Because there are so many different types of CBD (cannabidiol) products on the market, it can be challenging for consumers to know which products are right for them. One of the most common questions we get asked by new CBD consumers is what the difference between CBD isolate and full-spectrum CBD is. There are many companies out there who sell products made of both CBD isolate and full-spectrum CBD, as both forms are popular amongst consumers. However, at Venterra Farms, a farm-to-table CBD company, we strictly use full-spectrum CBD for an array of reasons. In this article, we’re going to explain the difference between CBD isolate and full-spectrum CBD and provide you with the benefits of using full-spectrum CBD.

Let’s dive in.

CBD full spectrum vs. CBD isolate: What’s the difference?

The first major difference between full-spectrum CBD versus CBD isolate is that full-spectrum contains a variety of cannabinoids and terpenes, whereas CBD isolate only includes pure cannabidiol (CBD). Simply put, CBD isolate is the purest form of CBD that’s pulled from the cannabis plant but lacks other helpful cannabinoids and terpenes; and full spectrum hemp (or whole plant) contains all the natural chemicals found in the whole plant, which include various other cannabinoids, essential oils, and terpenes. 

CBD Isolate 

Full-spectrum CBD products contain small amounts of other cannabinoids, like THC, as well as terpenes, while CBD isolate products only contain CBD. That’s because CBD isolate goes through a refinement process that strips away the other cannabinoids, terpenes and oils. Because CBD isolate is virtually pure CBD, it doesn’t contain the beneficial terpenes and flavonoids found in a full-spectrum CBD products. These terpenes and flavonoids (that are found in full-spectrum CBD) have been shown create what is called the entourage effect, where they work together synergistically to produce stronger effects on users.

Although pure CBD may sound appealing to consumers, the process to make CBD isolate is actually done in a lab, making it more of a chemical made product than a naturally occurring one. The process used to produce CBD isolate is known as chromatography, which involves exposing the plant to silicon dioxide and a solvent like ethyl acetate. After this initial extraction, chemists continue to purify through advanced filtering systems (https://industrialhempfarms.com/cbd-isolate-guide/). Therefore, for consumers looking to purchase a naturally occurring, organic product, CBD isolate isn’t your best bet. 

Additionally, as mentioned above, CBD isolate doesn’t include many of the healing compounds found in the cannabis plant such as terpenes, cannabinoids, and essential oils. Critics therefore argue that consumers of CBD isolate aren’t reaping all of the medical benefits of the cannabis plant. 

The Entourage Effect and its Benefits

Cannabinoids are a complex set of chemicals in plants and there are over 100 different types! Some of the most well-known cannabinoids are CBD, THC, CBG and CBN. These cannabinoids target specific receptors in the body that are identified as cannabinoid-accepting sites. Once there, they work with the body to influence appetite, pain sensation, memory and mood levels.

When consumed together, cannabinoids create a stronger impact, known as the entourage effect. The entourage effect proposes that when combining different cannabinoids like THC and CBD or CBD and CBN, they have more of an impact than any single cannabinoid does on its own. 

Because full spectrum products contain all the natural chemicals found in the hemp plant, including the many types of cannabinoids and terpenes, this can result in the entourage effect mentioned above, allowing your body to better absorb CBD. This is one of the many benefits of full-spectrum CBD products. Simply put, they have a far stronger impact on CBD consumers than plain CBD isolate products do. 

Full-Spectrum CBD

Most critics of CBD isolate cite its lack of entourage effect as its main downside. This is one of the primary reasons that full spectrum CBD is oftentimes preferred to CBD isolate, as it tends to be stronger and provide consumers with far more benefits. 

It’s important to note that full-spectrum CBD oil contains a variety extracts. For instance, some full-spectrum products have high levels of THC and some have below 0.3% THC (like our products at Venterra Farms). Because full-spectrum CBD contains many wellness-boosting nutrients such as cannabinoids and terpenes, its effects have proven stronger than CBD isolate. And, there’s research to back this. A study titled “The Case for the Entourage Effect and Conventional Breeding of Clinical Cannabis: “No ‘Strain,’ No Gain” in 2019, demonstrated that CBD’s “health benefits may be more prominent when multiple compounds from the cannabis plant are present” (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334252/). Additionally, thanks to its strength, full-spectrum CBD has been reported to treat an array of health complications such as seizures, muscle spasms, anxiety, pain, inflammation and more. 

Venterra Farms is proud to provide our customers with the highest quality full-spectrum CBD products that are formulated with all natural, organic ingredients. While many companies sell both full-spectrum and isolate products, we believe that natural is always the best. And lucky for us, studies have backed the increased benefits of full-spectrum CBD as opposed to CBD isolate. To shop our full spectrum hemp products, click HERE.

Leave a Reply