CBD Isolate VS. CBD Oil: What’s the Difference?
When you look for your next CBD product, you will probably find a wide variety of products to choose from. Although any well-made product will do the job, it is important to know the differences between them. Many people opt for the use of smokable Hemp flowers (in other words, the old-fashioned way), but others prefer the use of extracts. An extract is just a substance that is extracted from a plant. Since there are many ways of extracting, there are many different forms of CBD. Let’s look at two of the most common forms (CBD oil and CBD isolate powder) and learn the differences between them.
What Is CBD Oil?
CBD oil is an oil-based extract of the Hemp plant. As such, it contains a wide variety of cannabinoid substances. As the name implies, CBD is the main ingredient, but that’s because they started with plants that were very high in CBD. You see, each strain of Cannabis is cultivated for different purposes. Some are meant for recreational use, and so they are very high in THC. Some others are meant for medicinal use, and so they are very high in CBD. Industrial Hemp is not used because it doesn’t tend to be high in either one.
CBD oil will not contain any significant amount of THC, and you can count on that fact. You can count on this because it would be illegal otherwise. In order to be classified as “Hemp” rather than “Marijuana,” a plant must have no more than 0.3% THC. However, that small amount of THC still makes a difference.
Standard CBD oil is sometimes called “full-spectrum” oil because it includes all the cannabinoids that are naturally present in the Cannabis plant. This matters because of something called “the entourage effect.” When it comes to any medicinal plant, the effectiveness doesn’t just come from the primary ingredient. The secondary components work together with the primary component to give a unified effect. Nature intended for CBD, THC, and all the other cannabinoids to work together.
What Is CBD Isolate?
CBD isolate, on the other hand, is a different animal altogether. Rather than being a “full-spectrum” solution, CBD isolate is made of CBD alone. There is no THC, no terpenes, no other cannabinoids…nothing at all except pure CBD. Although you are missing out on the entourage effect when you choose a CBD isolate, there are still several advantages that make these products popular.
For one thing, CBD isolate is almost completely tasteless. This is a serious advantage when adding it to food or drink, as it won’t interfere with the existing flavors. Ordinarily, putting CBD on a hamburger would taste pretty bad, but a CBD isolate can be added without any noticeable change.
CBD isolate is also a great choice for anyone who has to take regular drug tests. Even the tiny amount of THC that is present in full-spectrum oil might be enough to make you fail a drug test, especially if it’s a sensitive and serious test. When they screen you for Marijuana, they will look for both THC itself and its metabolic products (the things your body makes from it). Because of that, even the smallest amount of THC can be enough to fail. With CBD isolate, however, you don’t have that problem.
Another advantage of CBD isolate especially the one from Stirling is the fact that it’s the purest form of CBD on the market. It is literally the only form of CBD that contains no other substances. Thus, for those who want to isolate the specific benefits of CBD with no interference, the isolate isn’t a bad choice. Also, those who need a really strong and quick solution might also find the isolate to be a little more potent and fast-acting.
About “Broad-Spectrum” CBD Extracts
You might also see some products that are labeled as “broad-spectrum.” It is very easy to get this mixed up with “full-spectrum.” However, the difference is an important one. Broad-spectrum extracts will contain a lot of different cannabinoids so that they can take advantage of the entourage effect. However, they will contain 0% THC, meaning that there is no chance of inebriation, unemployment, or legal problems. This one is a great choice for those who may be allergic or otherwise sensitive to THC. That kind of thing is rare but does occur.
Which Is The Best?
As with many other decisions, it mostly comes down to your situation and needs. Overall, however, we would say that full-spectrum CBD oil is probably the best choice for most people. As we already said, that is because of the entourage effect. Some sources (including Wikipedia) will attempt to convince you that the entourage effect is not real and that it’s just a marketing ploy. However, it is clear that these people did not do their research.
According to this study, the entourage effect is both real and verifiable. In this case, researchers tested cannabinoid drugs on breast cancer patients. To be specific, they were looking at the antitumor properties of Cannabis with an eye towards using it for professional treatment. As you can see by reading from the link above, they found that the full-spectrum preparation was more potent and produced a stronger antitumor response in both cell samples and living subjects.
For this reason, we would recommend that you go with a full-spectrum product unless you have specific reasons to use an isolate. If you don’t have to worry about regular drug-testing, and if you aren’t medically sensitive to other cannabinoids, plain old CBD oil will be your best choice.
Conclusion
In the end, there is more difference between these products than we thought. Although they both take advantage of the same medicinal compounds, their actions on the human body are significantly different. Furthermore, your choice of product should also depend on your particular situation. Check the laws in your area to see how strict they are, and that will give you a good start. Whether you prefer a full-spectrum oil, a broad-spectrum oil, or a CBD isolate, we wish you the best of luck.
