What Exactly Are Cannabinoids?
THC, CBD, CBN, CBG, Bulk CBC Distillate are all cannabis compounds. The initials for some of the world's most important hemp products are, in some respects, humorously obscure. Perhaps because most of them sound like inferior spinoffs of the Congressional Budget Office, many cannabis enthusiasts take one glance at this site, slip down a K-hole to a civics lesson spent watching a dull C-SPAN debate, grow leery or bored, and click back out. But don't leave just yet. Keep reading because each of those blocks of text represents a distinct cannabinoid, a chemical ingredient found in cannabis.
We've previously discussed terpenes, adaptogens, and functional mushrooms, all of which are mixed into our goods, but exotic cannabinoids are the primary active ingredients in all of our softgels, tinctures, comfort creams, and other products. Furthermore, we find them to be an enthralling topic of study. To pique your attention, here are a few facts regarding cannabinoids:
Cannabinoids are naturally occurring chemicals found in the resinous glands of the cannabis sativa plant. ("Sativa" sounds like fancy horticulture, but it just means "cultivated things.")
THC was found in pure form by Israeli researchers in the 1960s, although CBN (cannabinol) was identified in the late 1800s.
How many different chemicals are there in cannabis? The number is debatable, although most researchers place it between 100 and 140.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the two most important cannabinoids (CBD). Cannabinol (CBN), Bulk CBG Distillate, Bulk CBC Distillate, cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), and cannabidivarin (CBDV) are some of the minor cannabinoids. This blog will go over each one.
Cannabinoid compounds ingested bind to cannabinoid receptors in our endocannabinoid systems. The effect they have on us is determined by whether they bind to CB1 or CB2 receptors (located in the brain and nervous system) (found on cells associated with the immune system).
Researchers have discovered these receptors all across our body, from our gut to our spine and all the way up to the neuronal HQ itself, the brain. These receptors, once engaged, can alter your memory, hunger, temperature, reproductive levels, and a variety of other body activities. Continue reading for a breakdown of each of the cannabinoids we've covered, including their medical applications, health advantages, and potential adverse effects.
What Exactly is THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)?
THC, the best studied of the cannabinoids, has entered the vocabulary as a synonym for "marijuana," despite the fact that THC and marijuana are not exactly the same. Marijuana is a component or product of the cannabis plant that contains high levels of THC, the cannabinoid that causes marijuana's effects on consumers. (Marijuana is commonly characterised as cannabis plants with a high THC content.) Hemp refers to cannabis plants that contain nearly no THC.)
Marijuana is currently authorised for recreational use in 19 US states and medicinal use in 36 states. THC research is ongoing because, despite its euphoric effects on users, it appears to be useful in pain relief.
What Exactly is CBD (Cannabidiol)?
CBD is the second most common active component in cannabis, following THC. CBD, on the other hand, is not psychotropic like THC, so you can enjoy its therapeutic effects while working, driving, or watching TV in bed. (Without feeling as if the sheets are frothy seas surging up to devour you whole.) CBD is also very popular—sales of CBD in the United States are estimated to reach $1.8 billion next year—and it comes in a variety of forms. The list includes coffee, candies, candles, sandwiches, gummies, pills, ice cream, and vaporizer oils.
Because CBD has a soothing effect, it is frequently used to treat anxiety symptoms. However, studies have shown that CBD may help with chronic pain, seizures, depression, inflammation, sleep issues, panic disorders, vomiting and nausea, and dermatitis and acne—all without the intoxicating effects associated with THC.
CBD may be able to treat neurological illnesses and relieve pain linked with various cancer therapies, according to other research. While CBD has a favourable safety profile, a word of caution: Exhaustion, diarrhoea, and weight and appetite irregularities are possible side effects. When paired with certain drugs, CBD may raise the risk of liver damage when taken in a dose-dependent way (valproate, leflunomide, mipomersen, teriflunomide, among others). Before taking any supplements, consult your doctor about CBD.
What Exactly is CBN ("Cannabinol")?
When THC is exposed to heat and light for an extended period of time, it degrades into CBN, a non-intoxicating but mildly psychotropic cannabinoid found in trace concentrations in cannabis. CBN appears to have the ability to relieve pain and operate as an antibacterial agent, and it has a well-deserved reputation as a natural sedative. Other studies have found that it may boost appetite, postpone the onset of some neurological illnesses, and encourage the growth of bone tissue, which may benefit in the treatment of osteoporosis.
Scientists have not detected any negative effects connected with CBN, however this is most likely due to the need for additional research. CBN has not been approved by the FDA to treat any ailments.
What Exactly is CBG ("Cannabigerol")?
CBG is classified as a minor cannabinoid because it is present in fewer than 1% of cannabis strains. CBG, on the other hand, is known as the "mother of all cannabinoids" because it is a parent molecule in cannabis from which many other cannabinoids are generated. CBG is a "brain" cannabinoid, whereas CBD is a "body" cannabinoid, due to its ability to raise dopamine levels and control mood and sleep patterns. Bulk CBG Distillate may also help treat anxiety and depression because it blocks serotonin receptors and reduces GABA uptake in the brain, according to researchers.
A 2020 study found that Bulk CBG Distillate and Bulk CBC Distillate had anti-tumor effects in testing on human gastrointestinal cancer cells. In a second study, researchers discovered that Bulk CBG Distillate slowed the progression of colorectal cancer cells in mice. Bulk CBG Distillate may also be used in the treatment of MRSA, glaucoma, bladder issues, loss of appetite, nerve cell degeneration, and inflammatory bowel disease.
What Exactly is CBC (Cannabichromene)?
According to research, Bulk CBC Distillate binds particularly strongly to two receptor sites that affect our sense of pain (TRPV1, or vanilloid receptor 1; and TRPA1, or transient receptor potential ankyrin 1). As a result, CBC may serve as an all-natural alternative to pharmaceutical pain relievers (which often produce adverse side effects).
A study published in 2013 looked into Bulk CBC Distillate role in the formation of adult neural stem progenitor cells (NSPCs), which the brain can turn into astroglial cells. Increased astroglial cell concentrations may lower the risk of acquiring neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
What Exactly is CBDA (Cannabidiolic Acid)?
If you juice raw hemp plants that haven't been overheated or exposed to too much light, you can extract CBDA, which is similar to ur-CBD. (In part because decarboxylation—a process that includes heating or smoking CBDA-rich cannabis strains—removes all acid from CBDA, causing it to change into CBD.) CBDA has received less scientific studies than CBD, although it has been examined as a potential antiemetic as well as a treatment for nausea and some types of cancer.
What Exactly is CBDV (Cannabidivarin)?
CBDV is essentially identical to CBD in terms of molecular structure, however studies have shown that it is more effective than CBD in treating neurological problems. Preliminary mouse research has led to theories that CBDV may act as an anticonvulsant, reducing the length and severity of seizures in persons with Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, or post-injury tremors.
The FDA authorised Epidiolex, a medicine created by GW Pharmaceuticals, a British cannabis business, to treat seizures in rare genetic illnesses, in July 2020. GW Pharmaceuticals has also performed clinical trials to see if CBDV can aid in the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Furthermore, CBDV may provide relief from chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
