If you’ve been reading about Medical Cannabis, you’ve probably heard a lot about Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). But when it comes to Medical Cannabis there is more to it than meets the eye. Cannabis contains over 100 different Cannabinoids. CBD & THC just happen to be the most researched and commercialized.
We at Oreka believe CBD and THC are just the start of the Medical Cannabis revolution. Hence we started researching other minor Cannabinoids to understand the potential benefits they have to offer. Follow through to see what we’ve learnt so far..
CBN:
Cannabinol (CBN) is a rare cannabinoid found in Cannabis plants. It is not as popular as THC or CBD, but medical studies indicate that it probably deserves more attention. In recent years, CBN has emerged as a possible super-supplement with the potential to treat cancer, insomnia, and more.
Why are we interested in CBN?
CBN has been shown to have strong antibacterial properties. It has potent activity against MRSA, one of the most dangerous types of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. One study found that CBN was better at reducing the type of dental bacteria that causes cavities, bad breath, and tooth decay compared to Oral B or Colgate toothpaste.
CBG:
Cannabigerol (CBG) is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in Cannabis. Since it occurs in much lower concentrations than CBD or THC, it is not as well known, nor as heavily researched. Over the past few years, however, academic interest in CBG has increased following several promising medical studies.
Why are we interested in CBG?
A 2016 study found that CBG increased sebocyte lipid synthesis. This essentially means that CBG might help skin produce more natural oils to combat common conditions like dry skin and eczema. This would make CBG essentially a new kind of moisturizer.
Most moisturizing products simply replace or trap your skin’s natural oils. However, CBG seems to actually help your body produce more natural oils to fight the roots cause of dry skin.
CBC:
Cannabichromene, also known as CBC, is another minor cannabinoid that naturally occurs in Cannabis plants. In recent years, researchers have investigated and validated some of the many health claims around CBC. Increased research around CBC has a lot of people excited about this minor cannabinoid.
Why are we interested in CBC?
Several animal studies have found that CBC can reduce painful inflammation and swelling. CBC has been shown to block pain perception in rodents. These studies show that CBC can fight pain and inflammation by reducing pain-causing inflammation and swelling, and by reducing the perception of pain. A recent study also showed that a combination of CBD and CBC provided enhanced relief from moderate pain to patients compared to CBD alone.
CBC has also been shown to be a powerful inhibitor of acne. This is not surprising, since acne is a condition caused by the inflammation in certain skin cell glands, and that CBC has well-documented anti-inflammatory effects.
Our current product line is made using Full Spectrum Cannabis Leaf Extract - meaning it contains minor Cannabinoids like CBC & CBG along with CBD. If you have acne - prone skin, give REPLENISH a try!
THCV:
Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) is another minor cannabinoid that naturally occurs in Cannabis plants. Although similar in name to THC, the two compounds are actually quite different. There have been relatively few studies on THCV but these studies have produced extremely promising results.
Why are we interested in THCV?
THCV offers an extremely promising treatment for Diabetes and Obesity. Its potential to lower blood sugar and fight obesity by curbing appetite, has the potential to improve millions of lives globally.
A 2014 double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that THCV may regulate neural responses to food to fight obesity. Researchers concluded, “This effect profile suggests therapeutic activity in obesity, perhaps with a lowered risk of depressive side effects.” In 2016, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study on 62 patients found that THCV significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose, a key issue in Type II diabetes.
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References
- Appendino G, Gibbons S, Giana A, et al. Antibacterial cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa: a structure-activity study. J Nat Prod. 2008;71(8):1427-1430. doi:10.1021/np8002673
- Stahl, Veronica, and Kumar Vasudevan. "Comparison of Efficacy of Cannabinoids versus Commercial Oral Care Products in Reducing Bacterial Content from Dental Plaque: A Preliminary Observation." Cureus vol. 12,1 e6809. 29 Jan. 2020, doi:10.7759/cureus.6809
- Oláh A, Markovics A, Szabó-Papp J, et al. Differential effectiveness of selected non-psychotropic phytocannabinoids on human sebocyte functions implicates their introduction in dry/seborrhoeic skin and acne treatment. Exp Dermatol.2016;25(9):701-707
- DeLong GT, Wolf CE, Poklis A, Lichtman AH. Pharmacological evaluation of the natural constituent of Cannabis sativa, cannabichromene and its modulation by Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2010;112(1-2):126-133.
- Izzo AA, Capasso R, Aviello G, Borrelli F, Romano B, Piscitelli F, Gallo L, Capasso F, Orlando P, Di Marzo V. Inhibitory effect of cannabichromene, a major non-psychotropic cannabinoid extracted from Cannabis sativa, on inflammation-induced hypermotility in mice. Br J Pharmacol. 2012;166(4):1444-1460.
- Maione S, Piscitelli F, Gatta L, et al. Non-psychoactive cannabinoids modulate the descending pathway of antinociception in anaesthetized rats through several mechanisms of action. Br J Pharmacol. 2011;162(3):584-596
- https://nutritionaloutlook.com/view/radicle-science-and-open-book-extracts share-new-study-results-on-the-effects-of-cbd-and-minor-cannabinoids-on-pain.
- Oláh A, Markovics A, Szabó-Papp J, et al. Differential effectiveness of selected non-psychotropic phytocannabinoids on human sebocyte functions implicates their introduction in dry/seborrhoeic skin and acne treatment. Exp Dermatol.2016;25(9):701-707.
- Tudge L, Williams C, Cowen PJ, McCabe C. Neural effects of cannabinoid CB1 neutral antagonist tetrahydrocannabivarin on food reward and aversion in healthy volunteers. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014;18(6):pyu094. Published 2014 Dec 25.
- Jadoon KA, Ratcliffe SH, Barrett DA, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabivarin on Glycemic and Lipid Parameters in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Pilot Study. Diabetes Care. 2016;39(10):1777-1786.