Full-Spectrum x Broad-Spectrum CBD Oil: Which One To choose?

When looking into CBD products, you have probably noticed that there are so many types, different cannabinoid spectrums – or percentages that translates its properties. So, while they might sound similar, full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products are worlds apart from each other. But, how so?

Although the research into CBD is still in the early stages, anecdotal evidence suggests that many people have found CBD helpful in relieving anxiety and pain. In addition, 62% of people using CBD use it for medical symptoms such as lack of sleep, depression, pain and stress.

In this blog post, we will go through how hemp is extracted from the plant, and you will learn how to differentiate a full-spectrum from a broad-spectrum CBD product, plus learn which one is better for you!

Hemp Extraction

All CBD products are extracted from the hemp plant using solvents. The cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids are removed from the plan and dissolved in oil to administer later better during the extraction.

Hemp extracts contain little to no THC – our products have none -, so they are non-psychoactive. What happened with the cannabinoids after the initial extraction will define if the extract is full or broad-spectrum. 

Full-Spectrum CBD

The full-spectrum CBD oil results from CO2 extraction – one of the most sustainable and safests ways to extract CBD nowadays. If a compound is determined as full-spectrum, this means it contains all phytochemicals naturally found in the plant, including CBD, cannabinoids, terpenes, and essential oils. 

All of the cannabinoids work together for the betterment of the whole – THC included.

Full-Spectrum Benefits

As the full-spectrum CBD oil has numerous other cannabinoid compounds from the cannabis plant, with low THC levels – usually less than 0.3% -, they are the less processed form of CBD, hence, more natural. As a result, they maximize the entourage effect, meaning they increase the health benefits of CBD. We outlined a full explanation of the entourage effect at the end of this post.

Some potential health benefits are:

• antiseizure
• antioxidant
• antianxiety
• pain relief
• anti-inflammatory

Broad-Spectrum CBD

Broad-spectrum CBD contains cannabidiol and all properties within the plant, except THC, completely removed after extraction. The broad-spectrum also produces the “entourage effect”, but in a lower magnitude and without the THC. 

It is an excellent choice for those who can’t or don’t want THC in their system, whether for legal, professional, or personal reasons.

Broad-Spectrum Benefits

The Broad-spectrum CBD is the perfect extract for those who want to experience all of CBD’s benefits but might have sensitivity to THC. Here are some advantages when you choose to go for the broad-spectrum oil:

• low risk of euphoria
• entourage effect
• less processed than the isolate
• helps with the mood
• anxiety
• better sleep patterns

The Entourage Effect Explained

Despite the complicated name, the entourage effect is relatively easy to understand. It refers to the overall impact of all the components of cannabis. Together, these components enhance the benefits of the plant. 

Some of the additional cannabinoids found in full-spectrum extracts include:

• Cannabinol (CBN)
• Cannabichromene (CBC)
• Cannabigerol (CBG)
• Cannabidiol acid (CBDA)
• Cannabidivarin (CBDV)

Because of the benefits of the entire plant, full-spectrum CBD products are usually priced higher than the broad-spectrum (they are sometimes referred to as dissolved CBD).

Before 2015, people believed that isolated CBD was more effective than full-spectrum oil. However, the myth came to an end when, in the Lautenberg Center for General Tumor Immunology in Jerusalem, the researchers discovered that subjects treated with full-spectrum CBD reported higher levels of relief than the group that used CBD isolate