CBD has become incredibly popular in recent years, and it’s no surprise. The extensive wellness properties of this powerful cannabinoid make it a great product for a variety of uses. But did you know that there are different kinds of CBD oils, and each has its own distinct benefits?
Today, we’re going to focus on the most filtered of these CBD extracts: CBD isolate. This is the version of CBD oil extract that is 99% pure CBD. But before we explain just what the term CBD isolate means for your CBD product and for you, let’s get some background on what CBD is, what exactly goes into extracting and filtering CBD, and how we eventually arrive at this incredibly pure form of cannabidiol.
What Is CBD Isolate: Understanding Cannabinoids and CBD
Before we can answer the question, “what is CBD isolate,” we have to first understand what CBD itself is. CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of a group of compounds found in the cannabis plant, called cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are produced by the cannabis plant in order to protect its surface from the elements and insect predators, as well as attract pollinators.
CBD Isolate: Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System
As it turns out, our own bodies create a form of cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids. In fact, all vertebrates do this as part of a cell-signaling system called the endocannabinoid system. This system interacts with various systems and organs in the body, most notably the central and peripheral nervous systems. The endocannabinoids bind to receptors in these systems and send messages that help the body to maintain homeostasis, or balance. This process is crucial to several of the body’s most important functions, including sleep, mood, memory, motor control, appetite, pain management, stress, and much more.
As it turns out, plant-based cannabinoids (or phytocannabinoids) have a similar effect when introduced to our bodies. This means that compounds like CBD have incredible potential for systems throughout the body, which explains why CBD products have become so popular.
What Is CBD Isolate: CBD Oil and the Hemp Plant
So, we know that CBD and its sibling cannabinoids can have enormous potential, but how do we get the CBD itself from the cannabis plant? And how do we get from that first derivation to CBD isolate?
Well, first let’s make sure we understand just what plant we’re dealing with when we talk about making CBD products. In the eyes of the law, there are two forms of cannabis. Marijuana is the form of cannabis that has large amounts of THC, the cannabinoid that gets people high. While there is CBD in marijuana plants, that’s not the kind of cannabis we use to create our CBD products. In fact, you can’t get a marijuana-derived CBD product, by law in the UK.
There is another type of cannabis, though, which is low in THC. This type of cannabis, called hemp, actually has less than 0.3% THC content, making it non-psychoactive. That is to say, hemp-derived CBD cannot get you high. All of our products are made from hemp-derived CBD.
What Is CBD Isolate: Types of CBD Oil
While there is a type of oil that is extracted from the seeds of the hemp plant, hemp seed oil does not contain any cannabinoid content, including CBD. CBD oil is derived, instead, from the buds, leaves and stalks of the hemp plant.
Full Spectrum CBD
The initial extract from the hemp plant is called full spectrum CBD oil. Full spectrum oil contains all of the chemical compounds of the hemp plant, including all cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. Among these compounds are trace amounts of THC (less than 0.3%). Because this is still above the legal threshold for THC content, full spectrum CBD cannot be sold in the UK.
Broad Spectrum CBD
For legal compliance (and because many people don’t want THC in their product, anyway), an extra round of filtering is done to extract the THC, taking it down to undetectable levels. In the process, some of the other cannabinoids and additional plant compounds are also removed (though not the CBD). Still, there is enough remaining cannabinoid content in this form of CBD to get a slightly lesser (but still powerful) version of the famous Entourage Effect, the phenomenon in which all of the chemical compounds (CBD included) make each other work harder than they would if taken on their own. This type of CBD oil is called broad spectrum CBD oil, and it’s perhaps the most commonly used version of CBD.
What Is CBD Isolate: Understanding Isolate CBD Oil
Some people, though, wish to experience CBD in its purest form, with none of the other cannabinoids or other plant matter present in their CBD product. This 99% pure CBD is called CBD isolate.
CBD isolate is distilled using a process called winterisation, which removes the lipids and plant waxes from the oil. This is followed by decarboxylation, which converts the CBDA (the acidic form of cannabidiol) to CBD. The concentrated CBD is then mixed with a non-polar solvent in a reactor. The solution is heated and cooled to precipitate out pure CBD in crystal form, the same way sugar precipitates out of water when you make rock candy. The CBD precipitate is then washed with the same non-polar solvent in the reactor to purify the CBD of anything that isn’t cannabidiol. The isolate is then placed into a vacuum oven for 48 hours to purge the isolate of all solvents that were used in the isolation process, resulting in 99% pure, solvent-free CBD isolate.
CBD isolate is flavourless and odourless, which makes it great for people who don’t like the taste or smell of hemp. It also dissolves easily under the tongue.
CBD Products Containing CBD Isolate
CBD isolate is used in a variety of CBD products. At CBDfx, our CBD isolate products fall into two groups: CBD vape liquids and CBD bath bombs.
CBD Isolate Vaping Products
CBD isolate can be a good choice for vape juices and liquids, because it heats well in a CBD vape kit, and it lets the flavour of the oil take center stage. We actually have a broad line of popular CBD vape juices and CBD vape liquids that feature CBD isolate.
CBD Vape Juices
Our CBD vape juices come in five delicious flavours: Blue Raspberry, Strawberry Kiwi, Wild Watermelon, Strawberry Milk, and Spearmint Gum. These CBD isolate vape juices come in strengths of 500mg, 1000mg, and 2000mg.
CBD Terpene Vape Liquids
These CBD vape liquids have a special terpene blend added back into the mix for an extra bit of chill. CBD Terpene Vape Liquids come in four flavours, evoking classic cannabis strains: OG Kush, Pineapple Express, Platinum Rose, and Gelato. Our CBD Terpene Vape Liquids are available in 500mg strength.
CBD Isolate Bath Bomb Products
CBD isolate also works very well in CBD Bath Bombs, as it disperses nicely about the tub and soaks in through the pores of your skin. The isolate CBD also pairs nicely with other botanicals to give you a rich experience of the senses.
CBD Soothing Bath Bomb
The Soothing formula of our CBD Bath Bomb not only contains 200mg of pure CBD isolate, but also lavender oil and Hawaiian black salt. This CBD Bath Bomb is a great component of a luxurious self-care day.
CBD Recharge Bath Bomb
Our CBD Recharge Bath Bomb contains 200mg of pure CBD isolate, plus eucalyptus and spearmint oils. This CBD Bath Bomb is particularly good for post-workout recuperation and recovery time.
The Final Word on CBD Isolate
Every type of CBD has its advantages. Certainly, the Entourage Effect is the major bonus of using CBD products with broad spectrum CBD. But CBD isolate has its advantages, too, and many people swear by CBD isolate products. We encourage you to experiment with both kinds of CBD to see what’s right for you. And we wish you all the best on your CBD journey!
Ready to try CBD isolate? Check out our full line of CBD vape juices and liquids!
