What Does Full Spectrum CBD Mean? Full Spectrum vs Isolate CBD.

Posted by MONTKUSH on 9th Aug 2020

Full Spectrum CBD - What Is Full Spectrum?

Are you new to CBD? Wondering what is full spectrum CBD? Well welcome to the wide and complex world of this fascinating cannabinoid that is seemingly a cure-all for any ailment you can imagine, here are the details: CBD product labels can be tricky to understand whether you’re a beginner or have long incorporated CBD into your daily health regimen. You may be asking questions like, what is the difference between full spectrum vs isolate CBD? While we’re not going to break down every nuance of a CBD label, we do want to provide some clarity on the different kinds of CBD you’re likely to see on the market.

Yes, there are different kinds of CBD.

One you’ll see often is full spectrum CBD, and that’s what we’d like to shed light on for you today. We’re going to tell you what exactly full spectrum CBD means, what chemical compounds you’re likely to find in full spectrum CBD as well as what purposes they serve, and the most common types of products that feature full spectrum CBD.

Let’s dive right in!

What Is Full Spectrum CBD?

Full spectrum CBD comes from the hemp plant and contains other cannabinoids in addition to CBD. This includes terpenes, essential vitamins, proteins, fatty acids, as well as small amounts of THC and other naturally occurring elements from the hemp plant.

Full spectrum CBD oil is sometimes called “whole-plant” oil because it means you get all of the goodness that comes from the hemp plant. That’s what full spectrum means — you get everything, not just CBD.

You can learn more about "What is CBD?" here.

Full Spectrum CBD vs. Broad Spectrum CBD vs. CBD Isolate

The other types of CBD products you will see on the market come from broad-spectrum CBD and CBD isolate.

  • Like full spectrum CBD, broad spectrum CBD contains all of the other beneficial compounds found in the hemp plant. This includes cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and more. However, broad-spectrum CBD does not contain any THC.
  • CBD isolate refers to raw CBD oil. As the name suggests, it is pure, isolated CBD. It contains no compounds or cannabinoids other than CBD. The process to obtain CBD isolate involves stripping the substance to remove all of the other compounds from the plant, including beneficial compounds, and extract nothing but pure cannabidiol.
  • As we mentioned above, full spectrum CBD has all of the beneficial compounds found in hemp, including trace amounts of THC. Full spectrum CBD may sometimes be referred to as a whole-plant extract, but it means you get the full benefits of the hemp plant.

The main factor in determining which type of CBD is used in products is the presence of THC. Many CBD users are concerned that THC will show up on a drug test, which may be required by their employer. However, even full spectrum CBD products have such a low level of THC that they should not produce a positive result.

Federal law requires that CBD products must be extracted from hemp instead of marijuana. Hemp plants, by definition, contain less than 0.3 percent THC. This is just a trace amount of THC and should not trigger a drug test. Despite the concerns, users can agree that full spectrum CBD offers the most benefits of all CBD products.

Is Full Spectrum Better?

We might be a bit biased but we’ll go ahead and say it: full spectrum CBD is the best. And here’s why.

Full spectrum takes full advantage of what’s known as the entourage effect. The entourage effect shows that there is a greater benefit when all of the compounds in full spectrum CBD are able to work together. The compounds in full spectrum CBD oil and other products are able to produce greater therapeutic benefits (and better ones).

One 2015 study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Hadassah School, found that full spectrum CBD was more effective at treating inflammation than CBD isolate. Their findings showed that the other compounds in full spectrum CBD synergized to produce greater results.

CBD isolate, meanwhile, cannot take advantage of the entourage effect because there are no other compounds to synthesize with. CBD isolate is like using a product that’s been stripped of a lot of its nutritional value.

Full spectrum CBD is also a step above broad-spectrum CBD because CBD and THC in particular, combine to produce powerful results. CBD allows you to get the therapeutic value from THC without its psychoactive effects. This is because CBD counteracts some of the side effects of THC, giving you the good without the bad.

What Does Full Spectrum CBD Oil Help With?

The most important thing to remember when shopping for CBD of any kind is quality and dosage, to ensure the highest level of relief one might experience.

Research is still in early stages, but there is evidence to suggest that full spectrum CBD may be able to provide benefits for:

  • Inflammation
  • Joint pain
  • Muscle soreness and recovery
  • Anxiety and depression
  • And more

Users take CBD for a wide variety of reasons as well. And the benefits you feel will depend on your method of ingestion and several other factors.

Essentially, users take full spectrum CBD for the same reasons they would take any CBD product. For whatever reason you came to CBD for relief, full spectrum CBD is likely to be more effective than broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate. That’s because full spectrum CBD has the full bounty of goodness extracted from the plant—the benefits come from far beyond just the CBD itself.

What Is In Full Spectrum CBD Oil?

A lot! There are actually more than 100 cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. CBD, or cannabidiol, is just one of these compounds. Other common cannabinoids include THC, CBC, CBG, and CBN.

  • THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is the signature component associated with marijuana. It is psychoactive, meaning it is the cannabinoid that produces marijuana’s signature “high.”
  • CBC (Cannabicromene) is another cannabinoid with anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, anti-fungal, and anti-cancer properties.
  • CBG (Cannabigerol) also has anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, properties and has also exhibited tumor-fighting capabilities. It is being tested for positive effects on cancer, glaucoma, inflammation, and even skin diseases.
  • CBN (Cannabinol) is most known for its strong sedative effect, the strongest among all cannabinoids. CBN also has anti-convulsant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Full spectrum CBD oil combines the effects of all of these compounds (and more) to produce greater results for users. Beyond cannabinoids, full spectrum CBD also contains vitamins, essential fats, and proteins.

There is an abundance of Vitamins A, C, E, and B in CBD, along with up to 20 amino acids and essential fatty acids, such as Omega 3 and Omega 6. These amino acids are beneficial because they boost the human body’s ability to make protein, which improves recovery time. Fatty acids are also great for heart health.

All of these compounds work together to produce greater benefits than what broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate can offer. It’s all thanks to the entourage effect.

Will it Get You High?

No! Actually, no CBD product will get you high. That’s the main differentiator between CBD and THC.

While full spectrum CBD products do contain a small amount of THC, the intoxicating compound found in marijuana, it is not enough to get you high. Furthermore, as mentioned above, CBD has the ability to enhance the therapeutic effects of THC while reducing its side effects. So as long as you are using a CBD product with below the legal requirement of 0.3% THC, you don't have to worry about getting "high".

There is absolutely no risk of getting high from any CBD product, which is a major reason why CBD has become so popular.

How Long Does CBD Stay In Your System?

There are a few factors that determine how long CBD will stay in your system. These include:

  • How much CBD you use
  • How often you use CBD
  • Individual body compositions
  • Your diet
  • And your method of use (oils, vaping, edibles, lotions, etc.)

CBD oil, for example, acts fast and lingers in your body longer, while vaping acts fastest but also has the shortest-lasting effects. How long the effects last depends on some combination of all of these factors and can be difficult to pinpoint, but in general, the effects of CBD should last between two and six hours. How long traces of CBD stay in our system is even more difficult to determine, but should not be a cause for concern.

What Are The Most Common Types of Products That Include Full Spectrum CBD?

You can find full spectrum CBD in every kind of CBD product.

Full spectrum products include everything from CBD oil to edibles, CBD gummies, capsules, and CBD softgels, even topical creams, lotions, and balms. Full spectrum CBD has even been marketed in things like coffee and chocolates. It’s everywhere.

The “best” way to take CBD oil is entirely up to the user. Once you build a tolerance, you may find that a stronger full spectrum CBD oil twice daily is best for you, while others may just take a small dose when they need it. It all depends!

Summary

As you can see, full spectrum CBD means you get the full benefits of the hemp plant in your CBD oil or other product. Because of the wonderful phenomenon known as the entourage effect, full spectrum CBD offers benefits that broad-spectrum CBD and CBD isolate can’t match.

Full spectrum CBD oil from MONTKUSH won’t get you high, but will give you the signature CBD benefits you’ve come to enjoy. Determine the right dose and method that best suits your needs and join the happy mountain today.

Full Spectrum CBD Vs Isolate - What is Full Spectrum?

Full spectrum CBD vs Isolate CBD: In general, CBD has been accepted by more and more of the medical community. With full spectrum CBD oil showing a wide range of potential applications and the increased availability of the product. It’s no wonder so many people want to learn more. Of course, not all CBD products are created equal, and certainly, no two CBD products are the same. If you’ve been shopping through different CBD products at all, you’ve probably noticed different labels. Some labels read Full Spectrum CBD while other products are labeled ‘Isolate.’

Don’t worry if you don’t know what those tags mean. You’re in the right place, and this article will help you understand the differences between full spectrum CBD and Isolate and how it can impact your wellness routine.

What Is CBD?

The first thing you need to know is the basics of CBD itself. While most people know that CBD is a cannabis product (or think it is), few know what it actually is.

In the United States and most of the rest of the world, CBD is not actually a cannabis product. CBD is a cannabinoid, one of the chemicals found in cannabis and related plants, such as hemp. However, because all CBD products are required to have a meager total percentage of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component of cannabis), CBD can’t be refined from cannabis.

Instead, CBD comes from hemp plants, a close cousin of cannabis. Unlike cannabis, hemp plants have such a low percentage of THC that they are typically not considered psychoactive.

CBD is only one of over 100 cannabinoids naturally found in hemp and cannabis plants. While we don’t entirely know what each of those cannabinoids does, we do know that the presence of additional cannabinoids seems to have a positive health effect.

We go into greater detail about this on our page, "What is CBD?"

What's the Difference Between Full Spectrum CBD and Isolate?

Until this point, we have only been focusing on two types of CBD available. But there are actually three basic types of CBD extract available. Some are better for certain formulations of CBD, which is one reason all three are manufactured.

Full Spectrum CBD

So let's take a look at some of what makes Full Spectrum CBD different. Generally speaking, it is considered the most beneficial of the three. That is because full spectrum CBD contains all of the cannabinoids found in the hemp it’s made from (including a relatively small fraction of a percent of THC).

