There are three primary types of CBD on the market: full-spectrum CBD, isolate CBD, and broad-spectrum CBD. Each of these forms of CBD has its own pros and cons. In this article, we’ll do a full-spectrum vs isolate comparison, so you can decide which product is best for you.
Full-Spectrum CBD vs Isolate CBD: The Differences
CBD oil and other products have grown significantly in popularity over recent years. Research and personal accounts suggest that these compounds have a variety of benefits for the body and the mind. However, the different types of CBD on the market leave a lot of people confused.
Two of the most popular forms are full-spectrum CBD and Isolate CBD. Essentially, the differences between these types come down to their relative extraction methods:
- Isolate CBD is the purest form of CBD. It contains 99% CBD but none of the other beneficial compounds found in the hemp plant.
- Full-Spectrum CBD contains a variety of compounds and chemicals found in the hemp plant, including terpenes, essential oils, flavonoids and other cannabinoids.
If you’re still confused, don’t worry. We’ll define each of these types of CBD in more detail, explain their effects, and list the pros and cons of each type.
What is CBD?
To assist people with little or no knowledge of CBD — and help others understand the terms and concepts used in this article — we should quickly define what CBD is.
CBD is short for Cannabidiol. It’s one of the various compounds that you can find in cannabis and hemp. Legally sold CBD products contain 0.3% or less THC, the chemical that gives people a “high” when consuming cannabis.
There is a robust body of research to show that CBD has minimal side effects. Many other these studies also suggest that CBD has some excellent benefits by acting on the endocannabinoid system that is responsible for regulating several critical bodily functions, such as:
- appetite
- blood pressure
- mood
- metabolism
- memory
- sleep
- pain perception & sensations
- inflammation
Other clinical trials have shown that CBD is an excellent alternative to pharmaceuticals. Additionally, it is considered safe to use for almost everyone.
How is Hemp CBD Different from Marijuana CBD?
There are several varieties of cannabis plants. Each variety contains different levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD, alongside a range of additional cannabinoids.
For example, industrial hemp plants, like the Cannabis Sativa L — which is used to make textiles, rope, paper, and even foods — contain high levels of CBD and various cannabinoids but extremely low levels of THC.
On the other hand, Marijuana plants like Indica or Cannabis Sativa contain high amounts of THC and relatively low quantities of CBD. This product, regularly called cannabis, is illegal in the UK.
Cannabis oil can be processed from both types of plants. However, hemp plants are used because they contain high quantities of CBD. If manufacturers used marijuana plants, their products would contain high amounts of THC, which would give users a high, euphoric effect.
CBD offers users some great potential health and well-being benefits but without the side effects of THC. This difference is the reason why many people are seeking out THC-free products to treat a variety of illnesses and conditions.
What Is CBD Isolate?
Isolate CBD goes through a similar extraction process as full-spectrum CBD. However, because it is a more refined product, it requires some extra processing. It takes its name from the practice of isolating CBD from other compounds.
The result of this extra work means it removes some of the other cannabinoids that are active in CBD.
Isolate CBD is regarded as the purest form of CBD. The refinement process means that it doesn’t contain:
- THC
- Flavonoids
- Terpenes
- A noticeable taste or odour
A widely-cited study on animals from 2015 suggests that while Isolate CBD can offer several benefits, these effects are less significant than when using a full-spectrum CBD product.
The study goes on to suggest that Isolate CBD’s ability to reduce pain and inflammation has a bell-shaped dose-response. In simple terms, that means its effectiveness begins to drop off after taking a specific amount. The effects of Full-spectrum CBD, on the other hand, increase with higher doses.
These findings suggest that people who want to take higher doses of CBD might be happier with Isolate CBD. For anyone who is sensitive even to trace elements of THC, this could be the best route.
Additionally, Isolate CBD’s lack of THC means it shouldn’t appear in drug tests. Of course, anyone who is using CBD products should be aware that THC-free means it has less than 0.3% THC.
How is Isolate CBD Made?
Hemp plants contain a lot of different components. Manufacturers use a method called chromatography to separate out these compounds and make pure CBD. Many people refer to this process as “washing” because it involves injecting the plants with liquid or vapour to help tease apart the various components.
When this technique is complete, the cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, and lipids are removed. All that is left is a crystalline solid of pure CBD. This crystal form of CBD is then ground down into a fine powder before being packaged for commercial use.
The essential function of chromatography is to remove cannabinoids like THC. However, it also removes terpenes that account for the strong smells and flavour of some CBD products, which means it is more versatile and can be used in a wide range of products. Finally, the reason for removing lipids is so that Isolate CBD products are free of debris and plant matter.
Isolate CBD Pros and Cons
Isolate CBD Pros:
- The purest form of CBD
- No risk of the psychoactive effects associated with THC
- No taste or odour
- Considered to be very safe
- Guaranteed THC-Free
- Extremely unlikely to show up in drugs test
- Budget-Friendly
Isolate CBD Cons:
- Lower potency
- Fewer health benefits
- It doesn’t have the “entourage effect” produced by full-spectrum CBD
What is Full-Spectrum CBD?
CBD is considered full-spectrum when the products contain more than just isolated CBD. In short, full-spectrum CBD has all the compounds in the cannabis plant, which researchers believe gives it a more potent effect.
