CBD vs CBN vs CBG vs CBC (Comparing Cannabinoids)
You may have noticed a flood of different cannabinoids that have hit the market recently and not just our beloved CBD.
This is due to the Farm Bill of 2018 that legalized hemp and hemp-derived substances like cannabidiol (CBD). Among other cannabinoids from the hemp plant that have been federally legalized are cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabichromene (CBC).
This new treasure trove of cannabinoids is showing lots of promising health benefits, without disturbing intoxicating effects. In this article, we will explore CBD, CBN, CBG, and CBC, comparing their attributes with the research findings of each one.
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CBD
The use of cannabidiol (CBD) has become widespread over the last few years. It is known for its pain and inflammation-relieving qualities but doesn’t have a high as the psychoactive cannabinoid THC does.
And next to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is the second-most cannabinoid in abundance in the cannabis plant. In hemp, it is the most abundant cannabinoid. This means CBD is the cheapest to lawfully extract and produce, allowing the easiest path to your doorstep.
Today, CBD is available in the form of tinctures, gummies, pills, topicals, and much more. Because it does not produce a high, this makes it ideal for health and wellness applications.
Despite now being available in so many forms, CBD is still not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Only just recently has the first CBD pharmaceutical been approved.
This is Epidiolex, a drug that passed clinical trials for the use of two rare forms of epilepsy. We hope for more CBD drugs on the market in the coming years.
Background
How long has CBD been around? CBD was discovered in 1940 by Dr. Roger Adams and his team at the University of Illinois. Since those days we have learned many things about the cannabinoid, including how it interacts with our endocannabinoid systems (ECS).
Opposite THC’s agonistic behavior towards our ECS receptors, CBD is an antagonist of receptors. It is thought that this is the reason why a high is not produced. It has been shown that CBD inhibits the adverse psychoactive effects of THC through the CB1 receptors, counteracting undesirable effects of cannabis-based therapies.
Benefits
Besides this helpful quality, there are tons of healthcare applications of CBD. Here are some common ailments that CBD may help with:
Daily aches and pains (sports injuries, bumps, and bruises, etc.)
Chronic pain: Cannabidiol may regulate pain by interacting with the brain cells.
Anti-inflammatory: CBD has shown its use in the treatment of inflammatory conditions including arthritis.
Anxiety and panic disorders: CBD has been shown valuable for the possible treatment of anxiety disorders.
Nausea and vomiting: CBD, as well as other, cannabinoids, may help relieve nausea. This is especially helpful for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Skin conditions: CBD may be affected in the treatment of skin conditions like acne, rashes, and eczema.
Seizures and convulsive disorders
CBN
Cannabinol (CBN) was the first cannabinoid to be uncovered. Robert Sidney Conn, a British chemist, is said to have made the first discovery in 1930. CBN is not produced naturally, but forms as THC degrades in a plant as a result of age or exposure to heat or oxygen.
This older sibling cannabinoid in the cannabis family is available only in trace amounts. Younger cannabis or freshly-dried cannabis will be low in CBN, but as it ages, the CBN content will grow. Typically, recreational users don’t like CBN in their cannabis because it is an indication that the product is old and stale.
Effects
Known as a mildly psychoactive cannabinoid, CBN does have some intoxicating effects. However, research suggests it is only one-fourth as potent as THC.
This may be because CBN binds to cannabinoid receptors less effectively than many other cannabinoids. Since it is typically only available in trace amounts, CBN will more than likely not cause a high.
Benefits
Here are some possible benefits that may be produced by CBN:
Sedating: It is said that when cannabinol is paired with THC,CBD and other cannabinoids it can create a sedative effect that can be helpful for insomnia sufferers. However, the fact that CBN acts as a sedative on its own may be disputed by some. Further research is needed.
Immunosuppressant and fights inflammation: This chemical analysis of CBN states that the compound may act as an immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory.
Pain-relieving: When combined with CBD, CBN may significantly decrease levels of pain through analgesic properties. This is done through the inhibition of muscle relaxation. It is said this finding may be useful for the treatment of chronic muscle pain disorders like fibromyalgia.
Stimulation of bone tissue growth: This study found that CBN may reverse bone loss caused by osteoporosis. It may help with the production of new bone cells through the activation of stem cells. This suggests that CBN may be potentially healing for fractures caused by aging and osteoporosis.
Despite these promising findings, CBN is not currently widely available.
CBG
Cannabigerol (CBG) comes from the precursor cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) which is known as the “mother of all cannabinoids.” THC, CBG, and CBD begin as CBGA, and are later broken down into their final forms after the plant has been exposed to light and heat.
CBG appears in very small amounts of cannabis: typically less than 1%. Since it is rare, it must be properly extracted from the plant, which can be very expensive. For this reason, CBG is not well-known and is outshined by CBD on the market today. But it does contain what may be helpful medicinal benefits.
Background
CBG was first discovered by Yehiel Gaoni and Raphael Mechoulam in 1964. The scientists discovered the cannabinoid while working with hashish, which led researchers to believe it was a constituent of hash until 1975 when researchers found that the acidic form of CBG, CBGA, occurs naturally as the first cannabinoid to form in a new cannabis plant.
