What is Full Spectrum CBD Oil ? Top Benefits and More

So, you’ve heard about all the impressive benefits of CBD and want to give it a try. 

Better overall health and wellness? Emotional balance? Relief from everyday tension and discomfort? Who wouldn’t want a part of that?

Your next step of course is to start shopping for the perfect CBD product for you. 

While you do so, you may notice the term “full spectrum” come up over and over again. Its name is not exactly self-explanatory, so how are you supposed to know what full spectrum means? 

Luckily for you, we’ve got all the answers. This article will break down the science behind CBD oil and the true meaning of full spectrum CBD, plus all the reasons you should add full spectrum CBD to your daily regimen right away! 

CBD Explained

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid that is mostly found in the cannabis family of plants. This group includes hemp and marijuana. 

Cannabinoids are compounds that occur naturally in plants, although the human body produces them as well. Within your nervous system and other parts of the body reaches your endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in everything from sleep to mood. Cannabinoids like CBD interact with this system. 

Though over 100 different cannabinoids have been discovered (likely more to come!), the most notable ones are currently CBD and THC. THC is the intoxicating component found in marijuana that causes you to experience a high, while CBD is not intoxicating and does not cause any type of high. We expect other cannabinoids such as CBG, CBN, and others to become a lot more popular in years to come (we’ll talk more about these in other articles).

All CBD products are derived from hemp, since this version of the cannabis plant contains relatively low concentrations of THC and equally important because it is illegal to make CBD products from marijuana derived CBD. This is why you may see CBD oil referred to as hemp extract. 

Using hemp, CBD oil manufacturers formulate products below the legal limit of less than 0.3% THC in their CBD products. This small of an amount of THC is not enough to cause a high when paired with high amounts of CBD and the recommended serving sizes are followed. 

Full Spectrum CBD oil is created by extracting the cannabinoids, terpenes, and other beneficial plant material from hemp and combining it with a carrier oil like MCT oil. As you will soon learn, this extraction process, as well as the concentration of THC within the hemp extract, plays a major role in defining just what full spectrum CBD really is. 

What is Full Spectrum CBD Oil? 

Full spectrum CBD Oil refers to two main things. The first is that the genetics of the hemp plant results in predominantly yielding CBD, and all other cannabinoids are produced in lower amounts. Second, the CBD oil wasn’t further processed to remove the THC or isolate the CBD. A hemp extract that is considered full spectrum CBD Oil uses the whole plant, rather than only specific components. 

This means in addition to CBD, any full spectrum hemp extract will also contain additional cannabinoids, including THC, THCA, THCV, CBN, CBG, CBGA, CBC, and CBDV, terpenes, and other plant materials. The exact makeup will vary batch to batch since it’s a natural extract and not synthetic and depending on the genetics of the hemp plant that was extracted. 

Please note that full spectrum CBD oil products are only legally allowed to have less than 0.3% THC. This amount of THC is not enough to get you high, and will not have any intoxicating effects, but is needed in full spectrum CBD oil to help provide maximum beneficial effects. 

Alternatives to full spectrum CBD are broad spectrum CBD oil and CBD isolate. There are other oils such as full spectrum CBG Oil but we’ll save that for another day.

Broad spectrum CBD oil is similar to full spectrum CBD in that it contains much of the additional plant material (some of it is refined out), however it does not contain detectable levels of THC (in other words, almost all of the THC was removed during the manufacturing process for a final percentage of less than 0.005%). 

CBD isolate is exactly what its name says it is--a pure form of CBD. That means no THC, no other cannabinoids, no terpenes, no other plant material.

There is not necessarily one better type of CBD oil. Full spectrum CBD oil has the most fulsome and natural profile because it is less refined, giving it the additional benefit of the entourage effect (to be explained in just a bit!). 

If you are looking to avoid THC altogether, you may want to stick to CBD Isolate and potentially broad spectrum CBD oil. 

There are a variety of different full spectrum CBD products available, so you can pick which method of consumption best fits your needs. 

You may want to try our full spectrum CBD-infused Creamy Peanut Butter so you can combine the benefits of CBD oil with your favorite snack, or our hemp extract body cream to help nourish your skin while delivering a relieving, cooling feeling (thanks to being paired with menthol). You may also use tinctures or soft gels for a more traditional CBD experience.  

If you want to start taking full spectrum CBD oil, you might want to talk to your primary care provider first. Even though most people generally tolerate CBD well and there are very few reported side effects, your doctor can tell you whether or not CBD oil will not impact any medical conditions and/or  interact with any other medications you take. It’s also important to note that most side effects are actually a result of taking too much of a carrier oil or flavor via tincture which can upset some people’s stomachs. They may also potentially be able to help you decide on the right dose for your specific needs.

