Users are often confused about choosing between broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD oil for managing their health conditions. Here are the distinctions.

What Is the Difference Between Broad Spectrum and Full Spectrum CBD Oils?

For decades, people have feared the intoxicating effect of weed and refused this treatment option because of reluctance to get high. But after the isolation of cannabidiol (CBD) from the hemp plant, things changed once and for all.

CBD oil has become a new word in modern alternative medicine. It has given users with pain, chronic stress and anxiety, depression, and insomnia the ability to treat their conditions with a safe herbal remedy without the strong addictive impact of regular painkillers and antidepressants. Now you can choose among numerous flavored and unflavored CBD oils, consume the oil orally or in the form of creams and tinctures, and individualize the treatment regime to your unique health needs.

Still, the market is abundant with CBD products today, and even making a choice for a pure, effective, and safe CBD oil becomes a real hassle. Many consumers get confused about the terminology, like broad-spectrum, full-spectrum, or isolate CBD oil. Here we examine the difference and provide a step-by-step guide to choosing the most appropriate format for your CBD treatment regimen.

Why Take CBD Oil?

First, it’s vital to note that the beneficial effects of CBD oils are widely known and proven in clinical studies. Much research has been conducted recently to prove that CBD is a beneficial remedy for many health conditions. There is much evidence of CBD’s pronounced impact on:

• Chronic pain is a serious cause of disability worldwide today, and CBD can help manage this condition without resorting to opioids and addictive painkillers. A study by Capano et al. proved that people consuming CBD could effectively address pain and enjoy a similar quality of life they did when using opioids. Studies by Hunter et al. and Blake et al. also showed how CBD oils for arthritis help patients achieve tangible improvement in their conditions. Thus, CBD use for pain management is a common, safe practice today.
• Anxiety and depression. The soothing and relaxing properties of CBD are well-known, as it has found broad application in the treatment of PTSD, social anxiety disorder, and anxiety. Many people also consume CBD to manage daily symptoms of depression.
• Sleep problems. Given CBD’s painkilling and soothing properties, users also choose CBD oils for insomnia management. CBD oil consumption before bedtime helps relax and relieve anxiety, guaranteeing better sleep quality and more restful sleep.

What Should CBD Oil Contain?

The regular CBD oil user might be startled to know that CBD is only one of 100+ cannabinoids contained in weed plants. Nature is a wise creator, so the complex chemical composition of weed helps this plant produce a variety of physical and psychological effects on the users when all (or most) cannabinoids work together.

THC and CBD, however, are the most well-researched components of this miracle plant, so the major focus in manufacturing is made on these two. When choosing between full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate CBD, you should thus study the variety of chemical components preserved from hemp extract in the specific CBD product you plan to use. The fuller the spectrum of CBD oil, the more components it has preserved, while the CBD isolate is the purest extract of all.

Full-Spectrum

As its name suggests, full-spectrum CBD is a product containing the entire cannabinoid profile of a hemp plant, including THC. In line with federal and state manufacturing regulations, the amount of THC is usually not allowed to exceed 0.3%. It’s natural to expect to find phytocannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes in the content of these products. However, due to such a rich chemical profile and the presence of cannabinoids and terpenes in its content, full-spectrum CBD oil can give users a pronounced entourage effect. Thus, users often choose full-spectrum CBD oils for anxiety, stress relief, and pain, as these products are the most potent and effective.

Pros

• The combined ‘entourage effect’ of all cannabinoids and terpenes contributes to a longer, more pronounced therapeutic impact on the users.
• The high potency of full-spectrum CBD products makes them suitable for treating various mental conditions (e.g., seizures, depression, and anxiety).

Cons

• You can test positive for THC.

Broad-Spectrum

In a nutshell, broad-spectrum CBD oil contains all cannabinoids found in the hemp plant except for THC. In other words, you can naturally expect the CBD product to be zero-THC. Still, not all zero-THC products are broad-spectrum, as some production methods involve the removal of THC and other cannabinoids together with it. Thus, due to zero-THC product manufacturing, users get products more like CBD isolates.

