Cannabidiol (CBD) is booming in popularity in Australia and the rest of the world. This natural, non-psychoactive component of the hemp plant is used by an increasing number of people in the form of CBD-rich hemp oil and many other products.
However, in many ways, CBD remains a confusing substance. One source of confusion is the type of CBD used in products, which can fall into one of two categories: CBD isolate and full spectrum.
But what do these terms mean? Which one is more effective? And which type of CBD should you choose? Read on to find out.
What Is Full Spectrum CBD Oil?
Full or “whole” spectrum CBD oil is an extract that contains not just CBD but all of the compounds naturally present in the hemp plant.
This includes other cannabinoids, such as THC (0.3% or less), cannabichromene (CBC), and cannabigerol (CBG), terpenes, flavonoids, and other beneficial compounds.
For this reason, full spectrum CBD is the most popular type of CBD extract
All of these natural components of hemp work together in synergy, making full spectrum extracts more potent than CBD alone.
A useful way to understand this synergy is to think of an orchestra. When they work together, all of the musical components of an orchestra produce a sound that is more pleasant than the individual instruments by themselves. Similarly, the benefits of full-spectrum, whole-plant CBD are greater than isolated CBD.
Researchers have dubbed this phenomenon the “entourage effect,” and it has been demonstrated by multiple studies. For this reason, full spectrum CBD is the most popular type of CBD extract.
What Is CBD Isolate?
Unlike full spectrum hemp preparations, CBD isolate contains only pure CBD. It’s made up of solid crystals containing 99% cannabidiol that are isolated from full spectrum hemp oil. CBD isolate is either sold in its solid form, or formulated into CBD oils and other preparations.
This form of CBD is not as effective as full spectrum CBD because it lacks all of the natural components of hemp responsible for the entourage effect. However, there are several reasons why isolate is still used in CBD oils and other products: it’s cheaper, has no flavor, makes it easy to administer high doses, and can be used to make your own CBD preparations.
In addition, CBD isolate contains zero tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is beneficial if you’re concerned with passing marijuana drug tests.
Full Spectrum vs CBD Isolate: Which Is Better?
Generally speaking, full-spectrum CBD is superior to CBD isolate. Simply put, It has greater therapeutic benefits because of the synergy between CBD and other compounds in hemp.
More importantly, the superiority of full spectrum CBD oil has been proven by medical research. For example, a 2018 review paper by Brazilian researchers showed that full spectrum CBD preparations were more effective at treating epilepsy than CBD isolate.
Amazingly, the researchers discovered that patients taking whole spectrum CBD oil not only needed smaller doses than those taking CBD isolate but also experienced fewer side effects.
Similarly, a 2015 animal study showed that mice given whole-plant CBD extract experienced a stronger reduction of inflammation and pain than those given CBD isolate.
Buying CBD Oil In Australia
As we can see, full spectrum CBD oil is more effective than CBD isolate. But how does this impact your decision to buy CBD oil in Australia?
Well, as the case for most countries, Australia’s CBD oil market is filled with many low-quality products. For example, many companies sell cheap oils that use CBD isolate.
A common claim made by these brands is that their products are potent because they contain large amounts of CBD. Unfortunately, when it comes to CBD, the dose is not everything.
Even with a higher amount of CBD, a CBD isolate oil is not as effective as a full-spectrum one. And in many cases, it’s not even clear that the oil you’re buying contains CBD isolate.
For this reason, it’s important to do your research and look specifically for CBD hemp oils that are labeled as full-spectrum.
Which Type of CBD Is Best For You?
While CBD isolate does have its uses, it’s not nearly as effective at improving your health and wellness as whole-plant preparations. If you want to get the most effectiveness out of your CBD oil, there is no doubt that a full-spectrum CBD hemp oil is the way to go.
We personally recommend Good Alternatives, a natural, full-spectrum CBD oil sourced from experienced suppliers in the United States, the country with the most developed CBD industry.
This oil contains the complete range of beneficial hemp compounds and its effectiveness is proven by dozens of testimonials for everything from back pain to anxiety.