Why Should You Take Full Spectrum CBD Oil?

Full spectrum CBD oil is the most fulsome of all the CBD oil options and as a result has all the benefits.

Firstly, full spectrum CBD oil promotes better holistic health. Holistic health refers to the body as a whole rather than just focusing on problem areas. Holistic health also recognizes that your overall health relies on the inextricable link between your mind, body, and spirit, so that when one component is off, the whole is off as well. 

Full spectrum CBD also supports emotional balance. In times of mental struggle, or when you’re worried, CBD oil may help support easing those feelings and relax both the mind and body. 

Speaking of the body, CBD is useful in supporting balanced physical health. When you recognize that your mental health can affect your physical health, and vice versa, you can understand why a supplement that takes a holistic approach can be so beneficial to your overall wellness. 

Lastly, one of full spectrum CBD’s major benefits compared to using CBD Isolate is called the entourage effect. This is because full spectrum CBD oil is a  whole plant extract rather than an isolation of certain compounds. All the different cannabinoids, terpenes, and other beneficial plant material work together to provide additional benefits that work to maximize the positive effects. 

In summary, all of our full spectrum CBD oil products contain a variety of cannabinoids, terpenes, bioflavonoids, and other beneficial plant materials. Though CBD is the most prevalent component of any full spectrum CBD oil, these plant materials are not there for nothing. Terpenes, for example, are antioxidant rich!

All in all, full spectrum CBD oil supports overall health and provides the most benefits of any CBD oil due to the wonderful entourage effect. 

The Best Full Spectrum CBD Oil

We know there are a lot of different places out there where you can find full spectrum CBD oil, but here at Leafwell Botanicals we are committed to providing you with the highest quality products made only with the best ingredients. Here’s how we do it.

First of all, all of the hemp we use is locally grown right here in the USA. Even better, it is organically-grown. This means it was not exposed to any pesticides or other potentially harmful pesticides during the farming process. 

Next, we use a clean ethanol extraction method to extract all the great compounds from the hemp plants. Ethanol extraction uses lower temperatures and which better preserves the beneficial cannabinoids, terpenes and other plant material that you find in our CBD products, all of which contribute to maximizing the entourage effect. This method is completely safe -- we use only organic food grade ethanol, and it’s actually one of the most utilized extraction  methods in foods, supplements, botanicals, and pharmaceuticals. It’s also the most environmentally friendly extraction method, using significantly less electricity when compared to CO2 (CO2 requires ethanol to winterize in any event so it’s not truly a solventless extraction). Prior to utilizing the hemp extract, we make sure to evaporate any and all ethanol and confirm it by lab testing all of our extracts for residual solvents. 

Next, we get all of our products third-party tested by an accredited facility, and in the name of transparency, we have the results posted right on our website. Third-party testing ensures that the product does not contain any unsafe contaminants and that the product contains at the very least what the label advertises. 

We should also note that our CBD products do not contain any unnecessary additives/fillers. For example, our Creamy Peanut Butter only contains organic dry roasted peanuts, full spectrum hemp extract, MCT oil (the carrier oil that optimizes CBD absorption and has its own incredible benefits) and pink Himalyan sea salt for that perfect kick off flavor. When it comes to CBD products, less is more! 

For all these reasons and more, you don’t need to look any further than Leafwell Botanicals when it comes to full spectrum CBD products. 

In Conclusion

CBD oil, also known as hemp extract, is derived from hemp. You can currently choose between full spectrum hemp extract, broad spectrum hemp extract, and CBD isolate. Over time there will be more products introduced that focus on other cannabinoids such as CBG and CBN hemp extracts.

Full spectrum CBD oil contains less than 0.3 % THC, which is not enough to get you high. It also contains other cannabinoids, terpenes, and plant material. Full spectrum CBD oil’s biggest differentiator is the entourage effect, since it’s a whole plant extract, allowing all parts of the plant to work together to maximize the extract’s benefits.

Here at Leafwell Botanicals, we offer high quality, full spectrum CBD oil products, including peanut butter, tinctures, capsules, and body creams so you can thrive!

Sources

CBD isolate vs. full-spectrum CBD: Differences and benefits (medicalnewstoday.com)

CBD Isolate vs. Full-Spectrum: How to Choose and Best Products (healthline.com)

Full-Spectrum CBD: What It Is, Types, How It Works (verywellhealth.com)

https://stories.populum.com/articles/full-spectrum-cbd-vs-cbd-isolates#:~:text=Simply%20put%2C%20CBD%20isolate%20is,%2C%20essential%20oils%2C%20and%20terpenes.