CBD Oil is fast becoming one of the most popular products in the health and wellness sector. The demand for CBD oil has never been higher, which is why there are so many different full-spectrum CBD oil products out on the market.
What Is Full-Spectrum CBD Oil?
The popularity of whole-plant extracts including full-spectrum CBD oil has surged over the last few years because of its ability to provide an entourage effect. This means that all cannabinoids, terpenes, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and other beneficial compounds found within a plant extract work together to provide more benefits compared to taking those same nutrients or compounds separately as a capsule. In short, it’s widely believed that some elements of cannabis may be very beneficial but only when they work synergistically together.
Full-spectrum CBD oil vs broad-spectrum CBD oil
CBD oil which is ‘full spectrum’ means that all cannabinoids and compounds found naturally within a cannabis plant have been extracted into the oil. On the other hand, CBD oil products labeled as ‘broad spectrum’ contain some, but not all cannabinoids and terpenes. One example of this is CBC (cannabichromene) which provides many of cannabis’ anti-inflammatory benefits; it isn’t always included with full-spectrum CBD oils because it isn’t necessary for an entourage effect like CBD, CBG & CBN are.
Broad Spectrum vs Full Spectrum: Is It Necessary?
Although most people believe that CBD has almost magical properties, we do know that it cannot eliminate pain, reduce inflammation, or cure diseases. What CBD can do is provide the body with much-needed support to encourage its natural healing process. So, if you’re looking for something which will simply supplement your body so it can carry out its natural functions already, that doesn’t need to be ‘full spectrum’ because there isn’t an entourage effect to boost.
The benefits of full-spectrum CBD oil
Full-spectrum CBD oil is usually best used as a daily supplement, meaning it’s not necessarily for instant relief. If you want to take your CBD oil throughout the day (or even before bedtime) then full-spectrum CBD oil might be better for you because of its longer-lasting effects.
Full-spectrum CBD tinctures vs soft gels
The most popular way to take CBD oil is by placing it under your tongue or simply dropping it onto the back of the mouth before swallowing. This allows the CBD oil to absorb into your body’s blood vessels immediately so that you can get relief immediately.
However, this quick absorption also means that you are likely to swallow many other cannabinoids and terpenes which are found in full-spectrum CBD oils. Many users don’t mind doing this because they report getting ‘extra benefits’ from these terpenes and cannabinoids, but others prefer not to ingest all these extra compounds because it causes them discomfort. That's why we recommend taking full-spectrum CBD tinctures rather than soft gels. Although soft gels are more convenient and easy to swallow, CBD oil tinctures allow you to control the number of cannabinoids and terpenes which you consume and dictate how long they will take effect (which is usually longer than taking them by dropping them on the back of the mouth).
Broad Spectrum vs Full Spectrum: The Entourage Effect
Broad-spectrum CBD comes with an entourage effect which can make it ideal if you want immediate action, however, this also means there are other important cannabinoids and terpenes which won't be included in broad or isolated spectrum products. This could mean that after taking full-spectrum oils, the cannabinoids and terpenes from these other plant elements will still be active when they reach their destination in the body.
The endocannabinoid system, The entourage effect
CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which includes CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors throughout our brain and body. This is what makes the differences between full-spectrum CBD oil and broad-spectrum CBD oil so important because it can influence how quickly a person responds to a product or how long its effects will last. If you want immediate relief from pain then using a broad spectrum product might be better for you, however, if you want your body to work on its natural healing process then maybe a full-spectrum CBD oil would suit you better.
Choosing the right full-spectrum CBD oil product for yourself
While we can’t recommend one specific full-spectrum CBD oil over another, we do know that there are some out there which simply don’t work after testing several brands ourselves. We want our readers to be aware of these products because this industry is still unregulated - meaning anyone can sell CBD oil without having any third-party tests or offering customer support service. Be wary of cheap, low-quality CBD oils which you find online because even if they are cheaper, the lack of customer support and potential product defects could end up costing you more in the long run. Always purchase from a trusted source to avoid disappointment.
If you want to experience the benefits of full-spectrum CBD oil, but don’t know which product would suit you best then why not try our IAdoreCBD products? From pain relief to calming effects and more, we believe that our full spectrum CBD products contain the ideal blend of cannabinoids and terpenes for your body.