CBD isolate refers to a CBD product that exclusively contains CBD. Because it doesn’t contain any other compounds from the hemp plant, it doesn’t appear on a drug test for THC, says Dana Ohebshalom, registered nurse and owner of hemp and CBD store Hemp and Honey in Edgewater, New Jersey.

Unlike CBD isolate, full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD contain a wide range of cannabinoids, terpenes and other naturally-occurring compounds from the hemp plant that work together to create what’s proposed as the entourage effect, which suggests that consuming both CBD, THC and other naturally occurring cannabinoids in unison has a greater effect than taking them separately. However, research is still determining to what extent this is true.

Distilling exclusively CBD from the hemp plant involves an intricate process that gives producers enhanced control over what is and isn’t in the finished product (regarding THC), says Ohenshalom. All CBD isolate extraction methods utilize solvents, such as ethanol and carbon dioxide, she adds. “[Solvents strip] the plant material of all compounds (cannabinoids, terpenes, fatty acids and more) except for cannabidiol. The resulting product is generally a crystallized form [of CBD] that can be crushed into a powder and added to products like CBD gummies and CBD oils,” she adds.

Research suggests that plant-based cannabinoids like CBD isolate interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is responsible for regulating many physiological processes, including appetite, pain and immune response, explains Ohebshalom. Cannabinoids work in the human body by binding to cannabinoid receptors in the ECS called CB1 and CB2 receptors. These interactions can help regulate the body’s central nervous system, emotional response and immune response, among other functions.

Although CBD isolate does not produce the entourage effect, as it contains exclusively CBD, it may share many similar benefits to full-spectrum CBD and broad-spectrum CBD.

“The anti-inflammatory action of CBD is a great benefit, with many people also experiencing reduced nausea and vomiting, as well as relaxed muscle tension,”

A 2015 study in Neurotherapeutics suggests that CBD has the potential to treat anxiety disorders via a range of actions, including a decrease in autonomic arousal (heart palpitations or increased heart rate) and a reduction in conditioned fear responses (known as fear extinction). However, the specific role of CBD isolate in these effects is yet to be determined by research.