Is there a right choice when it comes to choosing between full spectrum vs broad spectrum CBD for sleep products?
The answer to that question is a little more complicated than a simple “yes” or “no.” Because while most of cbdMD’s ingestible CBD products will produce a sense of calm and relaxation to help you fall asleep at night, some products have additional ingredients included for that specific purpose. And still others contain more potent cannabinoids, such as THC, which can also give your relaxation efforts a hefty boost.
To help you choose the CBD formula and products that are right for you, we’ve compiled some information to make your search just a little easier.
How Can CBD Products Help You Sleep Better at Night?
CBD oil and the various other cannabinoids derived from hemp have a myriad of benefits depending on how they’re used and applied. In this way, CBD interacts with your endocannabinoid system (ECS) through your cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) to produce a multitude of benefits, including:
- Promoting a sense of relaxation and calm
- Helping to regulate your sleep cycle
- Improving your mood by maintaining emotional homeostasis
- Reducing minor discomfort
- Supporting your recovery from strenuous exercise
For the purposes of this article, we’re going to focus on the first two points and how you can use full spectrum vs broad spectrum CBD for sleep. Of the over 100 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant, you’ll find that each has its own relationship to your cannabinoid receptors. Some work solely with one receptor while others can work with both (or even actively against one).
CB1 Receptors and Sleep
While both our full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD products contain similar formulas, to achieve a better quality of sleep look for interactions with your CB1 receptors, those found in your central nervous system (CNS). Your CNS is responsible for things such as your motor activity, pain perception, and mood, which can all play integral roles in a quality night’s sleep.
CBD is a cannabinoid that interacts with both your CB1 and CB2 receptors, but by combining it with other ingredients such as melatonin, valerian root, chamomile, and hops in our CBD PM sleep aid formulas, we’ve optimized the benefits you’ll receive for your CB1 receptors. But we include other cannabinoids in some of our CBD formulas as well, the most notable being THC. And this is where our full spectrum vs broad spectrum CBD for sleep products differ.
What Is the Difference Between Broad Spectrum CBD and Full Spectrum CBD?
Both of our CBD formulas offer you a whole-body experience to help you achieve a better quality of sleep at night – but the primary difference between the two is their THC content.
Of course both our full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD for sleep products are rigorously tested by third-party, ISO-certified labs just like the rest of our products. So what the difference really comes down to, in terms of THC content, is how the presence and different levels of various cannabinoids trigger the entourage effect – and to what extent.
The Entourage Effect
While the entourage effect is a widely held belief among many experts, it is still considered theory not fact. Which isn’t to say that it doesn’t exist, just that it hasn’t been satisfactorily proven. So what exactly is the entourage effect?
In simplest terms, it refers to the way various chemicals in our bodies can work cooperatively to produce a greater benefit than they could achieve on their own. The interaction between cannabinoids and terpenes can also produce a similar synergistic effect.
But to be completely honest, you do not need the presence of THC in order to trigger the entourage effect. Simply ingesting or applying a CBD product with more than one cannabinoid is enough to kick start the entourage effect. However, the effects and benefits you experience without it will be less than those you would receive with a product containing the full range of cannabinoids.
Broad Spectrum CBD Oil
Like its name suggests, Superior Broad Spectrum CBD oil contains a wide range of the cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant. In other words, it contains some but not all of the over 100 cannabinoids. Or more specifically, it contains no detectable amounts of THC (i.e. it’s THC free*). So while broad spectrum CBD oil products will still trigger the entourage effect, you will receive most but not all of the benefits.
That being said, there are a boatload of cannabinoids included in our broad spectrum CBD for sleep formulas including CBG (cannabigerol) and CBN (cannabinol), which bind to both your CB1 and CB2 receptors. And by working together, they can effectively boost the benefits you receive from CBD.
Like we mentioned above, all of our CBD oil products (regardless of formula) excel at promoting an inner sense of calm and relaxation while also improving your mood and, most importantly, improving your quality of sleep.
Even so, we’ve designed a few special CBD products specifically made to help you get better sleep each and every night. At cbdMD, you can find our CBD for sleep formula in either a tincture, softgel, or gummy.
Our 1500 mg CBD PM tincture offers 40 mg of CBD and 10 mg of CBN per serving and our 1500 mg broad spectrum CBD PM softgels come in a 30-count bottle with 40 mg of CBD and 10 mg of CBN each. Finally, we offer our broad spectrum CBD PM formula in a delicious raspberry gummy which contains 25 mg of CBD per serving (2 gummies).
So yeah, we made sure you’ve got a few options to choose from.
