What Is Full Spectrum CBD Oil?
What Is Full Spectrum CBD Oil?
CBD oil is broadly separated into two categories, called "full spectrum" and of course, hemp oil. The two products ultimately become the same thing (a CBD-infused oil) but where they differ is in the source material.
The short version is that hemp CBD oil only uses CBD sourced from hemp plants, but full spectrum does not.
Does it actually matter which you use?
Full-Spectrum CBD Oil Is Sourced From Multiple Sources
The difference between full-spectrum CBD oil and hemp CBD oil is that full-spectrum oil uses CBD that's sourced from both marijuana plants AND hemp plants, whereas hemp CBD oil uses CBD extracted solely from hemp.
What's the difference, you ask?
Actually...almost none. CBD oil, you see, is made by emulsifying CBD extract with a food-grade carrier oil. The extraction process only results in trace amounts of other compounds being present in the extract.
Hemp CBD Oil And Full Spectrum CBD Oil Are Broadly The Same
For all intents and purposes, hemp CBD oil and full-spectrum CBD oil are the same thing; the only difference is the plants that are used at the start of the process. The compound being infused into the oil is not terribly different.
Think of it like this:
When a liquor company makes a run of, say, vodka, they create a mash (a fermented liquid, sort of like beer, wine or cider) that is then distilled. Distillation (incidentally one of the processes that can be used to extract CBD) heats the mash to the evaporation point of ethanol, which escapes in the form of steam.
That steam goes into a pipe, which is cooled down causing the steam to recondense into liquid, which then runs off as ethanol, which is the drinkable form of alcohol. Granted, it usually has to be redistilled to remove impurities, but you get the general idea.
How much does it matter if it's made from, say, corn, grain or potatoes? Not much; the chemical structure is almost identical - about 40 percent ethanol and 60 percent water, in most cases - and vodka is basically tasteless. However, some people do notice some differences.
The point here is that when CBD is extracted from the source material, it's almost entirely (meaning more than 99 percent) just the compound cannabidiol. The chemical difference is slight
CBD Oil Is Sometimes Plagued By Myths About THC
Connection Between THC & CBD Oil
Some people get concerned about using CBD oil due to some dogged myths about the interaction between CBD and THC. Many are either distortions of the truth, are unproven by science or are just plain gobbledygook.
One such is that THC is required to "activate" CBD. To date, the medical literature has not supported it; CBD in and of itself has been shown to be effective for treating certain disorders with absolutely no THC being involved.
Epidiolex, the CBD oil approved by the FDA for treating certain childhood epilepsy disorders, is in fact a pure CBD isolate; it's literally nothing but pure CBD, infused in an oil.
The THC myth likely stems from the calming effect of THC intoxication. After all, when people feel good...they tend to feel good.
There are a few studies that suggest full-spectrum CBD oil may have some benefits due to the entourage effect of trace chemicals along with the CBD, but remember that CBD studies are still in their infancy and ultimately, you are the best judge of knowing how well CBD oil works for you.