If you’re new to CBD products, you may have noticed the term “full spectrum” used on the packaging of some products but not others. Although full-spectrum CBD products are popular, their distinct characteristics compared to other CBD products often remain unclear.

So what is full-spectrum CBD? Delve into this comprehensive guide for insights into this question and more.

What is Full-Spectrum CBD?

When CBD is extracted from the hemp plant, it can be done through a variety of processes. Some of those processes are designed to isolate the CBD so that the products created using it have nothing but the cannabinoid in them. 

However, the hemp plant contains various other beneficial chemical compounds, including other cannabinoids, terpenes, essential oils, and more. 

By isolating the CBD, the benefits of these plant components are lost, which is why certain extraction processes are designed to keep them all along with the CBD. It’s these processes that produce what is known as full-spectrum CBD oil. 

How Full-Spectrum CBD Interacts With the Body

Just like other CBD products, full-spectrum hemp extracts will interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system affects an array of vital biological functions, including metabolism, learning, memory, appetite, sleep, inflammatory response, pain response, and emotional processing, among other things. 

Knowing this, it should be easy to imagine why CBD has so many potential therapeutic benefits, particularly full-spectrum CBD.

But what does full-spectrum CBD do that other forms of CBD do not? 

There is a phenomenon known as the “entourage effect,” which occurs when multiple cannabinoids and other hemp plant components are consumed simultaneously. 

With the entourage effect, those chemical compounds taken in tandem amplify one another’s benefits and even produce totally unique benefits not present when any of those compounds is taken individually. 

In other words, maintaining all the compounds of the hemp plant when creating CBD products makes your CBD more potent and versatile. 

Comparing Full-Spectrum to Other CBD Types

What separates full-spectrum CBD from the other forms of CBD available?

CBD Isolate

CBD isolate is strictly CBD with no other cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, or essential oils included in the extract. This is your best option if you want CBD in its purest form. However, you will be missing out on the benefits of those other compounds as well as the advantages of the entourage effect.

Broad Spectrum

Broad-spectrum CBD retains all the beneficial compounds of full-spectrum CBD minus THC. Though they offer certain benefits not found in CBD isolate, they often fall short of the advantages provided by full-spectrum hemp oil.

Understanding the Benefits of Full-Spectrum CBD

What is full-spectrum CBD suitable for that broad-spectrum CBD and CBD isolate may not be? Take a look at this list of full-spectrum CBD benefits to find out. 

May Reduce Tension

If you suffer from frequent mental unease and it’s affecting your everyday life, you may stand to benefit from full-spectrum CBD. These products may promote a sense of calm and reduce tension, potentially elevating your mood. They also offer a natural alternative to prescription medications that carry risks of physical addiction.

May Improve Sleep

Inadequate sleep can severely impact both physical and mental health. Traditional treatments often carry side effects and addiction risks. Full-spectrum CBD might be the key if you’re exploring a natural solution to sleep concerns.

Rather than knocking you out cold and leaving you groggy in the morning like prescription and over-the-counter medications for sleep issues tend to do, full-spectrum CBD may be able to address the mental or physical discomfort keeping you awake at night.

It allows you to get into a relaxed and calm state conducive to meaningful rest without the groggy haze the following day.

May Provide Discomfort Relief

This may be the most sought-after full-spectrum CBD effects. Not only is constant physical discomfort detrimental to your quality of life, but it can also lead to mental distress, lack of sleep, isolation, a sedentary lifestyle, and prescription painkiller dependence, all of which can harm your health and quality of life. 

Full-spectrum CBD may address your daily discomfort, relieving achiness, stiffness, soreness, and more. And with the help of a topical product, you can even target problem areas directly. 

May Reduce Nausea

There are various reasons you might suffer from frequent bouts of queasiness, but the one that has drawn the most interest in terms of potential applications for CBD is chemotherapy. 

Despite its life-saving potential, chemotherapy treatment has various unpleasant side effects, with nausea being one of the most common. This can make an already harrowing experience even more challenging to face.

Rather than adding more prescription medications to the daily list of those enduring chemotherapy treatments, full-spectrum CBD may potentially reduce that queasiness and even inspire an appetite, which can essentially disappear for those experiencing chemo side effects. 

May Help Manage Seizures

The first FDA-approved CBD medication targeted seizures in specific conditions like Dravet syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex, and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, underscoring CBD’s therapeutic potential. However, it’s crucial to note that CBD is typically advised as a complement to other seizure medications, not a replacement

Is Full Spectrum CBD Legal?

Given the varied state laws on cannabis products, always check legality before stepping out with them. So, what is full-spectrum hemp’s legal status?

Due to its cannabis link and minute THC content, combined with federal cannabis restrictions and state bans, one might assume full-spectrum CBD is illegal. However, this is not the case. Hemp-derived CBD is federally legal and holds either full or conditional legality in all 50 states.

The reason for its legality is the 2018 Farm Bill. This landmark legislation made hemp cultivation federally legal in the United States. Because CBD products can be derived from hemp, CBD was made legal by extension. 

In subsequent years, different states have passed legislation restricting the production, sale, and possession of this cannabinoid in varying ways. Still, there is currently no one state where CBD is totally illegal. 

