Cannabidiol (CBD), the non-psychoactive molecule in cannabis, is increasingly valued for its potential health benefits, including pain relief and reduced inflammation.

However, not all CBD products are the same! Indeed, as you may know, some are made with CBD isolate (pure form), while others are made with extracts that contain all the plant's molecular baggage (full spectrum).

In a previous article, we explained why full spectrum CBD oil is more effective than pure CBD oil. Today, we'd like to add to this with a study recently published in the magazine Scientific Research which clearly shows that full spectrum is more effective than isolate.

Full spectrum vs CBD isolate: study shows very different efficacy!

The study in question was carried out by a team of three scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. You can consult it here.

Study methodology to compare the effects of Full Spectrum VS isolate.

The study, carried out on mice, focused on the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of two types of extract: a pure CBD isolate and a full spectrum extract (rich in CBD and low in THC).

To provoke an inflammatory response, a pro-inflammatory substance called zymosan was injected into the mice's paws. They were then given various doses of CBD isolate or full spectrum extract, and several parameters were measured, such as paw swelling, pain levels and the production of TNF-α, a pro-inflammatory cytokine.

The main objective was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic efficacy of the two types of extract by monitoring the evolution of symptoms at different time intervals.

It was thus possible to compare the efficacy of CBD in the treatment of inflammation and pain, depending on whether it was administered in pure form or as a full spectrum extract.

Study results

The results of the study revealed marked differences between the two types of extract.

Indeed, CBD isolate showed maximum efficacy at a dose of 5 mg/kg, but its effect diminished at higher doses, following a bell curve (maximum effect at an intermediate dose and reduced effect beyond that).

Full spectrum extract, on the other hand, showed a linear response : as the dose increased, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect became more pronounced, offering more stable efficacy even at high doses.

Furthermore, mice treated with full spectrum extract showed greater inhibition of TNF-α production, indicating a more potent anti-inflammatory effect.

In fact, compared with commercial anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs such as aspirin and tramadol, full spectrum extract has demonstrated superior efficacy, particularly in reducing inflammation and relieving pain.

These results show that the additional components of the full spectrum do indeed play an essential role in optimizing the therapeutic effect of CBD.

What explains the superior efficiency of full spectrum?

As the researchers point out, further studies, particularly on humans, are needed, both to prove these preliminary results and to better understand the whys and wherefores.

However, here are a few points to help you understand why full spectrum might be more effective than CBD isolate.

The components of the full spectrum and their therapeutic roles

The superior efficacy of full spectrum extracts can be explained by the presence of numerous bioactive compounds in addition to CBD. In all, hemp flowers contain over 500 different substances.

These components include :

-1️⃣ Terpenes: These aromatic compounds, such as β-myrcene, limonene, pinene and linalool, each have unique therapeutic properties. For example, β-myrcene has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, while linalool is recognized for its relaxing and anxiolytic properties.

-2️⃣ Cannabinoid acids: Cannabidiol acid (CBDa) and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa) are unprocessed forms of CBD and THC. CBDa is an effective inhibitor of the COX-2 enzyme, making it particularly useful against inflammation, while THCa is non-psychoactive and has neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects.

-3️⃣ Flavonoids: These natural antioxidants offer anti-inflammatory, antiviral and neuroprotective benefits. Cannabis-specific flavonoids, such as cannflavins A, B and C, are extremely powerful at inhibiting inflammatory enzymes without the side effects of traditional anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

These components, combined with CBD, interact with each other and reinforce their respective effects, creating a unique synergy specific to full spectrum extracts, known as the "entourage effect".

The entourage effect: the cornerstone of full spectrum action

Theentourage effect is the phenomenon whereby the bioactive compounds of the cannabis plant act together to produce a more potent therapeutic response than each component taken individually.

In other words, rather than isolating a single compound (like CBD), the full spectrum exploits the synergy between various cannabinoids, terpenes and other substances in the plant.

This interaction produces more homogeneous and powerful effects, particularly in the treatment of complex pain, inflammation, anxiety and even certain neurodegenerative diseases. The entourage effect is a key concept in modern phytotherapy, demonstrating the importance of preserving the plant as a whole for optimal medical applications.

In short, the entourage effect tells us that if Mother Nature has put over 500 different substances in hemp flowers, it's for a very good reason!

Conclusion: full spectrum as a solution to the problem of dosage.

One of the main advantages of full spectrum extract is that it bypasses the problem of dosage specific to CBD isolates.

This is because CBD isolate has a bell-shaped efficacy, meaning that the therapeutic effect does not increase linearly with dose. Finding the optimum dosage for isolate is therefore a challenge, as doses that are too low or too high lose their efficacy. In fact, you may have experienced this with CBD oil made from isolate.

In contrast, full spectrum offers a more linear and stable therapeutic response, making dosing easier: "just" increasing the dose is enough to obtain more pronounced effects.

Thanks to the entourage effect, full spectrum extracts harness the properties of all the components of the cannabis plant to deliver a more consistent and potent therapeutic response, even at varying doses. In short, full spectrum extracts are the future of CBD products.

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[Study] Full Spectrum extracts are more effective than CBD isolate.