Full-spectrum CBD oil

What is full-spectrum CBD oil?

Full-spectrum CBD oil is a pure extract of the CBD plant, which contains CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC, flavonoids, terpenes, and 0.3% THC. It can be packaged in the form of capsules, tablets, ointments, balms, tinctures, and more.

However, it is essential to understand what types of CBD oil are currently available, as not all CBD products are made the same way.

Full-spectrum CBD oil

Full-spectrum CBD oil contains all the compounds produced by the plant: cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. The cannabinoids in these oils contain less than 0.3% THC. That’s not enough to make you high, but it’s enough to activate the entourage effect (more information below).

Broad-spectrum CBD oil

Broad-spectrum CBD oils contain all the terpenes, flavonoids, and phytocannabinoids the plant has to offer, except THC. Broad-spectrum CBD oils are obtained by removing THC from the oil or starting with a CBD isolate and reintroducing all compounds except THC.

The CBD isolate is usually extracted using cold CO₂ methods that remove everything except the CBD molecules in the plant. The result is a fine white crystalline powder that easily dissolves in the liquid.

Hemp seed oil

Although the three products mentioned above are made from the flowers and leaves of the hemp plant, CBD seed oil is made from the seeds and contains useful elements such as essential fatty acids and acids. Amino acids, high amounts of vitamins A, C, and E, as well as proteins, fiber, and minerals, are included. Although hemp seed oil is made from hemp, it doesn’t contain cannabinoids like the three versions of hemp oil mentioned above.

What is the entourage effect?

The entourage effect is a chemical reaction that occurs when a combination of cannabinoids is present in the body at the same time and increases each of their impact at the same time.

Israeli scientists Shimon Ben-Shabat and Raphael Mechoulam coined the term “entourage effect” in a 1999 scientific article when they realized that cannabinoids in the CBD plant act as the body’s endocannabinoid system.

Studies have shown that the therapeutic properties of individual cannabinoids were not as effective without their siblings.

This suggests a synergistic interaction between phytocannabinoids known as the “entourage effect,” making full-spectrum oils a more productive option.

How is full-spectrum CBD oil made?

Full-spectrum CBD oil is extracted from the leaves and flowers of the CBD plant (also known as above-ground parts of plants).

The production of full-spectrum CBD oil starts by drying the stems, leaves, and flowers of fully ripe CBD plants, then mashing the entire plant into a fine powder and extracting the oils with a gentle extraction method.

This process preserves the phytocannabinoids as a whole, ensuring that all of the potentially useful compounds are present in the extracted oil.

Advantages of full-spectrum CBD oil

Until the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) carries out new studies on the effects of phytocannabinoids, manufacturers and retailers are limited in their statements about the effectiveness of their products.

While this may seem frustrating, scientific studies will help determine the effects of individual compounds and combinations and may even lead to discoveries.

Full-spectrum CBD oil vs. CBD isolate

A ‘purified’ oil contains an isolated compound, usually only one of over 100 cannabinoids found in cannabis.

Full-spectrum phytocannabinoid oils contain all compounds produced by the plant.

Different types of cannabis produce different spectra of compounds. The compounds of a full spectrum oil vary depending on the genetics of the plants from which it comes.

For example, CBD does not contain significant amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive compound. That is why CBD oils are not intoxicating.