Full Spectrum CBD Oil
Full spectrum CBD oil has something that our Superior Broad Spectrum doesn’t have: THC. And that single cannabinoid can be a huge game changer when it comes to experiencing the full entourage effect and its benefits. Because our high potency full spectrum CBD PM products might just be the right choice to help you achieve a better quality of sleep at night.
So if you’re looking for something a little more than what our broad spectrum CBD sleep products offer, look no further than our brand new range of full spectrum CBD products for sleep!
By making full use of all the cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and essential oils found in the Cannabis sativa plant, we can provide a whole-plant experience that is different from what you experience with broad spectrum CBD oils. Despite the fact that the federally legal amount of THC per serving included in our products is not enough to lead to psychoactive effects.
Full spectrum CBD products can be a tremendous asset when it comes to achieving the sense of calm and relaxation you need to help you fall asleep. And because no two people are alike, at cbdMD we’ve made sure to offer you just as many full spectrum CBD PM options as our broad spectrum line.
Manufactured with 50 mg of CBD and 2 mg of THC per serving, our full spectrum CBD PM line offers a high potency CBD option for better sleep at night. Available in a soothing mint flavor, our full spectrum CBD oil tinctures also have 5 mg of melatonin and a proprietary blend of herbs to help you drift off to sleep at night. Similar to our tinctures, full spectrum CBD Sleep gummies also offer 5 mg of melatonin, but come in a rather delicious raspberry flavor instead.
And last but certainly not least, our full spectrum CBD softgels offer a lower dose of melatonin, at just 3 mg a serving, but are probably one of the easiest ways to add full spectrum CBD PM to your nightly routine.
Full Spectrum vs Broad Spectrum CBD for Sleep: Which Is Better?
Like most things, choosing between full spectrum CBD products and a broad spectrum CBD formula specifically designed to help you fall asleep at night often comes down to personal preference. If you don’t have any concerns regarding the inclusion of 0.3 percent THC, then we recommend taking some time to try a few different products before determining which one is the one for you.
And now that you understand the difference between our full spectrum vs broad spectrum CBD for sleep products and their varying benefits, you see why it can be hard to choose between them. But of course, that’s not all. Because we’ve also released an extra special high potency full spectrum formula with even higher quantities of THC.
What About cbdMD’s Deta 9 Formula?
cbdMD’s new hemp-derived Delta 9 THC formula hasn’t been optimized to maximize your quality of sleep (yet). That being said, the inclusion of a higher potency full spectrum formula means that there’s even more THC than in our traditional full spectrum CBD formula. Currently, our new Delta 9 formula comes in either gummies or microdose capsules. Comparatively, the microdose capsules contain much less THC, with about 1 mg of THC and 9 mg of CBD per softgel.
Available in both cherry and blue razz, these delicious gummies are only for customers who are 21 years or older, and can be purchased in a 10 count or bottle of 20. With 10 mg of THC and 50 mg of CBD per gummy, compared with just 1.5 mg of THC and 28 mg of CBD per serving of our full spectrum tinctures, our Delta 9 gummies far surpass the cannabinoid content of our other full spectrum CBD formula.
So while they are also not designed specifically to help you fall asleep at night, that doesn’t mean they won’t help you relax and find a calm state of mind in the evenings. Which in the end, is all you really want in order to achieve a quality night’s sleep.
Note: Our Delta 9 formula is federally legal because it is both hemp derived and less than 0.3 percent THC by weight. However, check the regulations for the state in which you live.
Are Drug Tests a Concern?
They can be.
Although products derived from hemp that contain less than 0.3 percent THC by weight are federally legal, many states and corporations make their own rules when it comes to THC content. Which means that it can be difficult to know whether you should choose full spectrum vs broad spectrum CBD for sleep.
While CBD will not show up on a drug test, THC can. It may be in legal quantities, but depending on your job or location that may not matter. So even though our full spectrum CBD and Delta 9 products are federally legal, you should still be careful when it comes to your job and the state you live in.
Additionally, it’s important to consider that the longer you regularly use full spectrum or high potency full spectrum products, the more THC can build up in your bloodstream and show up on a drug test. So if you’re concerned about possibly failing a drug test, we recommend you stick with broad spectrum CBD oil products. You will see a lot of the same benefits as our full spectrum CBD products, just without the chance of failing a drug test.
For more information and tips on using full spectrum vs broad spectrum CBD for sleep, or for more details on the rest of our CBD products or our new high potency full spectrum formula, keep an eye on our frequently updated blog. Looking to stay up to date on the latest supplement news and cbdMD’s upcoming special offers? Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or chat with someone live today!