There are countless CBD products on the market to choose from. Sometimes it can be difficult to know which one will work best for you.
What CBD product you select for yourself will depend upon a few factors. The main one will be what you plan on using it for. In addition, you want to consider your tolerance to THC. You need to decide if it will complement your lifestyle since it can get you high.
Regardless, understanding the difference between a CBD isolate versus full-spectrum CBD will be helpful in choosing the right product for you.
What Does CBD Isolate Mean?
A CBD isolate product is one that only contains the CBD molecule without any additional cannabinoids, terpenes, or THC. A reminder that THC is the psychoactive component of cannabis.
There is nothing else in the CBD product except for the CBD isolate. This often comes in a powder form to be added to oils etc.
For those wanting to avoid THC and avoid getting high, a product with CBD isolate made from hemp, rather than marijuana, will be preferable.
The Bottom Line: CBD isolate is a when then the CBD molecule is isolated from the whole plant and there is nothing else in it.
What Does Full-Spectrum Mean?
The other option for CBD products are those of the full-spectrum variety which use the whole plant.
These will contain a cannabis plant extract containing cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and low levels of THC.
It does not matter if the extract comes from the hemp or marijuana plant. There are likely still some trace amounts of THC remaining.
Therefore, this is not a great option for those sensitive to THC. This is also not a good choice for those who are wanting to avoid any uncomfortable side effects from THC. However, the terpenes that are found in the full-spectrum extract can be beneficial.
The Bottom Line: A full-spectrum CBD product is extracted from the whole plant and can contain low levels of THC among other compounds.
The Entourage Effect
There is some evidence to suggest that full-spectrum CBD products, either from hemp or marijuana plants, can offer additional therapeutic value.
In essence, the entourage effect refers to the synergy that happens when cannabinoids are combined together with other minor cannabinoids and terpenes.
The compound effect is more visible in combination rather than in isolation. This effect can help to lengthen or improve the general effects of CBD.
There are particular, often more serious, conditions in which this phenomenon is useful. One example would be for epileptic patients who seem to respond better to full-spectrum options. Another example would be for those going through cancer treatment.
The entourage effect only applies to full-spectrum CBD products. The additional benefits will depend again on the medical condition, stage of the condition, patient physiology, and the dose-response.
That being said, the endocannabinoid system is fairly complicated. There is still a limited understanding of how it exactly works in the body. More research is needed to find out exactly how these cannabinoids interact.
The Bottom Line: The entourage effect suggests that certain people can respond better to CBD extracts containing the additional compounds found in full-spectrum products. However, these are still not a good option for those looking to avoid the psychoactive effects of THC.
What CBD Product to Choose?
Again, that will depend on what your health goals, personal needs, lifestyle, and limitations are. There is no blanket answer for everyone so this process can involve a lot of trial and error to find what works best for you.
That being said, there really are no differences between products coming from hemp or marijuana. The main thing you need to look out for will be if the product is a CBD isolate or full-spectrum CBD. This will tell you about the presence of THC when you are purchasing a CBD oil.
A full-spectrum product certainly has a time and place. It can be more effective for some particular conditions that only respond to the presence of THC. These would include epilepsy or cancer treatment. However, there are a number of cases in which full-spectrum also would not be a good option. We will discuss these points further below.
For those sensitive to THC or wanting to avoid any unwanted side effects, a CBD isolate will be the absolute safest option. This would apply specifically to those who are suffering from anxiety and hoping to use CBD oil to manage it.
You will also want to consider at this point your lifestyle and if THC is suitable for your regular daily needs. Most people who use ICARIA CBD oils are busy and professional women with a number of responsibilities. They simply cannot afford to feel the psychoactive effects of THC for most of the day. They are either around children, need to be able to drive, or at work.
In addition, THC is not necessary for most conditions to get the medicinal results. The downside of having THC in your product is that it limits how high of a dosage you can take without getting high. It also limits as to when you can take your CBD oil, like at work, for example. With our products at ICARIA, you do not need to worry about this and it gives you more flexibility.
The Bottom Line: If you feel uncomfortable with having THC in your CBD oil, then you can simply use a CBD isolate to get the same health benefits. Full-spectrum CBD products are really only needed for specific health conditions.
The Final Verdict
Trying CBD products from both hemp and marijuana sources with varying levels of THC and CBD could be helpful in finding the right product for your specific needs.
You still definitely want to focus on choosing an organic product with a good concentration and slowly increase your dose until you find a level that works for you.
That being said, if you find that a CBD isolate is not working well for you, then you can try either increasing your dose or switching to a full-spectrum product.
Everyone is different so what works for somebody could possibly not work for you. People respond very differently to CBD and THC as well based on their body and medical condition.
For a product containing THC, you will also want to consider if it suits your lifestyle. This will put limitations as to when you will be able to take it.
However, if you do not want to experience any psychoactive effects, then choose a CBD oil that uses an isolate over full-spectrum. This is the only way to guarantee zero THC content. In this case, ICARIA products are a great option for you.