A big reason for this is what’s called the “Entourage Effect”. Research suggests that CBD’s health benefits may be more prominent when multiple compounds from the cannabis plant are present.
Full-spectrum CBD products generally contain a small amount of THC, usually below 0.3%. However, sometimes these levels can rise during the manufacturing process. As such, it’s recommended that you should always do your research before buying a product to ensure that the THC levels are below the specific threshold you are comfortable with.
Full-spectrum CBD has a wide range of reported health benefits, including:
- anti-anxiety
- antioxidant
- pain relief
- anti-seizure
- anti-inflammatory
Of course, these are just some of the more commonly reported benefits of these compounds. New, exciting uses are being reported by users every year.
Two studies from 2018 suggest that some CBD compounds can have positive neuroprotective effects and that CBD is more effective for pain than Isolate CBD due to the combined effects of THC and CBD.
Products that are labelled as “full-spectrum” go through less processing. As a result, they preserve the full range of phytochemicals during extractions.
Some of the CBD phytochemicals are:
- Cannabinoids
- Terpenes
- Fatty acids
- Plant esters
- Minerals
While CBD is the most common compound in hemp plants, experts suggest that when CBD is combined with other chemicals, it can produce a full and holistic set of benefits for the body and the mind.
Will Full-Spectrum CBD Make Me High?
One of the main differences between full-spectrum and Isolate CBD is that full-spectrum contains THC. As mentioned earlier, THC is a psychoactive compound that is associated with the euphoric effects of marijuana.
Understandably, some users might be concerned that a product with THC could cause them to have a desire to sit around in their pyjamas watching Seinfeld reruns and eat multiple bags of Doritos. Or, worse still, develop a sudden belief that the Great Pyramids of Giza were constructed by advanced alien civilisations.
However, as long as the full-spectrum CBD you consume comes from hemp plants that contain less than 0.3% TCH, it’s extremely unlikely you’ll get high — unless you consume a really huge amount of CBD.
All legally sold CBD products in the UK must contain less than 0.3% of THC, which means users don’t have to worry about these types of side effects.
Can Use or Full-Spectrum CBD Cause a Failed Drugs Test?
Although full-spectrum CBD contains so little THC that you are highly unlikely to feel high, there is some risk when it comes to drug testing. While using CBD products probably won’t be detected with a standard test, more sensitive tests can detect THC if you have been using high doses of CBD products for a significant period of time.
The primary reason is that THC accumulates in fat tissue cells. As a result, it can build up over time and stay in your system. Flushing CBD out of your system can take around 1-3 months. So this is something to be aware of if you use full-spectrum CBD products.
How is Full-Spectrum CBD Made?
The full-spectrum extraction process is performed in several different ways. For the type of CBD products that are sold legally in the UK, these operations first start with hemp plants because they are rich in CBD.
Then one of the following processes is used.
Ethanol hemp extraction: This most common form of CBD extraction uses a liquid solvent like ethanol. Ethanol, which is essentially alcohol, is colourless, non-toxic, and evaporates easily. These qualities make it a great choice for the job because once the liquid is run over the plant, it extracts the cannabinoids. Then, once it dries, all that remains is are cannabinoids, terpenes, and other organic compounds of the plant.
Propane/Butane extraction: Another popular way to extract CBD from help is with solvents like butane or propane. The solvent is washed over the plant in a closed-loop extraction system. Essentially, this is a piece of lab equipment that keeps air from the chemical process.
Similar to the ethanol process, the solvent strips the cannabinoids from the plant to be collected from the solution. However, one major difference is that CBD made with these solvents must be carefully purged to remove any traces of butane or propane. Both chemicals are not safe for humans to digest.
Other extraction methods: Two other popular extraction methods are using CO2 and oil. CO2 hemp extraction uses pressurised, dense carbon dioxide that has simultaneous qualities of a liquid and a gas. This process is efficient but highly technical. It requires three separate chambers; one for liquid CO2, a second for the plant material, and a third to turn the CO2 back into a gas,
Fhe last commonly used method involves submerging the plant in heated olive oil. This process separates out the cannabinoids from the plant matter, allowing producers to collect the product from the oil. While this is the simplest method, it’s less efficient.
Full-Spectrum Pros and Cons
Full-Spectrum Pros:
- Features a wide range of terpenes, cannabinoids, and phytonutrients
- Interesting earthy flavours that some people love
- Fewer side-effects
- Entourage effect due to mix of various cannabinoids
Full-Spectrum Cons:
- More expensive than Isolate CBD
- It contains small quantities of THC, which may be unwelcome for some users
In What Forms are Full-Spectrum and Isolate CBD Available?
While both Full-Spectrum and Isolate CBD come in oils, there are several different ways to consume these products, like:
Choosing between these products comes down to which benefits you want to achieve or how you prefer to consume CBD.
Conclusion
Full-spectrum CBD and Isolate CBD are types of CBD extracted from hemp plants. Isolate CBD is 99% CBD. It contains none of the other compounds found in hemp, which means it has fewer reported benefits than full-spectrum.
On the other hand, Full-spectrum CBD contains all of the various compounds of the hemp plant. While research is still being done to fully understand the contribution of these chemicals, reports suggest that full-spectrum CBD provides users with a fuller range of benefits.