Pros

• You will not test positive on a drug test.
• You are in control of the effects that CBD oil produces on you.

Cons

• The entourage effect is less pronounced.

Isolate

CBD isolate is the safest form of CBD consumption that brings the risk of THC intake down to zero. The product usually comes with no cannabinoids besides CBD and has transparent content with no surprises. However, users of CBD isolate should know that they will not feel any entourage effect that cannabinoids other than CBD and THC typically deliver. So, isolates are recommended only for medical conditions’ treatment and do not suit people who seek a mood boost and gentle, uplifting effect full-spectrum and broad-spectrum products would naturally deliver.

Pros

• Many consider the entourage effect one of the CBD oils’ side effects, and an isolate helps them avoid that effect.
• Users only enjoy the benefits of CBD oils without consuming additional cannabinoids or terpenes.

Cons

• The limited isolate components prevent users from deriving broader therapeutic benefits from hemp.

Full-Spectrum vs. Broad-Spectrum Products: Side Effects

As with any other biologically active supplements, users need to be cautious about the potential side effects CBD oil may cause. While CBD is generally considered safe for human health, it may cause undesirable effects because of individual intolerance to components, allergies, or overdosing:

• Weight gain/loss
• Appetite gain/loss
• Diarrhea
• Sleepiness

Thus, you should monitor yourself for these symptoms at the onset of regular CBD intake and try different products if you notice any.

THC and CBD Oil

Some users assume that while 0.3% is a legally acceptable dose of THC in full-spectrum CBD products, broad-spectrum oils will necessarily be totally free from THC. Unfortunately, that’s not always so, as manufacturers often resort to dubious production practices and do not control the THC content as they should. Thus, you may come across THC even in broad-spectrum products. Here’s how you can avoid this:

• Study the label. As a rule, manufacturers stipulate zero THC content with a proper label on the product’s packaging. It’s vital information that many users prioritize when searching for the ideal CBL oil. Thus, you should start worrying if you don’t see a zero-THC seal on the bottle.
• Download the COA (certificate of analysis) or third-party test report. Most reputable brands take proper care of testing their products at third-party labs to showcase those results to consumers and persuade them to make a buying decision based on the transparency and purity of ingredients.

How to Choose One for Yourself?

Thus, as you can see, choosing the right CBD oil type is a huge deal for a CBD use beginner. It is a task requiring meticulous analysis and research of existing brands and their offerings, which may help you resist the seductive promises of advertisements. We recommend focusing on the following parameters when making this selection:

• The health condition you intend to manage. You may need various chemical components in addition to CBD to manage pain, stress and anxiety, skin health, or inflammation apart from those you would require when seeking sleep improvement or an overall wellness boost.
• Frequency of use. Some users are only beginners or use CBD only when they experience occasional pain or discomfort. In contrast, others are heavy users applying CBD a couple of times a day to treat chronic conditions that bother them.
• The presence of THC. Though, as we’ve already figured out, a 0.3% concentration of CBD won’t make you high, some users still fear using products with a meager THC presence. They may be employed at risky jobs, use CBD oil when driving, or submit regular drug tests at work. In all these cases, even a small amount of THC comes at a risk, and you need to opt for broad-spectrum CBD or even a CBD isolate to derive maximum health benefits from your CBD use without legal or professional hazards.
• Compliance with safety and quality standards. We recommend checking your chosen product for third-party lab testing and ISO 17025 compliance and identifying the source of hemp used in the production of this concrete CBD oil. The product you buy should be tested for pesticides, heavy metals, and mold, which should all be reflected in the COA.

Use these filters as guidance in the choice of your next CBD oil and pay attention to third-party lab tests. These reports contain all vital information about the product’s chemical composition and help you ensure safe CBD consumption.