What is Full Spectrum CBD Oil?
There are many phrases that you may hear when researching CBD oils. One that is likely to come up a lot is “full-spectrum”. But what is full-spectrum CBD oil? And is it better or worse than any other kind of CBD product?
An advanced warning here, in order to get into the answer to this question, we are going to have to get into the science behind it a bit.
Don’t worry though, we’ll keep it as simple as we can, to save us the headache as much as you!
So let’s get into it, and work out what exactly full-spectrum CBD oil is, and why it has so many people talking.
What is Full Spectrum CBD oil?
In its simplest terms, full-spectrum CBD oil is CBD oil with all the bits left in. Think of it as the cannabidiol equivalent of orange juice with bits.
In this case, the ‘bits’ in question are essential oils, terpenes, and other cannabinoids, including THC.
While full spectrum CBD can contain THC, it is required by law to not contain more than trace amounts (0.2% in the EU, 0.3% in Canada, it’s always very low).
The Rise of Full Spectrum CBD Oil
For a long time, the general belief was that the more isolated the CBD was in a product, the more effective that product was (don’t worry if you’re lost already, we’ll get into CBD isolate in a bit).
However, in February 2005, an interesting study was released by the Lautenberg Center for General and Tumor Immunology in Jerusalem that changed this opinion for many, and it involves full spectrum CBD, and bell shapes.
The study, titled Overcoming the Bell-Shaped Dose-Response of Cannabidiol by Using Cannabis Extract Enriched in Cannabidiol, sought to resolve one specific issue that came up when using CBD isolate. The bell-shaped dose-response.
In simple terms, this means that as the dose of isolated CBD was increased, its effectiveness didn’t, and in fact started to go down after a certain point (creating a bell shape).
The study suggested that full-spectrum CBD could remove this issue, as the effectiveness of the CBD continued to increase as the dose went up (which is far more useful for science, but less useful for bells).
This research led to a new school of thought amongst many outspoken individuals in the CBD world (of which there is no shortage, and we say that with no judgement, as we are undoubtedly among them!) focused around the “entourage effect”.
What is The Entourage Effect?
Here’s another phrase you’re likely to hear a lot when reading up on CBD products.
The “entourage effect” theory is a simple one, which suggests that full-spectrum CBD oil is more effective than CBD on its own because the various cannabinoids included in the oil work together, creating a wider spread list of possible benefits.
Full Spectrum CBD vs CBD Isolate
There is much debate in the CBD world about which is better, full-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate. We are big believers in there being no correct answer to that, what works best for one person may not for the next.
Let’s have a quick dive into CBD isolate for those who are curious.
CBD isolate, working on the comparison above, is the smooth orange juice of the CBD world. There are not bits included, all the additional parts are taken out, this is CBD on its own, with nothing else included.
In the same way that full-spectrum CBD has its vocal advocates, so too does the isolate form.
CBD isolate is good for those who are looking to avoid all traces of THC in their CBD products, whether this is due to personal preference, or something more specific, like concerns over drug screenings that are unlikely to show up the trace amounts of THC present in full-spectrum CBD, but not guaranteed not to.
The best way to decide which of the two options is best for you is to try them and see. Don’t forget, if you have any questions, be they about full-spectrum CBD oil, CBD isolate, the “entourage effect”, or anything else CBD related (or even if you just want to say hi and check how we’re doing, we’re cool with that too!) don’t hesitate to send us a message and we’ll be delighted to discuss it with you.
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