The Difference Between Full-Spectrum, Broad-Spectrum, and Isolate
Hemp and cannabis products can be full-spectrum, isolate, or broad-spectrum.
Full-spectrum extract contains all of the phytochemicals naturally found in the plant, including CBD, trace cannabinoids, terpenes, and essential oils. Full-spectrum extracts from hemp also come with a negligible THC content — below 0.3%.
CBD isolate is a pure form of naturally occurring CBD. It is presented in a crystal state and may contain only trace amounts of other molecules of cannabis plant.
Entirely lacking THC, broad-spectrum products are produced in one of two ways; either THC is removed from the full-spectrum extract, or CBD isolate is combined with other isolated cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, in an attempt to mimic the full-spectrum extract without THC.
It has been demonstrated that medical cannabis can be more effective in its whole and natural state. This phenomenon is called the “entourage effect,” (Russo 2011) which means that cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids presented within the Cannabis Sativa plant show greater therapeutic potential when consumed together than in isolation.
For example, a recent study revealed how using full-spectrum hemp extracts, as opposed to using products with isolated CBD, demonstrated a clear correlation between full-spectrum hemp use and improved efficacy in inflammatory conditions (Gallily, Yekhtin, & Ha- nuš, 2015).
To ensure that multiple cannabinoids are present and thus permit synergy, hemp products must contain a full-spectrum hemp extract of the plant rather than comprise CBD in isolation. A full-spectrum hemp extract allows for not just a combination of cannabinoids, but also for the presence of cannabis terpenes (Grof, 2018)—chemicals that naturally occur in plants and imbue them with unique scents, flavors, and colors. In short, full-spectrum hemp extracts yield optimal CBD usage.
This is why Tikva products are always made from full-spectrum hemp extracts, not CBD isolates. Tikva solutions are backed by Panaxia Pharmaceutical Industries, whose analytical method allows for the identification and quantification of various cannabinoids.
References:
Russo, E.B. (2011) Taming THC: Potential Cannabis Synergy and Phytocannabinoid-Terpenoid Entourage Effects. British Journal of Pharmacology, 163, 1344-1364.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01238.x
Gallily, R. , Yekhtin, Z. and Hanuš, L. (2015) Overcoming the Bell-Shaped Dose-Response of Cannabidiol by Using Cannabis Extract Enriched in Cannabidiol. Pharmacology & Pharmacy, 6, 75-85. doi: 10.4236/pp.2015.62010.