DO you know what your bottle of CBD actually says?
It’s confusing, right? The truth is, even I get confused on occasion. CBD oils from different plant sources often contain very different molecules — even when they both contain the same 20mg dose of CBD. And that means different CBD oils can affect your body in very different ways.
Here’s what your new bottle of CBD says and what it actually means:
Full Spectrum CBD (also called Whole Plant CBD) contains the “full spectrum” of the plant, including THC. It’s extracted from the leaves, flowers, and stalks of the whole cannabis plant.
The details: When CBD is referred to as “full-spectrum” or “whole-plant” CBD, it means that the CBD contains all other cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant including CBN (Cannabinol), CBG (Cannabigerol), and THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin), to name a few. And yes, along with these cannabinoids. Full Spectrum CBD also contains trace amounts of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), but in very low concentrations (up to .3%), resulting in very minimal psychoactive stimulation, unless you are sensitive. Then you may feel it.
Broad-spectrum CBD is full-spectrum CBD without the THC.
CBD Isolate is simply purified CBD that has been extracted from the marijuana plant and isolated from the other cannabinoids. CBD isolate is 99.9% pure CBD.
The details: It means the molecules of the plant have been “isolated” and you are getting one thing and one thing only. During the CBD isolate extraction process, everything contained in the plant matter is removed, including any traces of THC, terpenes, waxes, oils, chlorophyll and more. CBD Isolate has limited usefulness — because its effective dose is narrow and difficult to pinpoint. While full spectrum CBD has ultimately proven to be more effective than CBD Isolate and can be used to effectively treat a wide variety of ailments, it does not discredit the effectiveness of CBD Isolate. There are a wide variety of situations when CBD isolate would be preferred over Full Spectrum CBD. For example, you may not necessarily need the full capabilities of Full Spectrum CBD, or if you aren’t legally allowed to use THC (reminder: Full Spectrum includes THC, which could make you feel high). It is also important to note that other cannabinoids may cause negative reactions when isolated CBD wouldn’t (if the condition you are suffering from is critical, we definitely advise you speak to a medical consultant before trying out any version of CBD).
Hemp CBD is extracted from the hemp plant and is full of cannabinoids that are only found in the cannabis plant family. It is the oil that contains a concentration of CBD, or cannabidiol. Coming from the hemp plant, CBD hemp oil is extremely low in THC, and extremely high in CBD (the non-intoxicating component of the plant).
The details: Since CBD and hemp are in the same plant family, they’re often incorrectly marketed as the same thing. Hemp oil comes from the seeds of the hemp plant. It is a superfood and is consumed for its high levels of Omegas naturally found in the oil. Because of the omegas and vitamins, hemp oil is excellent for your hair, skin, and general health. While hemp oil is extracted from the seeds of the cannabis sativa plant, CBD oil is made from the flowers, leaves, and stalks .
Hemp seed oil is like many other carrier oils—along the lines of sunflower seed oil and jojoba oil—in that it’s a cold-pressed extract from seeds. “Hemp seed oil, sometimes referred to as cannabis sativa seed oil, is perfectly good seed oil that’s high in antioxidants, omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, but contains no CBD.
Hemp Seed Oil contains no CBD.
The mix-up: Since both are essentially wellness ingredients, you won’t exactly be harmed if you accidentally purchase or use one instead of the other; however, if you’re trying to reap the maximum benefits of CBD oil, hemp seed oil won’t deliver…which is a problem considering that these oils don’t come cheap. “Unfortunately, we see a number of brands cynically cashing in on the popularity and cannabis trend and even making false claims that their products contain CBD when they contain none,” says Cindy Capobianco, co-founder of Lord Jones. “Some brands are calling hemp seed oil cannabis sativa oil, which is deceiving.
Don’t accidentally get high from your CBD: a pro-tip from Kelly
Pay attention to THC. Swallowed products are first metabolized by your liver before circulating through your body (first-pass metabolism). If your CBD product contains THC (i.e it’s a “full-spectrum CBD”), it could be converted to 11-hydroxy-THC, which is a strong intoxicant. Many people find that CBD helps counterbalance the “high” associated with THC, but if you are sensitive to THC, look for CBD from a hemp source.
The Entourage Effect is the idea that the strength of cannabis lies in the teamwork of its many active compounds has been nicknamed the “entourage effect.”
The details: It simply means the combination of molecules together is better than the single molecule. There are hundreds of active compounds in cannabis and these cannabinoids, terpenes and phenolics work best together, according to nature.
To make sure you’re not falling into any CBD marketing traps, check the product label. You’ve got this. Hemp seed oil will be listed as cannabis sativa seed oil. CBD will be listed as cannabidiol, full-spectrum hemp, hemp oil, PCR (phytocannabinoid rich) or PCR hemp extracts.
Be brave,
xo,
Kelly
*Medical Disclaimer* – The information provided herein is provided for information purposes only. As such it cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional.
