What is Broad Spectrum CBD Oil? Everything You Need To Know

It can be confusing to know which CBD product is right for your needs, especially as it seems your options only continue to multiply. 

One example? Full spectrum CBD oil vs. broad spectrum CBD oil. Even if you are a seasoned CBD user, you may not fully understand the difference between the two, or why you should take one over the other.

Ultimately, the decision between the two can come down to personal preference, concerns with THC drug testing, and your doctor can even help you figure out the right option for you. 

At Leafwell Botanicals, we want to make sure you have all you need to make an educated decision on the matter, which is why we are here to break down everything you need to know about broad spectrum CBD oil, including how it differs from its full spectrum counterpart. Read on for all the answers! 

What is Broad Spectrum CBD Oil?

Broad spectrum CBD Oil is a hemp extract that contains many of the components of the hemp plant it comes from, like cannabinoids, terpenes, bioflavonoids, and other beneficial plant material. The key exception? THC (at least not in detectable levels).

THC is naturally present in hemp, though at much lower levels than in marijuana.  As a result, any hemp extract that hasn’t been further processed to refine out the THC is likely to contain some THC. This lower concentration relative to CBD means THC is unable to have any of its signature intoxicating effects on the body.

The process of making broad spectrum CBD oil, however, involves removing THC from the extract. In scientific terms, the THC is refined down to a nondetectable level (lab tests cannot detect down to a level of 0) in broad spectrum CBD oil products. The CBD, additional cannabinoids, terpenes, and other plant material remain, albeit at lower levels than they would be in a full spectrum hemp extract (see more on full spectrum CBD oil below). 

Broad spectrum hemp extract offers many benefits to the body as a result of its CBD content. CBD oil supports your mental health and helps you bounce back more effectively from everyday activities. It also promotes overall wellness, helping you take your health to the next level. 

Finally, broad spectrum CBD oil has the added benefit of what is called the entourage effect, though less prominent than full spectrum CBD oil. This idea posits that having multiple components within an extract (such as CBD, terpenes, other cannabinoids, etc.) increases the ways an extract can support your body’s health. The different components work together to amplify the effects of both each individual component and the hemp extract as a whole. 

What Broad Spectrum CBD Oil Products Are Available? 

You can find most types of CBD products in broad spectrum form. At Leafwell Botanicals, we have a few broad spectrum CBD products that we are very proud of.

First we have our Broad Spectrum Tinctures, available in three different potencies: 16 mg CBD / 1 mL, 33 mg CBD / 1 mL, and 83 mg CBD / 1 mL. Whether you have never tried CBD oil or are very familiar with the supplement, there is a potency available for your needs. Plus their delicious lemon, lime & turmeric flavor will make using the droppers even more enjoyable. We tend to recommend the higher potencies because you get more bang for your buck and you consume less oil while getting more benefits.

Next we have our Broad Spectrum Soft Gels, which you can find as 25 mg / soft gel or 40 mg / soft gel. If you are used to taking supplements in soft gel or capsule form, you may prefer this method just based on its familiarity. Since soft-gels go through the full digestive process they will absorb slower but have a longer lasting impact. 

Finally, we have our Broad Spectrum Body Cream, because yes, CBD has benefits for your skin as well. Featuring essential oils such as lavender, arnica, and chamomile, this cream has a natural lavender scent that will deliver a relaxing experience. Shea butter and jojoba oil also work to retain hydration,  soothe the skin, and provide it with a wide array of nutrients. 

All of our broad spectrum CBD oil products come from organically grown, USA-grown hemp. They are tested by accredited third-party facilities to ensure what’s inside of the bottle contains at a minimum what we have on the label, and that the product is safe and healthy to use. Being that they are made with broad spectrum hemp extract, they have nondetectable levels of THC. 

What is Full Spectrum CBD Oil?  

Full spectrum gets its name from the fact that it uses the full (“whole”) plant to create its extract. This means that not only does full spectrum hemp extract include CBD, it also contains any other plant material that may be found in hemp, such as phytocannabinoids and terpenes.

The most notable addition in full spectrum CBD Oil is the cannabinoid THC. Neither broad spectrum nor CBD isolate are meant to contain THC, but full spectrum CBD Oil has it in trace amounts. 

