If you’re looking into CBD for help with a painful physical condition, anxiety, or a problem sleeping, you may be wondering which CBD product is best for you. Among the wealth of new topical and ingestible offerings on the market, you also need to consider which spectrum or type of CBD best suits your needs. Full-spectrum and isolate are your most common choices.
Understanding CBD spectrums
Full-spectrum refers to CBD products that include all the naturally-occurring compounds found in the cannabis plant. Among these compounds are terpenes, aromatic plant compounds found in high concentrations in the cannabis plant. The other natural compounds in cannabis are flavonoids, a diverse group of plant chemicals thought to fight off free radicals, essential oils, and more than 100 additional cannabinoids, such as the psychoactive Tetrahydrocannabinol THC, marijuana’s main active ingredient, and cannabinol (CBN).
Enthusiasts for full spectrum tout the “entourage” effect. The idea is that all the cannabis compounds interact together to provide greater health benefits. However, full-spectrum CBD may have trace amounts of THC, which poses a risk for anyone facing a drug test for a new job or working for a company that routinely tests drugs. While employers aren’t looking for CBD, workers fail company drug testing because of THC, which exist in low amounts in some CBD products and remain in the body for weeks.[1] Furthermore, some states have strict THC laws. States that haven't legalized medical marijuana allow limited use of cannabis oils if they contain a low THC level and a high-level CBD.[2]
On the other end of the CBD, the spectrum is isolated. They are the purest form of CBD because all of the other compounds and impurities have been removed from the cannabis plant during the extraction process. CBD isolates generally are extracted from the hemp plant due to its low to non-existent THC content. Hemp is defined as a cannabis plant containing less than 0.3 percent THC. The result is a product that is purely odorless and colorless CBD and nothing more.
Another less-common CBD spectrum is called broad-spectrum CBD, which can be considered a mix between the full-spectrum and isolate. Broad-spectrum CBD preserves the range of plant compounds, but THC has been removed. So, although the spectrum of cannabinoids still is present, they are in reduced amounts. [3]
Terpene-Infused Isolates Emerge
To address the problems associated with THC and provide consumers with enhanced CBD offerings, some manufacturers are now infusing the CBD isolate with combinations of terpenes. This new method enhances the CBD benefits and allows for customization of the product to treat specific conditions. For example, certain terpenes are good for relieving pain, while others help with stress. Furthermore, some CBD has a tiny percentage of terpenes in it. With a customized blend, you can have a higher percentage of terpenes than you’d find in nature.
Lab+Blends Broad-Spectrum Benefits
Consumers can enjoy the benefits of terpene-infused CBD isolate products across a range of Lab+Blends topical offerings, including:
Lab+Blends provides Certificates of Authenticity (COA) on request for all its products. Available on request. The COA ensures that the product was made with a CBD Isolate and that the Isolate has been tested and shows no THC traces.
Learn more about Lab+Blends topical CBD solutions as well as its oral Tincture and Dream Drops sleep aid.