Cannabis in the form of hemp or medical marijuana is a topic under a lot of research and there are great reasons behind that. It is known that very few products out there could provide a range of benefits as broad as hemp. The hemp plant as you may know, is simply marijuana with a very limited amount of THC – it’s marijuana that’s not intended to get you high yet sacrifices none of the benefits of the herb. You may also know that many of the proven/known benefits of Hemp come from the ingredient CBD, found in many parts of the plan. CBD is Cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is extracted in one of several ways and the final form is commonly sold in oils and tinctures. This articles covers CBD oils and what we know about the various CBD oils out there.
CBD oils are different from hemp oils or hemp seed oils, which are seed extracts. CBD oil are extracts of low THC strains of marijuana plants that are extracted into a carrier oil and the process for this could vary. Depending on the process, the end result could be a dark green oil with a brownish tinge, to a mild golden-yellow with a very slight green tinge to it or any shade in between.
For the purpose of this article, we are excluding oils with additives like other herbs and flavors as those can impact both the color and the benefits of the oil.
Full Spectrum vs Pure CBD Oils
The dark green with a brownish tinge oil that’s known as a full spectrum cannabis/CBD oil is a thick and less fluid product. The ideal method of extraction that results in a full spectrum oil should be cold-pressing. The final ingredient is rich in CBDA and many other substances which have different benefits.
The more fluid, almost transparent with a very mild, barely noticeable yellow or green tinge, is pure CBD extract mixed in a carrier oil. This extraction essentially involves physical and chemic isolation of CBD which is what gives it the name “CBD isolate oil”.
The other variants of oils which lie somewhere in between in the color and fluidity are essentially high in CBDA – the abundant natural ingredient that is later converted to CBD through a chemical process. The process of extraction from the plant products to a carrier oil could have filtration, heat and centrifugal based separation processes involved, which leads to reduction of other substances and a higher concentration of the abundant CBDA in the final extract. These can be termed as broad spectrum CBD oils. Recent studies (and many ongoing studies) show that the three types of oils have multiple benefits and slightly distinct applications.
Full Spectrum CBD Oil
Much like eating a carrot versus taking vitamin A supplements, a full-spectrum CBD oil has a wide variety of benefits but may not be very effective at specific targeted benefits. However, very recent studies show that in most complete natural foods, it is found that absorption of key ingredients by the digestive system becomes more efficient when foods are taken in their more natural state and this does manifest also in medical cannabis.
So when using oil extracts of medical cannabis for their general benefits, it is found that full-spectrum hemp oil is the most suitable form. Apart from CBD, the other beneficial ingredients you get from a full-spectrum oil largely include:
• Omega 3 & 6 rich fatty acids
• Flavonoids
• Chlorophylls
• Terpenes
• Proteins
• Fiber
• Low amount of THC
The most common uses of full-spectrum CBD oils include overall health benefits, reduction of mild aches, reduction of general stress, and anxiety. Recent studies are showing anti-cancerous benefits of full-spectrum CBD oils but a lot of research is pending for the studies to be conclusive.
CBD Isolate Oils
The purest form of obtaining CBD and the benefits of just CBD amongst other substances that make up the hemp oil, is the isolate form. These contain no THC and have the longest shelf life.
CBD isolate oils are increasingly being used to manage these conditions:
• Neurological conditions like epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson’s disease
• Metabolic syndrome like diabetes and obesity
• Autoimmunity based conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and urticarial
• Neuropsychiatric illnesses like ATHD and PTSD
• Gut/Intestinal disorders like Crohn’s
• Skin diseases like psoriasis and dermatitis.
Broad Spectrum CBD Oil
Some term these as the best of both worlds – high on CBDA and still having small quantities of other beneficial components of the hemp plant, broad-spectrum CBD oils can be very wide in variety. Some manufacturers share test analysis sheets revealing the composition of the oil. These can be referred to before purchase and a simple look-up on your favorite search engine could help make a decision between two oils if you are otherwise unable to!
The advantage of filtration is that the shelf life grows longer and the concentration of the most beneficial ingredients can become stronger.
The most common uses of such oils include relief from stress, anxiety, post-workout aches, and treatments of milder versions of the issues that CBD isolate oils are used for.