Full Spectrum CBD Oil (Up-to-Date List of 11+ Components and Their Benefits)

Full Spectrum CBD Oil

If you’ve been researching CBD oil, you’ve probably heard of full spectrum CBD oil, and are confused about what it exactly is.

Full spectrum CBD oil (in contrast to CBD isolate) is the more popular form of CBD oil and you may be wondering why.

Let’s get into what full spectrum CBD oil is, and help you make a more informed decision when purchasing CBD oil:

What is Full Spectrum CBD Oil?

Full spectrum CBD oil (also referred to as “whole plant CBD oil”) comes from the cannabis plant. It can be derived from either marijuana or hemp. 

It should be noted that marijuana and hemp are two different varieties of the cannabis plant; they’re not the same thing.

Marijuana contains high levels of THC (the compound is responsible for the “high feeling associated with marijuana). On the other hand, hemp has trace amounts of THC, and hence does not induce the same “high”

Full spectrum CBD oil is basically the whole extract of the hemp plant’s flowers and buds. Most full spectrum CBD oil available on the market is extracted from hemp. 

If it’s derived from marijuana, it will likely contain high levels of THC, which would need to be removed (which is why CBD is typically not extracted from marijuana).

Full spectrum CBD oil is generally considered the more beneficial CBD oil. However, there may be a potential downside to full spectrum CBD oil, so read on to find out. 

What’s the Difference Between Full Spectrum CBD and CBD Isolate?

The main difference is that unlike full spectrum CBD, the isolate is not extracted from the whole plant. This means that it does not contain all of the compounds extracted from hemp that full spectrum CBD does.

CBD isolate is made through a process in which hemp extract is purified until only the CBD compound remains. This pure form of CBD is then mixed with other ingredients and bottled.

Full spectrum CBD, as mentioned earlier, is made from hemp extract from the whole plant and not from purified CBD compound. It thus includes a few more compounds than CBD isolate, which we’ll discuss below.

Now:

You may be wondering which CBD form is more effective. In the beginning, CBD isolate was thought to be more potent.

However, a study carried out at the Lautenberg Research Center disproved this theory.

The study showed that full spectrum CBD had increasing effects with increasing dosage, whereas CBD isolate did not.

Cannabinoids Found in Full Spectrum CBD Oil:

Major Cannabinoids:

• Cannabidiol (CBD)

CBD, also known as Cannabidiol is the primary cannabinoid in cannabis and makes up to 40% of the plant’s extract. CBD has many benefits, the most prominent being its anti-anxiety, pain relief, and sleep aid effects.

• Trace amounts of THC (TetraHydroCannabinol)

THC is found in very small amounts in full spectrum CBD oil (below the 0.3% legal limit). This means that you’re unlikely to experience any of the effects of THC (i.e., the “high”) when taking CBD.

You’re also likely to test negative for THC if you take a drug test, although continued use of CBD may cause it to show up on a drug test due to its accumulation in the body.

Minor Cannabinoids:

• Cannabinol (CBN)

Cannabinol, like CBD, is another none-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis. Cannabinol is unique in that it’s found in higher concentration in aged cannabis. It is also formed in the body as a byproduct of metabolized THC.

CBN is an agonist to CB1 and CB2 receptors. CBD is known to bind to these two receptors, and hence CBN’s effects are markedly similar to those of CBD; For example, it’s known to have pain-killing and anxiolytic effects.

• Cannabichromene (CBC)

Cannabichromene or CBC is another one of the 113+ cannabinoids found in cannabis. It is similar in structure to other cannabinoids such as THC, CBD, and CBN.

Despite it’s similarity to these other cannabinoids, CBC does not bind to the CB1 or CB2 receptors in the body. This means that it does not necessarily have similar effects to CBD or CBN because it acts on other receptors.

Not much is known about CBC, but it is speculated to have numerous pharmacological properties. These include anti-inflammatory and pain relief effects.

• CBG (Cannabigerol)

Cannabigerol or CBG is a minor constituent of cannabis. It’s thought to have pharmacological properties because of its affinity for numerous receptors in the body such as those that regulate blood pressure and the response to anxiety.