Another benefit to full spectrum CBD is that it maintains naturally occurring terpenes and flavonoids. These can also positively affect the body since terpenes are known to have some anti-inflammatory benefits. Isolate CBD on the other hand, is processed with chemicals and strips away other natural compounds.

Full Spectrum CBD can have a strong flavor, which you may or may not like, thanks to the inclusion of those terpenes and flavonoids. Some alternatives get around the flavor, like Montkush’s Mint CBD oil, which uses mint flavors to make the product more palatable.

Also, it has been shown that full spectrum CBD could have an increased effect as you increase the dose of the CBD. Not all types of CBD work this way, so Full Spectrum is believed to have a stronger impact on users. It’s can also be helpful for individuals who are noticing increased tolerance to their normal CBD dose.

Full Spectrum CBD oil is also a fantastic source of trace minerals and important vitamins, adding mild nutritional support to your normal diet.

Broad Spectrum CBD

Broad Spectrum CBD is similar to Full Spectrum. It indicates that there are fewer terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids than true Full Spectrum CBD. But it does still contain some of those terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids, unlike isolate.

The biggest consideration is that broad-spectrum CBD can have absolutely no THC content, while full-spectrum CBD can have a tiny percentage of THC still included.

Isolate CBD

An isolate is a form of CBD that does not contain the flavonoids, terpenes, and other cannabinoids found in the hemp plant.

Isolate is as close to pure CBD as you can get. It has a milder flavor but doesn’t offer all the same benefits of a full spectrum CBD. However, you can vape isolate, which is one of the main forces behind manufacturing it.

In addition to losing the flavonoids, terpenes, and cannabinoids that you get from full-spectrum CBD, you also lose the healthy fatty acids that are usually contained in full-spectrum CBD. Isolate also has a fairly narrow effective dose. That means it isn’t effective if the dose is too low, and increasing your dose doesn’t necessarily increase the effectiveness of the treatment.

Which type of CBD you choose is a matter of personal preference, as well as what dosage and purity your medical professionals may advise treating certain conditions.

Of course, the differences between Full Spectrum CBD and Isolate CBD are only part of the equation. You also have to consider different methods of preparation and consumption and what kinds of symptoms you want to relieve.

The available preparations can also have a huge impact on which type of CBD you buy. For instance, vaping CBD has some of the fastest possible absorptions but isn't available for Full Spectrum CBD, so even if you prefer Full Spectrum CBD, you may end up needing Isolate.

Common Full Spectrum CBD Preparations:

There are several different preparations for CBD oil, and each has its own benefits and uses. Combined with the differences between Full Spectrum CBD and Isolate, the combination gives you a wide range of different benefits and effectiveness.

CBD Oil:

Straight CBD oil is one of the most common preparations because it’s less complicated to make, easy to use, and offers relatively quick absorption. CBD oil can be made as a Full Spectrum oil, a Broad-Spectrum oil, or an Isolate. The purity of the CBD Oil highly depends on the extraction method. For example, MONTKUSH uses a hemp flower press to extract pure CBD rosin oil.

CBD oils also come in a range of potencies, so you have much greater control over your final dose. Your dose is a combination of the potency of the oil and how much you take. Typically, the cost of CBD oil increases with higher dosages or volumes, so a higher concentration is typically more expensive than a smaller amount.

CBD oil can be taken orally, holding the oil under your tongue for a few seconds before swallowing. It can also be added to a drink or some foods if you want to hide the taste. You can find some companies that offer Mint CBD oil and other flavors that help mask the taste.

You can also use oils to make CBD edibles by infusing certain foods with a few drops of CBD. Just check out this cool guide on how to make CBD gummies.

CBD Softgel and CBD Gummy:

CBD Softgels and Gummies are other common ways to take CBD. Like oils, they can be made with all three types of CBD and offer an exact dosage.

However, softgel pills and CBD Gummies don’t have quite the dose flexibility of oil. You’re limited to how much CBD is contained in the softgel or CBD Gummy. If you need more, you need to take another softgel and or gummy.

CBD Gummies and Softgels are a popular way to take full spectrum CBD because they aren’t as flavorful. Also, Softgels and Gummies are slower methods for absorbing CBD into your bloodstream. This can help spread your CBD dosage across the whole day.

Choosing the Right Full Spectrum CBD for You:

Ultimately, your experience with CBD depends a lot on your personal preferences and willingness to experiment. It’s a good idea to try various preparations before deciding which one is right for you. You may want to keep a couple of different preparations on hand for different situations.

If you are looking for a Full Spectrum CBD

If you have a friend or family member who uses CBD, it’s a good idea to contact them for recommendations on what you should try. Of course, if you’re looking for CBD, visit the MONTKUSH online CBD Shop and check out their CBD options. MONTKUSH makes their CBD products with their own USDA organic CBD rosin. One of the very few companies with USDA Organic CBD. It makes a quality source for full spectrum CBD products. Also, you can click here to see if there is a store near you that sells MONTKUSH CBD.