CBD is taking over the world. It’s making its way into our coffee, toothpicks, and grandparent’s bathrooms. It’s starting to look like everybody is going to be taking it in the years to come. However, if you start looking into CBD you’ll quickly find that there are a countless number of brands, ingredients and methods of taking it. One of the most important things to note is that it is really easy to buy low quality CBD. While I always assumed that everybody was selling the same thing, it turns out that there are a lot of variations in the oil, some of which fall short in the quality department.
The Entourage Effect
If you’re not sure what the entourage effect is, you’re definitely not alone. However, this is a term that we need to keep in mind when looking for great CBD. The Entourage Effect is the theory that all compounds in cannabis work together, and when taken in combination, they produce a better effect than when taken alone. This means that if anybody wants to reap the full benefits of CBD, they will need to make sure that their supplier is leaving all those great ingredients in there!
While some studies suggest CBD can be beneficial on its own, many other research studies support this idea that CBD’s therapeutic effects are stronger when combined with other cannabis compounds, including terpenes, flavonoids, and lesser-known cannabinoids.
The Ingredients
So what exactly are the ingredients in these products? Here’s a few to get started!
- Cannabinoids. There are more than 100 cannabinoids, including CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD and THC are responsible for the therapeutic and psychoactive effects of cannabis products.
- Terpenes. The more than 150 terpenes in cannabis affect the plant’s fragrance (think: what makes an orange smell citrusy). They can also have therapeutic benefits (think: how lavender has a calming effect).
- Flavonoids. Cannabis includes about 20 different flavonoids. Flavonoids are found in all kinds of plants, including fruits, vegetables, grains, and more. Like terpenes, they have therapeutic effects.
CBD Isolate
So what exactly is CBD Isolate? This is the first one that any prospective buyer needs to understand. This contains no terpenes or cannabinoids other than CBD, removing potential benefits associated with the entourage effect. In other words, it sounds a little like flat soda. Sure, it’s CBD but just about all the necessary ingredients have been stripped from the oil, leaving a somewhat useless product.
Broad-Spectrum
While many people assume that broad-spectrum CBD is great, there are still many that lack the minor cannabinoids that they should contain. Evn is the product says Broad Spectrum, it is important to double check their lab reports before buying! If their lab reports don’t show specific levels of minor cannabinoids, then you can assume it’s mostly CBD isolate.
Full-Spectrum CBD
This is the good stuff, baby. Full-Spectrum is packed with cannabinoids like CBD, terpenes, and trace amounts of THC–less than the national legal limit of 0.3%–to maximize your unique benefits through the entourage effect. If anybody is looking for the full benefits of CBD, this is definitely the place to go!
What Now?
There’s no doubt that CBD is a great train to hop on. However, if anybody is looking into buying, it’s essential to make sure that it contains all the necessary minor cannabinoids to achieve the “Entourage Effect”. Checking ingredients and lab reports is a great way to make sure that people get what they pay for. There’s all sorts of great brands out there with plenty of options to choose from. Now it seems like the next step is diving even further into the CBD world!
