CBD is one of the 104 chemical compounds called cannabidiol found in the marijuana plant. It is revolutionising the medical industry owing to its healing and therapeutic benefits. It is extracted from the marijuana plant in a number of ways. Whole plant hemp extract and isolate CBD are the two popular types of CBD extracts.
Whole Plant Hemp Extracts
These extracts are derived from the entire marijuana plant. The properties of the plant are retained in these extracts. The hemp plant contains over 420 additional compounds including about 100 cannabinoids which possess their own unique benefits. In addition to CBD, plant extracts contain rich terpenes, secondary cannabinoids, flavonoids, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and many other chemical compounds included in the cannabis plant. These substances interact with and enhance the benefits of CBD.
Benefits of Whole Plant CBD
Here are some of the important benefits of Whole Plant CBD:
- Entourage Effect
All the compounds in whole plant extracts work together to provide the entourage effect. These compounds gives cannabis its scent and flavour and also significantly enhances its medicinal benefits. They also reduce the effect of THC, the compound responsible for the psychoactive properties of the cannabis plant.
- Synergy of THC and CBD
The combination of THC and CBD work together to complement and enhance their mutual analgesic, anti inflammatory, anti tumour and other medicinal benefits. Research also shows that CBD greatly enhances the medicinal benefits of THC while reducing its unwanted effects.
- Multiple Benefits
The different compounds of the cannabis plant targets different areas within the body and exhibit their respective effects on it. They work in synergy to improve the absorption of active ingredients, minimize adverse side effects and improve the overall effect of CBD within the body.
CBD isolates the purest form of CBD that is isolated from all other plant matter so that it contains only one cannabinoid: CBD. This is not the cannabis strain that gets people high. The process of CBD extracts starts from growing hemp organically. It is extracted from commercial grade, industrial hemp in the form of white, powdery CBD crystals that are devoid of other naturally occurring parts of the cannabis plant. With CBD isolates, one receives the sole benefits of CBD.
Benefits Of CBD Isolate
Many diseases were deemed untreatable until CBD same along. Here are some of its major medicinal benefits:
- Antioxidant, Anti Inflammatory and Anti Convulsant
Just like the various benefits of consuming quality marijuana seeds, CBD too can be utilised for its dynamic effectiveness. It is a powerful antioxidant which can help with neurodegenerative diseases such as alzheimer’s and parkinson’s disease. It is also helpful in reducing acne. anti-inflammatory properties of CBD has been found to alleviate the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. It also has neuroprotective abilities that helps in reducing seizures and convulsions.
- Antipsychotic and Anti Anxiety
The antipsychotic properties of CBD make it a viable treatment for insomnia to create stable sleep patterns and provide long term relief from sleeplessness. It is also shown to exhibit anti anxiety and anti depression properties.
- Cancer Fighting Properties
CBD’s interaction with the endocannabinoid system helps to reduce nausea, particularly in chemo patients. Studies show that CBD actively destroys cancer cells making it a non-toxic, painless alternative to chemotherapy.
Which Is More Effective?
The growing popularity of CBD to treat a wide range of ailments and illnesses has led people to question its different methods of extraction and consumption.
Initially, full spectrum CBD is being preferred by the users based on the fact that it has an synergistic effect, making it highly recommended by patients interested in a more holistic approach of cannabis consumption for medical treatments.
Studies have also found that isolated CBD was ineffective after it was consumed at a certain dosage. On the other hand, the effectiveness of the whole plant CBD continued to increase with higher dosage. This indicates that CBD is only effective against swelling and pain at a certain dose and that products containing a full range of cannabinoids will continue to provide corresponding effects as the dosage is increased.
However, CBD isolate is still frequently preferred by medical patients and believed by some to be more effective than full-plant extract. Many CBD isolate users strongly believe that by consuming only the CBD cannabinoid without the unwanted components of the plant, they are getting a more powerful and effective dose of CBD. They are under the impression that the most efficient and quick-acting method of administering CBD is through CBD isolates.
And it is true, CBD isolate does have something to offer CBD users that full-spectrum extracts does not. The fact that full-spectrum extracts contain low levels of THC means that users can access pure CBD itself, obtaining a safe alternative to cannabis consumption by eliminating the harmful side effects of THC. While this method might be efficient, the lack of entourage effect means the benefits are reduced when compared to full-spectrum CBD consumption.