CBD, short for cannabidiol, can be a great addition to your wellness routine with a myriad of benefits. However, is using CBD all on its own the most effective way to utilize the cannabinoid? Are there ways to combine CBD with other compounds to increase the net benefit? This blog will explore the best way to get the most out of your CBD!
What is CBD Isolate?
One of the most common forms of CBD on the market today is CBD isolate. Purity separates isolate from other CBD extracts. While full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oils contain other cannabinoids and terpenoids naturally present in the cannabis plant, CBD isolate is as close to pure CBD as it gets.
We find the most frequently asked question about this potent form of CBD to be: does CBD isolate get you high? The answer: no, it does not. CBD is a non-intoxicating compound, so while it may have perceivable effects on your mood, memory, and sleep patterns, CBD won’t create the feeling of being high associated with marijuana consumption. Only cannabis with significant percentages of another cannabinoid, THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), will induce these intoxicating effects.
How to use CBD isolate will depend on how the extract is packaged. For the most part, CBD isolate will either be infused into an edible or in a tincture. The former, you simply eat the way you would any other foodstuff, and the latter is applied sublingually, which means placing a drop underneath your tongue for thirty seconds to one minute to allow the cannabinoids to be absorbed into the tissues in the mouth.
Broad-Spectrum and Full-Spectrum CBD
Other words you may see used to describe CBD extracts are broad-spectrum and full-spectrum.
Full-spectrum products haven’t been refined to the level that CBD isolate has, and therefore still contain terpenes and cannabinoids. Broad-spectrum means the extract contains those same terpenes and cannabinoids, with the exception of THC.
Generally, the THC percentages present in full-spectrum CBD aren’t high enough to induce any intoxicating effects. However, broad-spectrum products contain no THC whatsoever, making them a good choice for consumers who are either sensitive to THC or who want to avoid the compound entirely due to potential drug screenings.
CBD Isolate vs Full-Spectrum
So what’s better, CBD isolate or full-spectrum CBD? Ultimately, it will depend on the individual consumer, but there are some compelling benefits to choosing a full-spectrum CBD extract. Let’s talk about terpenes and the entourage effect.
Terpenes are known mainly for producing pungent scents. They’re largely responsible for the smells we encounter in everything from household cleaners to flowers. Weed would lack its signature skunky scent without the presence of terpenes. However, terpenes may do more than just stink. Research suggests that terpenes also have medicinal and therapeutic benefits, such as being anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial.
What is the entourage effect? The entourage effect describes a phenomenon where different terpenes and cannabinoids interact with our endocannabinoid system simultaneously to enhance each individual compound’s benefits. Despite THC and CBD being the most popular and abundant cannabinoids found in cannabis, they’re far from being the only two. We’ve actually discovered over a hundred unique cannabinoids found in the plant.
Full-spectrum products can utilize many of these minor cannabinoids in addition to terpenes to make the CBD even more effective. For example, another cannabinoid that is now gaining more popularity is CBG. With a broad spectrum or full-spectrum CBD product, you would also receive the benefits of CBG.
Whole Flower Benefits
Of course, there’s another way to get multiple cannabinoids and terpenes in a single product. CBD-rich hemp flower can be used much in the same way medical or recreational marijuana is and is by far the most natural way to access the entourage effect.
Many extractors use isolated cannabinoids and terpenes to try and reconstruct a natural cannabinoid/terpenoid profile. As talented as these extractors are, there’s no substitute for the expert design of mother nature.
Hemp flower is traditionally purchased in the form of hemp buds or pre-rolls, but E1011 Labs is changing the game with the innovative CBD delivery device elon®. Elon® pairs with a disposable eco-friendly hemp flower cartridge called a stelo™ and utilizes concentric heating technology to gently vaporize the hemp delivering a smooth and satisfying hit that’s healthier than smoking.
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