Incorporating Full Spectrum CBD Into Your Wellness Routine

If you’re intrigued by the potential health benefits of full-spectrum CBD, there are a few things you’ll need to know before enjoying those benefits. To catch you up to speed with those things, take a look at the following tips. 

Finding the Right Dosage

CBD is widely considered safe to use, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some potentially uncomfortable side effects you might experience should you overdo it, such as drowsiness, dry mouth, and nausea. 

Fortunately, it’s not too difficult to avoid these issues. All you need to do is be cautious and conscious about the serving size you consume when first learning how it will affect you.

The general rule of thumb with full-spectrum CBD is to start with a low amount, give it some time to begin affecting you, and then take more if you deem it necessary. But remember that there is no universal low serving size, as different body weights and body chemistries will affect how much CBD you need to enjoy its therapeutic benefits. 

To determine the best serving size for you, follow the formula of 1-5 mg per 10 pounds of body weight. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, the low end of your ideal serving size is 15mg. Start from there. 

Finding the Right Product

Various full-spectrum CBD products are available, each offering a distinctive set of pros and cons. While you can generally enjoy all the same therapeutic benefits from any of these options, certain ones may be more advantageous to you, depending on the relief you’re looking for and your preferences.  

CBD Edibles

CBD edibles are a delightful twist on traditional CBD products, allowing users to consume their daily dose in the form of tasty treats. Predominantly, these edibles are crafted into the form of gummies, and many mimic popular candy shapes like gummy worms and peach rings. This adds a touch of nostalgia for many and makes them appealing to those hesitant about trying CBD in its more traditional forms.

The allure of CBD edibles goes beyond just their taste. Consuming them is a pleasant experience and offers several distinct advantages. Firstly, edibles provide an inconspicuous and convenient way to consume CBD, making them an excellent option for those on the go. The pre-measured doses, especially in individual gummies or candies, ensure consistent and easy portioning. 

Edibles are known for their prolonged effect. CBD has to pass through the digestive system when consumed, resulting in a slower release but longer-lasting impact than other consumption methods like vaping or tinctures. This makes edibles particularly beneficial for those seeking sustained relief throughout the day.

CBD Flower

If you’re a fan of the traditional style of cannabis consumption but you’re looking strictly for the therapeutic effects of the plant, CBD flower can be a great choice. It looks, smells, and smokes just like regular cannabis; it’s non-psychoactive, so you don’t have to worry about getting intoxicated at an inappropriate time.

CBD Pre-Rolls

If you love smoking joints but hate rolling them, CBD pre-rolls can be a lifesaver. These products offer you a full pack of expertly rolled CBD flower joints ready to go at the flick of a lighter. It removes the worst part of joints without losing any of the best. 

CBD Vapes

Vapes consist of a cartridge filled with CBD oil and an electronic battery that can turn that oil into vapor with the press of a button. It’s not as easy to accurately portion out your CBD intake with these products, but CBD vapes are easy, discreet, convenient, flavorful, and potent all the same. 

CBD Tinctures

CBD tinctures are concentrated CBD contained in a liquid carrier oil and stored in a marked dropper bottle for easy portioning and administration. You can drop the CBD tincture under your tongue to be absorbed sublingually or add drops to a recipe or drink. 

CBD Topicals

For targeted relief, there is no better option than a CBD topical. These CBD-infused products come in the form of lotions, balms, creams, salves, and more, and they can be applied directly to problem areas where they are absorbed through the skin for rapid effect. 

Considering Individual Factors

Depending on what you’re looking for in your CBD, certain full-spectrum products can be better for you than others. To determine what might be best for you, consider the following:

Extended Relief

For long-lasting relief, consider taking edibles. As previously noted, when CBD is processed through the digestive system, its effects can last much longer than when smoked or vaped. 

Easy Portions

Flower and vapes present a challenge in determining precise dosages compared to edibles and tinctures, which offer exact serving sizes. When using flower or vapes, the amount of CBD consumed can vary based on the strength of inhalation, duration, and the specific CBD concentration of the product. This lack of standardization can make it more difficult for users to find their ideal dosage, possibly leading to inconsistent experiences. For those who prefer a more predictable and consistent dosage, especially when starting their CBD journey, edibles and tinctures might be more appealing options.

Targeted Relief

If you’re looking to address aches, stiffness, soreness, and other discomfort from a very specific source, go for a topical. You can apply these products directly to your points of discomfort for more focused relief.

High Without the Anxiety

If you’re opting for CBD over cannabis due to concerns about legality, discomforting mental effects, or both, Delta-8 THC might be a suitable alternative for you.

This close cousin to cannabis’ main attraction (Delta-9 THC) offers a very similar experience, only it’s more widely legal, and many users report that it does not make them feel overly paranoid or anxious. 

However, keep in mind that Delta-8 THC may show up on a drug test, so be cautious when choosing to try some for yourself.

Shop Premium Full-Spectrum CBD with The Hemp Doctor

If you’d like to know more about our full-spectrum CBD products, look at our online store or reach out to The Hemp Doctor today. Your wellness journey begins here!