CBD Isolate - Pros, Cons and Uses
What is CBD Isolate?
There are many opinions when it comes to using CBD in isolate form. You will hear terms such as "The Entourage Effect" used to try and steer you towards a product that contains more than just isolate. While this does have merit, we believe that there is a time and place for isolated CBD to be used and there are studies to prove just that.
First, let's discuss what CBD isolate is. The simplest way of understanding it is to think of it as isolated CBD, meaning that the CBD molecule has been singled out from the hemp plant. All other molecules, terpenes, plant waxes, flavonoids and oils have been removed leaving just pure, isolated CBD. Since CBD isolate is void of anything other than CBD, you should expect a product that does not produce a flavor or emit any type of aroma.
How is CBD Isolate Made?
CBD isolate is produced by a multiple-step extraction process that slowly reduces hemp oil into a single cannabinoid - cannabidiol.
CO2 extraction is a popular technique to separate trichomes from leaf matter, which results in hemp oil. Once hemp oil is produced, the result is an oil that's rich in CBD, along with minor cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. These CBD products are known as full-spectrum and broad-spectrum hemp oil. As you know from some of our earlier articles; full-spectrum extracts contain THC, while broad-spectrum extracts do not.
However, CBD isolate requires manufacturers to remove everything except CBD. It's during this process that winterization, decarboxylation, and fractional distillation occurs. The raw oil still contains chlorophyll, plant waxes, lipids and fats so winterization is essentially the removal of those components. Decarboxylation is the process that converts cannabinoids from their acidic precursors like CBDA to the parent molecule CBD. Fractional distillation is the last step where everything other than just the CBD molecule is taken away. What's left after this arduous journey is pure CBD crystals that are free of plant waxes, contaminants, volatile oils, and other cannabinoids.
What do I need to know?
I want dispel a few myths going around about this topic. One of the ones we hear most often is that you need THC for CBD to be effective. This is simply not true. When you study the efficacy of an ingredient in a scientific setting, you must study it by itself (isolated). You do this so that there are no additional variables that could be changing the results. If you do a quick search on Pub Med about a particular topic you will see thousands of studies performed this way showing efficacy of CBD alone. Another myth we hear is that using an isolated form of CBD has no bioavailability and will not get into the bloodstream. This is also untrue as shown by pharmacokinetic studies performed in 2018.
What are the pros?
We love using isolate here at DirectHemp.com for many reasons. One, CBD isolate is flavorless and odorless. This is beneficial to those that do not like the taste of hemp or are looking to use isolate in a hot beverage, smoothie or recipe. Next, CBD isolate is reported to work faster and has more of a pharmaceutical type effect than CBD in a carrier oil like MCT oil. Using this product when you are experiencing things above and beyond normal daily issues, is one of the reasons we all like to keep this product on hand. A pinch under the tongue can do wonders in a short amount of time. Another pro is that CBD isolate contains 0.00% THC. When using isolate, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to passing a drug test. Lastly, there is a ton of value in CBD isolate from a pricing perspective. As you will see on our website, our price for this product is around a penny per milligram. This is a great value and great bang for your buck!
Are there any cons?
As with anything — there are always pros and cons. Let's take a look at the cons associated with CBD isolate. One thing you will come across often in CBD marketing is the term, "The Entourage Effect". The Entourage Effect is the idea and theory that combining cannabis compounds creates a better effect than a single compound on its own. While some take this to mean CBD does not work without added terpenes and cannabinoids, that is not the case. Studies do tend to show that CBD in conjunction with other terpenes and cannabinoids can have a greater effect and this makes sense! If you add in more things that are beneficial on their own, you increase the chances of a greater effect. Another con is the fact that most companies use solvents to reach the purity level required for the product to be considered an isolate. Many times, these solvents can be found in traces left behind in the final product. This is why it is so important to work with certified labs that not only provide potency tests but residual solvent tests as well. All isolate on DirectHemp.com, comes from Iso-Warehouse, a company that works with the most certified labs in the country!
How do I use CBD Isolate?
CBD Isolate is such a versatile product that it would be impossible to tell you every way you can use it. Instead, we'll touch on some of our favorite uses. The most common way to use isolate is by taking a pinch out of the jar and placing it under the tongue. Let it sit there to dissolve for at least 30 seconds and then wash it down with a drink of water. You can also use CBD isolate to create your own products like tinctures, topicals, and even skin/hair products! There are many guides online that can walk you through how to do this, which is a fun way to create a custom product just for yourself. Lastly, you can mix it into your recipes for a boost of CBD! You can simply mix it into your morning cofee or tea, add a little to your post-workout shake, or bake it into your favorite brownie recipe! The possibilities are truly endless.
What are your favorite ways to use CBD isolate and what do you use it for? Let us know in the comments below!
Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6222489/
https://www.vitalibis.com/bewell/carrier-oils-for-cbd-products-taste-bioavailability-absorption.html
Leave a comment