Cannabigerol is said to interact with both the CB1 and CB2 receptors in our endocannabinoid systems (ECS). This is thought to strengthen the function of anandamide, which is a neurotransmitter that can help regulate things like motivation, pleasure, appetite, sleep, and pain.
Benefits
Here are some possible benefits of CBG:
Pain relief: CBG may be a powerful muscle relaxant. It may be even more powerful than CBD or THC.
Anxiety and depression: CBG is believed to obstruct GABA uptake in the brain and block serotonin receptors. This may be helpful in the treatment of anxiety and depression.
Glaucoma: CBG could be effective at reducing the intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma.
Neuroprotective properties: CBG has been shown to affect neurological disorders like Huntington’s Disease, a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain.
Anti-bacterial: It has been revealed the antibiotic properties of CBG, discovering that it was useful at combating Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains that are resistant to several classes of antibiotics.
Decreases inflammation
Increases appetite
CBG has also been studied as a potential treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease and bladder dysfunction disorders.
CBC
Cannabichromene (CBC) may be one of the most important cannabinoids you didn’t even know about. CBC is formed through the breakdown of cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) from heat or ultraviolet light.
In most strains of cannabis, it is the third most abundant cannabinoid besides THC and CBD. It said that it can be found in large levels in landrace strains in India. In some strains, it may even be found more commonly than in CBD.
CBC was discovered in 1966 by Gaoni and Mechoulam on one hand and almost simultaneously by Claussen on the other. Since then little research has been carried out on this cannabinoid, with THC and CBD being the target of the majority of subsequent studies.
Effects
You cannot get a high from CBC. It is one of the cannabinoids that works well when combined with others as well as with terpenes to create the entourage effect. This effect is a theory that cannabis compounds work better when they are combined, magnifying the properties of each one.
But what we do know is that cannabichromene interacts with not only the CB1 and CB2 receptors, but also the receptors TRPA1 and TRPV1. Cannabichromene also shares CBD and THC’s molecular formula which is known as C21H20O2. However, the chemical properties and atoms differ.
CBC binds most effectively within the endocannabinoid system with the vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) and transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1).
Both of these receptor types link to our pain perception. This means that CBC may function as an alternative to traditional painkillers like NSAIDS but without their potentially harmful side effects.
Benefits
Here are some potential benefits of CBC:
Pain-relieving: CBC may support blocking pain processing in the brain similarly to opioids and THC.
Pathophysiological conditions: CBC is said that it could be helpful for intestinal secretion, mucosal inflammation, visceral pain, and Intestinal cancer.
Anti-inflammatory: The mice in this study had anti-inflammatory effects produced by the combination of CBC and THC.
Promotes healthy brain function: This study suggests that CBC raises the viability of neural stem progenitor cells (NSPCs).
Treatment of acne: In this study involving mice, the combined effect of CBC, CBDV, and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) showed effectiveness for acne treatment.
Antidepressant effect: Along with CBD and THC, CBC was found to be the most effective treatment for depression in this study.
CBC is also being studied for its use in a variety of other conditions. However, more research is needed in all of these interactions.
Choosing From the Cannabinoid Buffet
So which of these cannabinoids is right for you? Cannabinoids are like a buffet to choose from. Choose the ailments you suffer from, and select the product that contains the helpful cannabinoid compounds that work best for you.
Think about the problems you are suffering from. Do you suffer from anxiety, pain, inflammation, sleep problems, or skin conditions? CBD may be the best choice for you since it is the most effective for these issues, not to mention readily available.
Talk to your doctor about the other minor cannabinoids we have mentioned, especially if you are thinking about using them for an uncommon health concern that has not yet been well-researched. Your doctor’s knowledge on the subject will best provide the solutions that relate to your case.
If you are having trouble selecting the best one for you, why not all of them? The most therapeutic effects are said to occur when the entourage effect is activated. Full-spectrum products like ours are said to produce the entourage effect.
The minor cannabinoids and terpenes in the plant combine with the more prominent CBD and THC, multiplying the beneficial properties and modulating some unwanted effects. Broad-spectrum CBD oil does not have the extent of this effect because THC is not included.
Pick Out the Cannabinoid For You
Juna World’s CBD products include not only CBD, but CBN, CBG, CBC, and more.
Nightcap Sleep Drops: Not only does this sleep aid include sleep-inducing CBD, it supplies a healthy dose of CBN. Combined with a low amount of THC, this can cause a sedative effect to ensure you get a good night’s rest.
Ease: With equal parts CBD and CBG, this is the product that is ideal for the release of tension and anxiety on demand. How to Tantric Massage with Ease
Comparing Cannabinoids
As you can see, these cannabinoids have a lot of the same benefits. However, CBD is more abundant, more researched, and more readily available. CBN is often used as a sedative and can produce a mild high.
CBG, though less abundant and thus pricier, is known for its muscle relaxing properties and could be helpful in the treatment of anxiety and depression. And finally, CBC is showing some promise for pathophysiological conditions, as well as for pain and inflammation among others.
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Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only. It is not provided to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or ailment. It should not be interpreted as instruction or medical advice to displace the advice of your doctor or other medical professionals. We recommend talking to your doctor to prepare a treatment plan for any disease or ailments.