Confused by “CBD?” You are not Alone
It can be confusing to pick the right products when similar but different substances go by so many different names: CBD, Cannabidiol, CBD Isolate, Hemp Extract, Hemp Oil, Broad Spectrum CBD etc., etc., etc. We are here to make it clearer for you by breaking down what that ingredient list actually means.
Let’s get started with one of the biggest questions we get – Where does CBD (aka Cannabidiol) come from? Most of the CBD in products is sourced from the raw hemp plant. Legally, hemp is defined as a cannabis plant that contains 0.3 percent or less THC, while marijuana is defined as a cannabis plant that contains more than 0.3 percent THC.
The hemp plant produces high-quality essential oils from its seeds, that, in addition to producing CBD from its flowers, is also abundant in phytonutrients, phytocannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids which can be absorbed – and eventually utilized – by the body.
Now that we understand a little bit about where CBD comes from, let us dig into the many ingredient names we see so often…
Hemp Extract or Cannabis Extract. Contains high levels of all the natural hemp compounds, such as terpenes, flavonoids, omega acids, phytonutrients, and other phytocannabinoids like CBG and CBC.
Hemp seed oil. Like other carrier oils, such as olive or coconut oil, hemp seed oil is high in antioxidants, amino acids, and omega fatty acids. Any product made from hemp seed oil (also called cannabis sativa seed oil) will not contain CBD. Although hemp seed oil is great for your skin, you will not reap the benefits of actual CBD when this is on the product label.
Full spectrum CBD. An extracted fraction from the hemp flower that includes trace levels of other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids compounds of the cannabis plant, including less than 0.3 percent THC. Such a low level of THC is not considered to produce the known psychoactive effects attributed to the marijuana plant.
Broad spectrum CBD. This is also an extracted fraction from the hemp plant that includes trace levels of other cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids without any detectable amounts of THC.
CBD isolate. Consists of nearly pure CBD crystals with no other cannabinoids or terpenes. It is isolated from the other compounds of the hemp plant. CBD isolate does not contain THC.
So, which should you choose? Some people prefer full spectrum because they want the benefits of the CBD fraction with all the cannabinoids and other compounds working in synergy. Others choose broad-spectrum because they want the CBD fraction with all the terpenes and flavonoids but no THC. Some people prefer CBD isolate because they do not want any other compounds included
And, what should you avoid if you are interested in the benefits of CBD? Products that have no mention of cannabidiol or hemp extract and only list hemp seeds, hempseed oil, or cannabis sativa seed oil. These ingredients are not the same as CBD.