You would be forgiven to think that all CBD products, such as CBD oil and CBD gummies, are composed of just cannabidiol (CBD) with no other ingredients or chemical compounds.
Whilst different species of cannabis can be treated to isolate just the CBD component, there are actually 421 building blocks found within cannabis, with cannabidiol being one. But what are some of these other compounds and what can they do for us? Here are 5 overlooked compounds that can be found in full spectrum CBD products.
Terpenes
It is easy to overlook terpenes in favour of the more famous CBD compound, but research is suggesting that terpenes are responsible for a wide range of benefits. Like other compounds found in cannabis, terpenes binds with our CB2 receptors, which are found on top of the cells within our immune system. It is this binding that can reduce inflammation and help to modulate immune system responses. Terpenes also give cannabis its unique smell and depending on the quantities of the types of terpenes found with your particular product, the smell can change from batch to batch.
CBG
CBG was first uncovered by researchers in the late 1960’s and has been deemed as the mother of all cannabinoids. Like is daughter CBD, CBG in a non-intoxicating compound that can produce an array of physiological benefits. The research into CBG is still in its infancy but it is thought that it antibacterial and mood stabilising properties. One of the reasons that CBG is often overlooked is due to the expense that it costs to synthesize it, as CBG gives rise to the other 80+ cannabinoids found in cannabis, it takes a lot of processing to produce a small quantity.
CBC
Cannabichromene is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, just like it’s sister CBD. One of the key differences between CBC and CBD is that CBC doesn’t bind with the cannabis receptors located within our bodies, but it is thought that it has anti-tumour capabilities. Due to its inability to bind with the receptors, CBC needs to work with other cannabinoids to allow its healing properties to take hold. This is known as the entourage effect where the effects of cannabis on the body become more than the sum of its parts.
CBDV
Cannabidivarin is also a non-psychoactive cannabinoid but it is thought that it works with CBD to produce anti-convulsant properties. When research was in its infancy it was thought that CBDV bound with CB1 receptors which are located in the brain to produce the anti-convulsant properties, however new research is suggesting that it binds with an entirely different set of receptors to help modulate this condition. Research is still ongoing into CBDV and its effects on the body.
Final Considerations
These four overlooked compounds can be found in full spectrum or whole plant extracts. Research is still ongoing into how they interact with one another as well as how they work together to produce some of the health benefits listed here. It is worth noting that if you are concerned about taking a full spectrum or whole plant extract product due to the levels of THC, then look for a CBD brand that has been derived from hemp, as this is naturally lower in THC.
The health and wellness industry has jumped on CBD as the miracle cure for an array of conditions, when in actual fact it is the other 420 compounds working together that produce the largest array of benefits. Whilst the research is still in its early stages when we are talking about these compounds, what is clear is that they all work together to produce benefits that are more than the sum of their parts.
