyday life and can help in stressful situations with their calming and relaxing effects. They are also known for their therapeutic benefits. The CBD it contains has, among other things, pain-relieving properties and therefore great potential in the treatment of chronic and acute diseases.
CBD oils are made by mixing a CBD extract with a carrier oil. But not all CBD extracts are created equal. If you've looked at our product range before, you may have noticed that we only carry full-spectrum CBD oils . They contain a full spectrum CBD extract. This is contrasted with CBD isolates. Every now and then you also read about broad-spectrum extracts.
Of course, that doesn't make it any easier for the buyer to keep track. Especially since all forms have their advantages and disadvantages. We will therefore explain to you what the differences are and which product is right for you.
Full spectrum vs. isolate
Before we delve deeper into details, it should be known that full-spectrum extracts and CBD isolates fundamentally differ in their manufacturing process. The hemp plant is the basis for both variants. For a full-spectrum extract, the plant fibers and large elements are removed and separated from the valuable compounds such as CBD and other cannabinoids. The best-known process for this is CO2 extraction. This results in an extract that, in addition to CBD, also contains other compounds such as terpenes and flavonoids.
A CBD isolate first goes through a very similar process. However, further steps of extraction, filtering and purification then follow. All substances and compounds such as chlorophyll and terpenes are removed until only CBD remains. This extremely pure end product has a CBD content of approximately 99% and is available as a fine powder.
Full spectrum extract
ingredients
Anyone who has never looked into the topic before might assume that a CBD isolate is preferable to a full-spectrum extract. After all, it has a higher CBD content. But that is not entirely correct.
A full-spectrum extract has a lower CBD content than an isolate, but it benefits from the entire spectrum of plant substances. The hemp plant produces over 100 different substances, many of which have positive effects. In addition to CBD, these include other cannabinoids such as cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabinol (CBN). There are now studies on some of them that provide evidence of health-promoting properties. A full spectrum extract also contains terpenes, flavonoids, chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
Terpenes are compounds found in many plants and are responsible for their smell. Therefore they have a permanent place in aromatherapy. In addition to their pleasant scent, they also have the advantage that they are very likely to enhance the effects of some cannabinoids.
Flavonoids are secondary plant substances that, in addition to hemp, are also found in fruits and vegetables. Since there are over 8,000 different such substances, only a few have been really well researched so far. However, there is evidence that flavonoids have a positive influence on heart and liver problems, allergies and depression, among other things.
We know chlorophyll as the natural plant pigment. It supports cellular respiration and the cleansing of cells. In the human body, it can help heal wounds and relieve inflammation.
However, you shouldn't just look at all of these valuable connections individually. It is their interaction that ensures the therapeutic benefits of a full-spectrum extract. The reason for this is the so-called entourage effect. This means that the compounds in the hemp plant have a stronger effect together than when isolated from each other. In this context we also speak of plant synergy. Some compounds enhance the effect and absorption of other components. Or they weaken their side effects.
Advantages and disadvantages
The variety of valuable ingredients and their powerful interaction through the entourage effect are clearly the greatest advantages of full-spectrum products. Another resulting advantage is the wide range of applications for such oils.
But there are also a few disadvantages. Full-spectrum oils naturally have a lower CBD content than isolates. They are also usually significantly more expensive than products made from CBD isolate. Full spectrum extracts are characterized by higher quality and this comes at a price.
Another disadvantage is the THC, which can still be contained in small amounts in full-spectrum products. There are legal limits for THC in hemp products in the EU that must not be exceeded. In Germany, for example, this is 0.2%. However, you can only rely on them if you buy from a reputable provider.
CBD isolate
ingredients
As described above and as the name suggests, CBD isolates contain almost exclusively CBD. With a careful process, a content of 99% can be guaranteed. The end product is crystals that are sold in powder form, capsules or oil.
Advantages and disadvantages
One of the biggest advantages of CBD isolates is on the manufacturer’s side. The exact proportion of CBD makes it easier for them to standardize their products and adhere to content specifications. You know exactly how many grams of CBD isolate need to be dissolved in a carrier oil to achieve a certain CBD content. This is not so easy to define with full-spectrum extracts, as the proportion of compounds can always fluctuate slightly.
Furthermore, it can be ruled out that isolates contain THC. If you want to avoid the intoxicating cannabinoid completely, you are on the safe side here. However, it should be mentioned that the amount contained in full-spectrum oils is far from enough to achieve a high or similar states.
A third advantage of Isolate is the significantly lower price. This is offset by the lack of an extremely effective CBD product, whose properties are favored by the entourage effect.
Broad spectrum extracts
In addition to full spectrum and isolate, there is a third variant, the broad spectrum extracts, which is sold less frequently. Simply put, this is an interim solution.
Broad-spectrum extracts are blended from several pre-isolated compounds from the hemp plant. They usually contain some cannabinoids such as CBD, CBN and CBG, as well as terpenes. While this blend may not achieve the same effects as a full-spectrum oil , it is more effective than an isolate. The presence of THC can also be ruled out in this way. Additionally, with a broad-spectrum extract, manufacturers have the opportunity to determine exactly what is contained in their product - similar to isolates, which can provide precise information about CBD content.
However, broad-spectrum extracts should also be enjoyed with some caution. Often these are just CBD isolates, which only contain terpenes and no other cannabinoids. This only increases the effect of the end product to a small extent and therefore borders on deception.
