It seems like everywhere you look for CBD products you see something about full-spectrum tinctures. Unless you already know what it means, terms like these can be confusing for some people. What exactly is full-spectrum, and how does it make a difference? You might be surprised when you find out the differences. Keep reading and see whether or not the spectrum of a CBD product will have an effect on you.
What Are CBD Tinctures?
Before we dive into the differences of the spectrums, it might be a good idea to make sure that you understand exactly what a tincture is. In the process of extracting the hemp oil from the hemp plant, there are a number of ways to make extraction possible. One of the most popular ways is to break down the flowers of the hemp plant in an extraction process known as the supercritical process. When an extract becomes a tincture, the hemp oil is extracted by way of a solvent such as alcohol, ethanol, or supercritical CO2. The hemp plant is combined with a solvent that removes the oil from the plant and keeps it suspended in the liquid solvent. The solvent that contains the extracted oil is known as a tincture.
Full-Spectrum Tinctures
When the hemp oil is extracted from the plant, without any sort of extra processing, the oil contains the full spectrum of the hemp plant within it. What this means is that all of the cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other components of the hemp plant are present in the extract. The two most prominent cannabinoids are CBD and THC. Industrial hemp plants in the United States are only legally allowed to have 3% THC content or less. This means that in a full-spectrum extract, there will be up to 3% THC content. This is not enough to get people high, but it is a traceable amount. So, yes; a full-spectrum tincture does have a small amount of THC in it.
Broad-Spectrum Tinctures
In a broad-spectrum tincture, there is a bit more processing involved. Some people have a high sensitivity to THC and can not have any amount whatsoever in their systems. Broad-spectrum tinctures are formulated so that they leave out the THC, but leave most of the beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes intact so that the user can get the most out of the regimen without having to ingest any THC.
CBD Isolate Tinctures
When it comes to an isolate tincture, there are absolutely no other components present other than an isolated amount of CBD. During the process that creates the tincture, everything but CBD is stripped away from the extract leaving a pure CBD extract. CBD isolates tend to be more expensive because of the extra processing that is involved with removing the rest of the compounds from the extract.
Why THC At All?
People wonder why if THC is so dangerous and bad people allow any of it to be in their products, to begin with. Although THC does produce a psychoactive effect in the brain and makes people high, science is still not convinced that it is entirely bad. In low doses, it can aid in the entourage effect that seems to aid the wellness benefits of hemp products. It turns out that all of the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids can work together to make the most out of the CBD experience. CBD is just one part of a large whole. On its own, CBD is remarkable, but with the help of the rest of the cannabinoids, it can do a lot more. Kind of like chocolate chips is only one part of chocolate chip cookies. Yes, chocolate chips are delicious on their own, but when they are part of the whole cookie…they are fantastic.
Conclusion
Millions of people around the world use and swear by CBD products every day. Although there is a lot of information that is yet to be discovered before the FDA agrees that it is so awesome, the movement is definitely going forward and hope is on the horizon.