What are the Different Types Of CBD?
For a first-time user, it can be confusing entering the world of cannabidiol. With some very complex terminology for cannabidiol, such as CBD Isolate and cannabinoids, we've pulled together some useful information that you can use to lead upon when choosing the best CBD products for use.
What is cannabidiol and why are the different CBD types important?
If you have concerns over the THC ingredient, then you should take care in selecting the right type of cannabidiol for your CBD oil and other CBD products. We have put this guide together so you can learn about all the different types of cannabidiol to help you make better educated decisions on selecting the right CBD oil and CBD products for you.
Let's get back to basics. You may already know by now that Cannabidiol is one of many cannabinoids that are found in the Cannabis and hemp plants.
Even though it is derived from a plant, straightforward harvesting is not an option. Hemp is a strain of the Cannabis sativa plant that has a high concentration of cannabidiol and low THC levels (which is why hemp is legal and cannabis is not). Cannabidiol must then be extracted from the plant whilst also ensuring any THC is removed during the purification stage.
How is CBD extracted?
CBD extract can be sourced from either the cannabis plant or hemp. However, it is only CBD extracted from the hemp plant that is permitted for sale in the UK. Hemp is naturally high in cannabidiol content and has very low levels of THC.
Since cannabidiol is a constituent of a vast sea of hemp compounds, extraction isn't as straightforward as you might think. All the extraction techniques were initially developed for other purposes, such as the extraction of essential oils from flowers.
It is important to harvest cannabidiol in a highly purified form in order to be able to use it to produce CBD oils, CBD topicals, and other CBD products like CBD e-liquids and CBD gummies. The strain of hemp we use has a high cannabidiol content, which is why we use Cannabis sativa L.
All i-Cann CBD is made with Solvent Extraction
This method uses a variety of solvents which can be used to extract the cannabidiol from the hemp or cannabis plant. The solvents used include certain alcohols like ethanol and isopropanol. Cannabidiol is released by dissolving the natural plant waxes. Plant trimmings and hemp flowers are usually soaked in the solvent. The solvent can also be run over plant pieces in some cases. A concentrated cannabinoid solution is then obtained by evaporating the trimmings and the solvent. Other cannabidiol extraction methods include using materials such as CO2, olive oil, and dry ice.
What forms of CBD are available?
CBD Isolate
Isolate contains CBD, or cannabidiol, a chemical compound present in the cannabis and hemp plants. Isolate is CBD in its purest form. THC - the psychoactive component in cannabis - is not present in CBD isolate, as opposed to full-spectrum CBD oil and other full-spectrum CBD products.
If you're interested in trying CBD, but not ingesting any THC, as is the case with cannabis, then trying a product made using isolate might be the right option for you. THC is present in most other CBD forms, at least in small amounts. In its simplest form, CBD isolate refers to a crystalline solid or powder containing only pure CBD.
It is necessary for manufacturers to use various extraction methods to remove all compounds and other substances from cannabis plants, including THC, to produce isolate. Cannabidiol crystals are left behind after the process. To make the product more useable, manufacturers may grind crystals into powder. There is no distinctive smell or taste associated with CBD isolate.
All i-Cann's CBD products, including CBD Oils, topicals and skincare use CBD isolate. You can find out more about i-Cann's range of CBD oils here.
Full Spectrum CBD
An oil that contains a full spectrum of phytochemicals is said to be full spectrum because it contains all the phytochemicals in hemp naturally. A large range of cannabinoids are present, including CBD, THC, terpenes, and many others. The psychoactive compound in the cannabis plant is THC, which has the potential to give users the side effect of feeling "high". THC can be found in full-spectrum CBD oil in quantities that exceed the legal limit. Therefore many full-spectrum oils are actually sold in the UK illegally.
Full Spectrum products are said to invoke the “entourage effect”. The theory being that the most optimum benefit is obtained when taking the full spectrum of the plant’s cannabinoids altogether. It's the interaction between all compounds, including phytocannabinoids and terpenes, working holistically to enhance their effects.
Broad-Spectrum CBD
Broad-spectrum CBD oil is different from full-spectrum oil as similarly to CBD isolate, Broad spectrum doesn't contain THC. Broad-spectrum CBD oil and related products do, however, contain many other cannabinoids and compounds found in hemp. Broad-spectrum CBD oil and other broad spectrum products are capable of producing an entourage effect.
Imagine a scale of cannabidiol types. Broad-spectrum would sit in the middle, between CBD isolate (containing CBD only) and full-spectrum CBD (all the cannabinoids and compounds, including THC). Whole plant would then sit above full-spectrum CBD.
Whole Plant CBD
Whole plant CBD contains the entire spectrum of hemp compounds, including essential terpenes, flavonoids - not dissimilar to full-spectrum CBD - except whole plant includes the waxes and oils. It's worth noting that whole plant is unrefined and too thick for regular use in everyday CBD products.
CBD Distillate
Distillate is what is left over from the hemp plant after an extraction process has been carried out, but before final purification into CBD isolate. Distillate contains cannabidiol and other cannabinoids found in the plant, as well as natural oils. Both Broad Spectrum and Full Spectrum CBD are in distillate form.
What's the best type of CBD for me?
Whether you opt for Broad-spectrum CBD, or an isolate, all really depends on whether you're open to trace levels of THC in your CBD oil or CBD product. If you are a seasoned user of THC-free CBD oil, then your best bet may be to opt for an isolate CBD oil. However, if you're keen to explore other alternatives to see whether other cannabinoids found in full spectrum CBD oil and broad-spectrum CBD can further enhance your experience, then trialing these may be an option for you.
If you're more cautious about the cannabinoids other than CBD, you're better off sticking with CBD isolate - which is what is used in all i-Cann's CBD oils and CBD products. We use isolate for its purity and high concentration of cannabidiol. You can see our range of award-winning CBD oils on our CBD oils page.
Full-spectrum CBD products are not legal in UK, unless they are prescribed as medicines. Regardless of whether it is has trace levels of THC or not. However, it's worth noting that many full spectrum CBD oils are still available here in the UK, despite the law. Be sure to check that you are buying your CBD oil from a reputable company - whether it is a full spectrum CBD oil, Broad spectrum CBD oil, or CBD isolate! It's important to ensure that the CBD in the CBD oil or CBD products has been fully certified and tested by a reputable laboratory.