Full spectrum CBD oil extracts are legally allowed to contain small amounts of THC, as long as it is less than 0.3%. This number is significant because it is not enough THC when paired with large amounts of CBD to cause intoxicating effects and therefore should not trigger a high. 

Full spectrum CBD oil also has more claims to the entourage effect than broad spectrum CBD oil, since it does not eliminate as many components in the hemp to hemp extract process. The CBD, trace amounts of THC, additional cannabinoids, and other plant material work in synergy to optimize the benefits you receive from using full spectrum CBD oil. 

What is CBD Isolate? 

If you are looking for the “purest” possible form of CBD, CBD isolate is the way to go. That is because it is composed of CBD and CBD alone. 

As the name suggests, the process of making CBD isolate involves isolating CBD from all other hemp components. This includes THC, other cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and additional plant material. Once these other components are separated, you are left with nothing but CBD (on some occasions there are very very low levels of other cannabinoids most commonly CBDV).

CBD isolate also differs from broad spectrum and full spectrum hemp extract because it comes in a powder form, rather than liquid form. Since it does not contain any other components, it cannot give you the entourage effect that many people associate with full and broad spectrum. 

Nevertheless, you can still get many benefits from CBD isolate, and if you are wary of THC, this is the safest option with Broad Spectrum CBD Oil a very close second. 

Which CBD Product Should You Choose? 

As it turns out, there is no “right” CBD supplement, at least when it comes to the active ingredients full spectrum CBD oil, broad spectrum CBD oil, and CBD isolate. It really all comes down to preference--ask yourself what are you looking to get out of your supplement and if there’s anything you’re trying to avoid (such as THC if you’re regularly drug tested) and it should help narrow down your options.

Your opinion on THC does play a role in which of these three products is right for you. If you are wary of THC’s intoxicating effects (though it is important to understand that even full spectrum CBD oil is very unlikely to cause any sort of high even at the highest potency), you may want to first start out with broad spectrum CBD oil or CBD isolate in order to see for yourself how they affect your body.

If you are worried about failing a drug test while taking one of these products, know that drug tests are looking for THC rather than CBD in most cases, so it is possible to fail a drug test while taking full spectrum CBD oil, particularly higher potency products. 

We recommend confirming with wherever you’re getting a drug test administered that the test is specifically looking for THC and not cannabinoids in general, and letting them know you take CBD products. Unfortunately, despite having nondetectable levels of THC, while it is very unlikely there is still no guarantee that you won’t fail while taking broad spectrum CBD oil either. 

Full spectrum CBD oil, broad spectrum CBD oil, and CBD isolate all have few reported side effects, and most of them are short term in nature that people tolerate well. Depending on your consumption method you may also cause a little upset stomach if taking a tincture on an empty stomach, for example (we’ll dive into all this deeper in other posts). Even so, you should talk with your doctor before adding a CBD supplement to your daily regimen. They can help you determine whether or not CBD is right for your needs, as well as which type of CBD product would work best for you. Finally, they may be able to help you choose the correct daily amount. 

In Conclusion 

Broad spectrum CBD oil contains, in addition to CBD, other cannabinoids terpenes, and beneficial plant material. However, it differs from full spectrum CBD oil in that it contains nondetectable levels of THC (the intoxicating component of cannabis), while full spectrum contains some but less than 0.3% THC. 

With broad spectrum CBD oil, you can reap all of the rewards of CBD oil, including support of your overall health & balance and bouncing back from everyday activities. Broad spectrum CBD oil, similar to full spectrum CBD oil, introduces the idea of the entourage effect (though less pronounced), where the benefits of the CBD combine with the benefits of the other naturally-occurring plant material to maximize the advantages for your body. 

For clean-label, high-quality, broad spectrum CBD tinctures, soft gels, and body cream, we’ve got you covered. With our broad spectrum CBD oil you can take your overall health and wellness to the next level and thrive in your everyday life! 

Sources

Broad spectrum CBD: Definition, benefits, and top oils (medicalnewstoday.com)

Full spectrum CBD vs. broad spectrum CBD: Differences and benefits (medicalnewstoday.com)

Full-Spectrum vs. Broad-Spectrum: Comparison and Best Products (healthline.com)