What does full-spectrum CBD oil mean?

Full-spectrum CBD oil is one of the three formulations of CBD oil. It features CBD with all other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, giving it a full entourage effect. This article helps you what full-spectrum CBD oil is, its benefits, downsides, and other concerns.

If you want to take CBD oil occasionally or make it part of your regimen, you may want to go for full-spectrum CBD oil. It is a CBD oil formulation with CBD and a whole range of cannabinoids, including CBC, CBT, CBN, and the psychoactive THC, which many shun for its psychoactive nature. Full-spectrum CBD oil also has terpenes and flavonoids, giving it a full entourage effect whose effectiveness is yet to be confirmed by studies. Here in this article is everything you need to know about full-spectrum CBD oil, including its benefits and downsides.

What Is CBD?

Even if you are not into CBD products, you likely know what CBD is or have heard about it. CBD is becoming more popular every day, making it more necessary for people to understand it. According to Massi et al. (2006), CBD is a non-psychoactive chemical compound in hemp and other cannabis strains. Such compounds are called cannabinoids, and CBD is one of them. Besides the non-psychoactive nature, many relate to CBD products because it is therapeutic, according to Watt & Karl (2017).

CBD Deliverable Methods

Body cells cannot directly absorb CBD as a compound. Consequently, it comes combined with other compounds which when CBD dissolves in, allows the cannabinoid to be taken by the body cells. The combination of CBD and these compounds in which CBD can dissolve make CBD deliverable methods. They include topicals, edibles, capsules, vapes, oils, and tinctures. The JustCBD store sells high-quality CBD creams, capsules, gummies, vape pens, vape oils, and tinctures, which you can buy by clicking on the brand’s website. Each delivery method has pros and cons that one weighs before settling for it.

What Is Full-Spectrum CBD Oil?

Each CBD delivery method, including CBD oil, features one of the three CBD formulations; isolate-based, full- or broad-spectrum formulated CBD. Isolate-based CBD oil features about 99% pure CBD, without additional compounds. It has no extra cannabinoids, terpenes, or flavonoids, and many novices taking CBD oil for the first time appreciate it. Broad-spectrum CBD oil features CBD, additional compounds in hemp plants, specifically cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Yet, it does not have THC. Schlienz et al. (2018) described THC as a psychoactive cannabinoid linked to the high effect of smoking weed. As such, broad-spectrum CBD oil from reputable companies should not make you high since they lack THC. Full- and broad-spectrum CBD oils are almost the same in composition but have THC. According to VanDolah et al. (2019), the multiple compounds in full-spectrum CBD oil give it a full entourage effect whose effectiveness is yet to be proved by studies.

Benefits of Full-Spectrum CBD Oil

Do you want to join the CBD regimen and make CBD oil your main delivery method? You certainly need to know the benefits of full-spectrum CBD oil and settle for it. As stated in the preceding paragraph, Watt & Karl (2017) stated that CBD oil is therapeutic, which is one of the reasons people relate to it. This means that there is much to CBD oil, especially the full-spectrum version, which you need to know about. According to Hammell et al. (2016), CBD oil helps with fighting inflammation, so people with multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases seek remedies from it. Besides, Vučković et al. (2018) examined CBD studies from 1975 to 2018 and reported that the cannabinoid could fight chronic pain, including fibromyalgia, cancer, and neuropathic pains. Moreover, according to García-Gutiérrez et al. (2020), CBD can fight anxiety, stress, and anxiety, all the more why people are taking the cannabinoid to manage depression. Of course, these study findings are more than promising and see potential in full-spectrum CBD oil, but more research is needed to confirm the claims, at least before one opts for the cannabinoid.

Downsides of Full-Spectrum CBD Oil

With the many flaws, it might seem as though full-spectrum CBD oil is flawless and ticks the box for everything. Is that the case? Not at all; choosing full-spectrum CBD oil means contending some downsides, which you should know about before settling for this formulation of CBD oil. For instance, Meissner & Cascella (2021) reported that CBD oil can cause negative drug interactions, especially when you take it alongside drug thinners. The possibility of negative drug interactions with CBD oil is yet to be confirmed but it is good to err on the side of caution by talking to your doctor before trying the cannabinoid. Besides, Bass & Linz (2020) documented a case in which an old fellow took too much CBD and lost consciousness, and recovered a day later. Of course, the study looked at CBD gummies and not CBD oil, but it still reveals that too much full-spectrum CBD can lead to negative side effects, regardless of the intake or delivery method.

Is Full-Spectrum CBD Oil Safe?

If you want to buy full-spectrum CBD oil, it only makes sense that you may ask if it is safe. Corroon & Phillips (2018) stated that CBD oil, including the full-spectrum versions, has a great safety profile, showing that they are deemed safe. However, one should know that CBD studies are limited, associating the cannabinoid with many risks. The lack of knowledge and scientific data is a risk factor in the CBD space, and the full-spectrum CBD oil is not left out in this. Besides, the CBD industry is largely unregulated, and not every brand that claims to offer high-quality full-spectrum CBD oil is true to its word. Still, you can ascertain the safety profile of your CBD oil by asking for proof if 3rd party testing.

Conclusion

There are three types of CBD oil, the full-spectrum being one. It refers to CBD oil with a whole range of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, making it worthy of a full entourage effect. While the oil has many therapeutic benefits, the limited studies revolving around it pose a threat. Peer into this article to know all you need to know about full-spectrum CBD oil.

References

Corroon, J., & Phillips, J. A. (2018). A Cross-Sectional Study of Cannabidiol Users. Cannabis and cannabinoid research3(1), 152–161.

García-Gutiérrez, M. S., Navarrete, F., Gasparyan, A., Austrich-Olivares, A., Sala, F., & Manzanares, J. (2020). Cannabidiol: a potential new alternative for the treatment of anxiety, depression, and psychotic disorders. Biomolecules, 10(11), 1575.

Hammell, D. C., Zhang, L. P., Ma, F., Abshire, S. M., McIlwrath, S. L., Stinchcomb, A. L., & Westlund, K. N. (2016). Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviors in a rat model of arthritis. European journal of pain (London, England), 20(6), 936–948.

Massi, P., Vaccani, A., Bianchessi, S., Costa, B., Macchi, P., & Parolaro, D. (2006). The non-psychoactive cannabidiol triggers caspase activation and oxidative stress in human glioma cells. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences CMLS, 63(17), 2057-2066.

Meissner, H., & Cascella, M. (2021). Cannabidiol (CBD). In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.

Schlienz, N. J., Lee, D. C., Stitzer, M. L., & Vandrey, R. (2018). The effect of high-dose dronabinol (oral THC) maintenance on cannabis self-administration. Drug and alcohol dependence, 187, 254-260.

VanDolah, H. J., Bauer, B. A., & Mauck, K. F. (2019, September). Clinicians’ guide to cannabidiol and hemp oils. In Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Vol. 94, No. 9, pp. 1840-1851). Elsevier.

Vučković, S., Srebro, D., Vujović, K. S., Vučetić, Č., & Prostran, M. (2018). Cannabinoids and pain: new insights from old molecules. Frontiers in pharmacology, 1259.

Watt, G., & Karl, T. (2017). In vivo evidence for therapeutic properties of cannabidiol (CBD) for Alzheimer’s disease. Frontiers in pharmacology, 8, 20.

 

Barbara Santini