Cannabidiol (CBD) is available in three forms: isolate, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum. Although CBD is the main cannabinoid present in all three types, the extraction process for each of them is different. Understanding these differences can be helpful in deciding which product is right for you.

The Three Types of CBD

Isolate:

CBD isolate is the crystalline CBD that remains after all other cannabis compounds are extracted from the hemp plant. This will contain purely CBD, and no other cannabinoids.

Broad-Spectrum:

Broad-spectrum CBD is extracted in a way that preserves the CBD as well as other minor cannabinoids and terpenes, like CBN and limonene. Most broad-spectrum CBD contains no THC.

Full-Spectrum:

Full Spectrum CBD contains other major and minor cannabinoids, like CBG, CBN, and THC. Terpenes, such as myrcene and pinene, are also extracted alongside these cannabinoids.

Which CBD is right for me?

Isolate and Broad-Spectrum CBD are great options for those who prefer a product without THC. They can be especially helpful for those who undergo drug screening for employment, or simply want to abstain from THC.

For the most intense therapeutic benefits, we would suggest using a Full-Spectrum CBD formula. Research and anecdotal reports show that CBD containing other cannabinoids and terpenes is more effective at treating pain, stress, and insomnia. This theory is referred to as “The Entourage Effect.”

The Entourage Effect

The Entourage Effect is caused by a phenomenon known as plant synergy, which refers to the notion that the components of plant-based medicine are made more effective by the other immune-enhancing substances found in the plant. In simpler terms, when we use CBD in the form closest to its natural state, we see better results.

Check out some excerpts on the Entourage Effect here:

“In a randomized controlled trial of oromucosal Cannabis-based extracts in patients with intractable pain despite optimized opioid treatment, a THC-predominant extract failed to demarcate favorably from placebo, whereas a whole plant extract (nabiximols, vide infra) with both THC and cannabidiol (CBD) proved statistically significantly better than both (Johnson et al., 2010), the only salient difference being the presence of CBD in the latter.

In animal studies of analgesia, pure CBD produces a biphasic dose-response curve such that smaller doses reduce pain responses until a peak is reached, after which further increases in dose are ineffective. Interestingly, the application of a full spectrum Cannabis extract with equivalent doses of CBD eliminates the biphasic response in favor of a linear dose-response curve such that the botanical extract is analgesic at any dose with no observed ceiling effect (Gallily et al., 2014).”  Russo, Ethan B. “The Case for the Entourage Effect and Conventional Breeding of Clinical Cannabis: No "Strain," No Gain.”

Here at Green Dr. CBD, we believe that plant synergy plays a large role in the effectiveness of cannabis products. We offer both Full-Spectrum and Broad-Spectrum blends with terpenes for maximum potency..

Check out some of our Full and Broad-Spectrum blends, like our Trifecta Gummy and our 1000mg Broad-Spectrum CBD Tincture.

Happy Healing!

 

 

 

Sources:

Gilbert, Benjamin, and Lucio Ferreira Alves. “Synergy in plant medicines.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12570718/
Russo, Ethan B. “The Case for the Entourage Effect and Conventional Breeding of Clinical Cannabis: No "Strain," No Gain.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7324885/#:~:text=The%20%E2%80%9Centourage%20effect%E2%80%9D%2C%20is,effects%20of%20its%20contributing%20parts.