Preliminary research conducted on CBG (in animals) shows that it may slow down neurodegeneration (the wasting of nerves in the body that occurs with aging).

Other Misc. Cannabinoids:

• Cannabidivarin (CBDV)

Cannabidivarin or CBDV is another non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis. It is a homolog of CBD, meaning it has similar structure and properties.

CBDV is known to be an anti-epileptic, specifically an anticonvulsant, meaning that it can prevent seizures. It is typically found in higher concentrations in Indica strains.

• Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDA)

Cannabidiolic acid or CBDA is a cannabinoid found in high concentrations in living cannabis plants. Patients that “juice” live cannabis by squeezing it to extract the oils can expect to procure high concentrations of CBDA.

CBDA is the precursor of CBD in living cannabis plants, and so a bottle of CBD oil is unlikely to have a large amount of it. Its physiological effects are similar to those of CBD.

• Cannabigerolic Acid (CBGA)

Cannabigerolic acid or CBGA is one of the main building blocks or precursors of the other cannabinoids. This means that most of the other cannabinoids are formed in the plant by slight chemical modifications or additions to CBGA.

CBGA is unique in that it’s thought to have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, which other cannabinoids are not unerringly known to have. Research also indicates that it may be able to help with gastrointestinal disorders.

Other Compounds Also Found in Full Spectrum CBD:

• Vitamins

CBD oil has numerous vitamins such as vitamins A, B, C, & E. These vitamins (such as vitamin C) can help boost the immune system and many, if not all, are known to have antioxidant properties. 

Some, such as vitamin E also play a critical role in the development of many organs such as the heart and lungs.

• Minerals

CBD oil also contains many minerals! These include Iron, Zinc, Potassium, and Calcium – to name a few. These are essential for the function of the bodies organ systems. 

Iron, for example, is an important constituent of blood and helps blood carry oxygen to the body’s organs. Another mineral, Potassium, is important for the regulation of muscle contractions and nerve signal conduction.

• Oils

The notable oils found in CBD oil are the essential fatty acids. These are fats that are essential for the body’s function but which the body can’t produce, so they must be ingested. 

They include omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, which play a role in hormonal regulation and have anti-inflammatory properties. 

CBD oil has a high ratio of omega 3 to omega 6, which is significant because it’s known that omega 3 deficiencies are more common that omega 6 deficiencies.

Which Terpenes are in Full Spectrum CBD, and What Do They Do?

You may be wondering, what are Terpenes?

Terpenes are flavorful and typically aromatic compounds (meaning they give off a distinguishable smell or taste). For example, a common terpene is Limonene which gives citrus fruits their flavor and smell.

Interestingly:

The terpenes found in CBD oil can act synergistically with the other compounds in the oil to produce what’s called an “entourage effect”. 

This means that they can improve the therapeutic effect of the individual components of CBD oil.

CBD oil contains many terpenes, but the type of terpenes present depend on the plant strain from which the oil is extracted. 

This includes terpenes such as Pinene, Linalool, and Humulene. Their effects are numerous including anti-bacterial and the ability to help with insomnia.

Will Full Spectrum CBD Make You Fail a Drug Test?

This is a tricky question as many factors come into play. 

In theory, and in most cases, full spectrum CBD oil should not make you fail a drug test because it contains less than 0.3% THC (the legal limit).

THC is the compound that drug tests typically test for. Since full spectrum CBD contains less than 0.3% THC, its use is not expected to lead to a positive drug test result.

However:

Continuous use of CBD oil over a prolonged period of time may lead to accumulation of THC in the body. 

This may result in a false positive, as happened in our case (We talk about this in another article we previously posted here).

Full Spectrum CBD Oil: A Synopsis

As you can see, full spectrum CBD oil contains myriad cannabinoids, vitamins, minerals, oils, and even terpenes.

These compounds, when working together as a group, produce what physicians describe as an “entourage effect”. 

They work synergistically, producing an overall superior effect versus when working in isolation.

The fact that CBD oil also contains many vitamins and minerals means that it can also be used as a sort of supplement. 

Think of it as a multi-vitamin with additional effects such as the ability to reduce pain, treat anxiety, and help you sleep better.