CBD Isolate vs. Full Spectrum Extracts

While doing your research on CBD or hemp food products, you will hear 2 common buzzwords: Isolate and full-spectrum.  You will also hear plenty of debate about which is better.  This article will explain the difference and explain the pros and cons of each.

The Difference Between CBD Isolate and Full-Spectrum Extracts:

CBD isolate is pure cannabidiol (CBD).  There are no other cannabinoids, terpenes, or other botanical matter found in the hemp (cannabis sativa) plant.  Most CBD isolates are derived from full spectrum extracts.  It takes one more step in the refinement process to isolate the cannabidiol.

Full Spectrum Extracts contain a ‘full-profile’ of the cannabinoids found in the hemp plant.  This usually includes CBD, but also, THC, THCa, THCV, CBN, CBG, CBC, CBDV, CBDa, and more.

In simple terms, CBD isolate is just CBD and full spectrum extracts have all the cannabinoids found in the plant.

What’s Better – Isolate or Full Spectrum?

This question doesn’t have a direct answer.  Both products have pros and cons.  Here’s a quick list of pros and cons of CBD Isolates versus full spectrum extracts.  This list assumes that both products have been extracted using clean botanicals, food grade solvents, and have been properly purged.

CBD Isolate:

Pros:  It’s pure CBD.  There are fewer variables in its effects.  If a person finds an amount that helps them with a condition, they can be sure that it is the CBD that caused it.  Another benefit of CBD isolate is that its effects are repeatable because there is only one variable that’s being introduced.

Cons:  Many conditions and patients get better results from hemp products when they contain all the plant’s cannabinoids.  All the cannabinoids have different therapeutic value and when taken together, they have a synergistic effect.  This results in people reporting better results with full spectrum extracts.

Full Spectrum Extracts:

Pros:  As mentioned above, the combination of cannabinoids often results in more powerful therapeutic effects.

Cons:  Full Spectrum extracts usually vary from batch to batch.  This leads to inconsistent results.  Its important to remember that on a cellular level, cannabinoids are very powerful.  That means that a percentage of percentage difference in CBN, can render significantly different effects on a user.  The main con with full spectrum products is that it is difficult to repeat the exact same result.

The medical trials conducted to find medical benefits of CBD use isolate so that they can minimize variables and achieve more accurate data.

From a daily supplement perspective, Halcyon Essentials recommends using full spectrum products so that you consume a more balanced cannabinoid diet.

Think of the difference between CBD isolate and full spectrum extracts is the difference between taking a vitamin C tablet versus taking a multivitamin.