Full Spectrum vs. Broad Spectrum CBD: Which is Right for You?
CBD is more than meets the eye. Over 270,000 retailers in the United States sell CBD products, including full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD. People assume that full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products are nearly identical, but the picture is a little more complicated.
To get the most benefits out of CBD, you must distinguish among various CBD products. Here’s what you should know about full-spectrum vs. broad-spectrum CBD.
The Basics of Full-Spectrum and Broad-Spectrum CBD
Hemp and cannabis plants contain 540 chemical substances, including cannabinoids, powerful chemical compounds that bind to cannabinoid receptors in your nervous system. Cannabidiol (CBD) is the most prominent cannabinoid, sometimes accounting for 40% of the chemicals in cannabis plants.
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary cannabinoid that produces a psychoactive effect.
Full-spectrum CBD balms and gummies contain CBD along with every other chemical in cannabis plants, including THC. Broad-spectrum CBD gummies and tinctures contain CBD and most other cannabinoids but not THC.
While shopping for CBD products, you may come across a “CBD isolate.” This is a product that contains CBD and no other cannabinoids.
Related: Types of CBD: Full-Spectrum vs. Broad-Spectrum vs. Isolate
The Entourage Effect
Scientists have found that when a person takes multiple cannabinoids simultaneously, they experience stronger health benefits than one cannabinoid alone. This is called the entourage effect.
A 2020 study found that cannabinoids and other chemicals in cannabis form chemical interactions with each other, strengthening each chemical. The study found that full-spectrum CBD increases alertness.
Broad-spectrum CBD contains fewer chemicals than full-spectrum CBD, so the entourage effect is less prominent. However, you will still receive more benefits from taking broad-spectrum CBD than you will from taking CBD isolate.
Do you want a complete package of beneficial cannabis chemicals? Order full-spectrum CBD products from Fiddler’s Green CBD today.
The Effects of THC
The best way to determine whether full or broad-spectrum CBD is right for you is to examine THC. Federal law prohibits CBD products and hemp leaves from having over 0.3% THC, so you’ll only have a small dose of THC in your full-spectrum products.
Organizations like the Department of Transportation screen their employees for marijuana; blood and urine tests often look for THC specifically. If you take full-spectrum CBD, you will most likely register positive for marijuana, even if you don’t take marijuana directly.
If you’re worried about urine tests or the psychoactive effects of THC, you should order isolates, which have no THC, so they’re also safe to use.
However, consider full-spectrum gummies and gels if you’re not concerned with urine tests. You will experience the full entourage effect, and THC can mitigate anxiety or physical pain.
The Effects of CBD
The effects of CBD vary from person to person, largely because people take CBD in different ways. The space beneath your tongue contains numerous blood vessels, so using a dropper to place CBD beneath your tongue can create strong effects within 20 minutes. Swallowing CBD edibles or smearing a CBD cream on your skin can take an hour or more, though the effects of CBD can last for several hours.
A 2021 survey of nearly 400 people found that they feel calmer and less irritable with CBD.
CBD relaxes your mind right before you go to bed, making you a happy sleeper.
71% of the 2021 survey respondents reported no side effects from CBD. The most common side effect was dry mouth, which you can avoid by drinking water after taking CBD. Less than 2% of respondents reported experiencing an upset stomach or nausea, which you can avoid by lying down and relaxing while in the CBD.
CBD can affect other medications and substances, including caffeine, kava, and valerian. You should space out when you take your medications by a few hours and wait until you are off CBD before taking an herbal supplement. Talk to your doctor about interactions between CBD and your prescriptions so you avoid pronounced side effects.
Few studies have compared the effects of broad-spectrum CBD to full-spectrum CBD, though scientific research is continuing. Because of the entourage effect, you can assume that the effects of broad-spectrum CBD are less prominent than the effects of full-spectrum products.
Related: How Does CBD Work?
Types of CBD Products
You can take numerous full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products, each with its own effects on the body. Here are some of the most popular products on the market today.
Gummies
CBD gummies are exactly like candies you can buy at a convenience store, with their only difference being they contain full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD. You can purchase gummies with all-natural flavorings and colorings, including gluten-free and nut-free gummies. Some taste like fruit, while others taste like mint or spices, giving you plenty of choices for flavors.
One gummy can contain 100 milligrams of CBD. Some people may find the dosage a little too powerful, so you can start by eating half a gummy and see how much you need.
Topicals
CBD topicals are serums, lotions, gels, and other substances you put on your skin and absorb through your pores. They have a nice, soothing effect that works wonders after a strenuous workout.
CBD roll-ons are sticks you can put on your joints, skin, and muscles for easy administration. If you prefer to use your fingers, you can purchase a full-spectrum CBD face serum or a lotion. You can buy a CBD salve with icy relief that acts like Icy Hot for an intense workout.
Oils and Tinctures
CBD oils contain CBD inside a carrier substance like olive or coconut oil. Coconut oil has many health benefits thanks to its high amounts of antioxidants.
As mentioned, you can use a dropper to put oil beneath your tongue and receive near-immediate benefits from CBD. If this method would be uncomfortable for you, you can mix a few drops into a glass of water or another beverage and drink it. You can order full-spectrum CBD oil that tastes like lemon or mint, which is more palatable than natural oil.
Are you ready to try out palatable, effective, and affordable CBD oils? Purchase full-spectrum CBD oil from Fiddler’s Green CBD now.
Full-Spectrum vs. Broad-Spectrum CBD
You must figure out full-spectrum vs. broad-spectrum CBD to use CBD meaningfully. However, full-spectrum products provide a complete entourage effect, so you will benefit from the chemical interactions among hundreds of cannabinoids.
Try out gummies and then experiment with tinctures so you know how different CBD products affect you. Talk to a medical professional about possible side effects of CBD, including interactions with over-the-counter medications and herbal supplements.
