CBD is a shortened way of saying the word ‘cannabidiol’.
“Cannabidiol” is a cannabinoid, which is one of the many active ingredients naturally found in the industrial hemp plant.
Cannabinoids are any one of the active ingredients found in any of the plants within the cannabis family of plants.
Our bodies like all mammals produce some cannabinoids of their own called endocannabinoids.
Whilst endocannabinoids are cannabinoids produced by the body, phytocannabinoids is the term we use to speak about the cannabinoids derived from plants.
An endocannabinoid system is a series of receptors located in the brain, central nervous system, and other areas around the body that use the body’s own natural cannabinoids to promote a healthy state of ‘well being’ in us.
Phytocannabinoids (cannabinoids derived from plants) are very similar to endocannabinoids (cannabinoids produced by the body) and it has been discovered that some phytocannabinoids like CBD also interacts with our body’s receptors to promote health in our bodies. With this discovery, it has been said that phytocannabinoids are an all-natural way to support the human body’s own endocannabinoid system.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the 113+ compounds found in hemp plants. It’s a non-intoxicating cannabinoid that has the ability to act on cannabinoid receptors that are part of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Plant cannabinoids, also known as phytocannabinoids, bind with this system which helps regulate certain vital functions of the body, including sleep, appetite, immune, pleasure, pain, inflammation, and more!
When the ECS is in sync, the human body is able to achieve what is called homeostasis, which means your body is operating at optimal human performance.
WHAT IS BROAD SPECTRUM CBD?
Broad-spectrum CBD contains cannabidiol and all the other compounds within the plant, except for THC which is completely removed after the initial extraction.
Because broad-spectrum extracts contain multiple cannabinoids, they also produce the “entourage effect,” but without the THC.
In a very simplified manner, broad-spectrum CBD is like a mix between full-spectrum CBD and CBD isolate. It contains the entire spectrum of cannabinoids EXCEPT for the THC part.
WHAT IS CBD ISOLATE?
CBD isolate is the purest form of this compound, made by pulling it from its natural environment and removing it from all other ingredients.
The advantage of using CBD isolate over other formats is the highest concentration of CBD per serving. Isolates are usually 99% pure, meaning that one gram of isolate powder carries about 990 mg of CBD.
There’s no entourage effect, though — you can benefit solely from the effects of cannabidiol, hence the lower price of such products and lower demand than full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD.
THE ENTOURAGE EFFECT EXPLAINED
Despite the complicated name, the entourage effect is fairly easy to understand. It refers to the synergy achieved by all the components in cannabis. These components work together to enhance the potential benefits of the plant. Each compound can amplify the therapeutic properties of the others while mitigating their potential side effects.