While tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary chemical compound found in cannabis, several other compounds are also essential to your health. These include cannabidol (CBD), allodyninth-cannabidiol (CANNATetrahydrocannabinol), and allo-cannabidiol (AlloDTHC).
These compounds are known as cannabinoids, and they exist in different ratios and concentrations in different species of plants. Most people have negligible amounts of these cannabinoids, but a small number appear to have special therapeutic benefits.
This review will focus on all three of them, looking at recent research that has investigated their benefits. Although this review focuses on humans, these molecules are most closely applicable to populations such as clinical trials or human treatment programs because of their effects on health and disease.
CBD
While tetrahydrocannabinoids — or THC — and cannabidiols (CBD) are common names, they aren’t the only compounds found within the Cannabis plant. Several lesser-known cannabinoids, or non-psychoactive molecules, are present in all plants, as well as in a handful of hemp plants.
These lesser-known molecules have been shown to have benefits that outweigh the small risk of side effects when used under medical supervision. Some of these cannabinoids have been found to have natural healing abilities that surpass those of THC and CBD.
This article will discuss several of these lesser-known cannabinoids and give you some tips on how you can increase your dosage to reap the full benefits. It also will discuss some side effects that may occur when taking too much CBD.
CBC
Lesser-known compounds found throughout the plant kingdom that aren’t either CBD or THC are calledCBC, or cannabocannabinoids. These compounds have been studied and used in different ways, and they offer new ways to improve your mood.
Some of these cannabinoids have been found to have powerful effects, and they have been used in clinical settings to treat mood problems. Others have been found to be safe and non-effective.
However, you cannot just add a dose of CBC to a coffee run up the next morning and expect an effect – it takes special circumstances where CBC is required for a stronger effect but is not needed for taste due.
This article will go into more detail on some of the less-known cannabinoids found in plants, as well as some relevant conditions where they may be beneficial.
CBN
While tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the most well-known cannabinoid in terms of its drug effects, coke and marinades list it as cbnmeny.
CBN is uncommon in drug sentences but can be found in over a dozen different drugs, including oxytocin and clomipramine. It has been called the “Binkley molecule” due to its shape: an octagon with five sides.
While THC can give you a feeling of euphoria or stupor, CBD has been described as nonpsychedelic and possesses therapeutic benefits of its own. This may be due to how little THC is in it compared to what goes into it.
THCV
Several compounds found in marijuana plants aren’t actually cannabinoids, but they do have certain effects. Some of these compounds aren’t called drugs because they don’t act on the same parts of the brain as THC, but they do have certain effects.
Some of these compounds are called thianethole Cannabinol (THCV), and it is the thianethole portion of this compound that is responsible for its psychoactive property.
As mentioned earlier, THC acts as an inhibitor on CB1 and CB2 receptors, which results in a wide range of effects from calming to promoting invigoration. However, because thianethole is not a cannabinoid, it does not act upon those receptors and nothing except heat and pressure changes them.
However, because it is an added part of THCV, some parts of the brain receive some of thisthianethlethcannabinol (THC) and CBD with no barriers between them. This is something that makes a big difference in terms of health and nutrition.
Cannabichromene (CBC)
While CBD is the most well-known compound of a cannabis plant, CBC is another important one.
As the name suggests, it contains both Cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabidivarin (CBDV). Both are found in small amounts in the hemp plant, but CBDV is more common.
The term “cannabinoid” was coined in the 1960s, when scientists began studying how the human body could not fully utilize all of the major drugs out there.
At that time, scientists thought there were only six or seven drugs that existed in their purest form. Today, with more than a dozen cannabinoid compounds known, those early studies were right on to what would become a popular research topic.
Cannabidivarin (CBDV)
Cannabidivarin (CBDV) is a compound found in both hemp and marijuana that is unrelated to the THC molecule. Unlike THC, which acts in your brain as a neurotransmitter, an endocannabinoid works in your body as an enzyme.
That makes CBDV all-but-invisible in your body, but it can have some remarkable benefits. For instance, it may help fight anxiety and reduce Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive diseases symptoms.
It may also have potential medical benefits for people with cancer, including helping with side effects such as pain and fatigue. As such, it has received some research support from respected institutions like the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Unfortunately, cancer drugs are expensive to produce and sell, so most doctors don’t include them in their treatments.
Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the major psychoactive compound of marijuana. It makes you feel euphoric and induces mood changes and penetrates into various parts of your body.
THCV is a third cannabinoid found in lesser amounts than THC and cannabidiol (CBD). It has few if any side effects and may have medical benefits.
Though it is rare to find it as a supplement, THCV is not to be dismissed. Some people have reported Benefits from lower doses of THCV than what are found in standard doses for CBD.
It may even have therapeutic values as an adjunct therapy for certain conditions such as pain, inflammation, seizures, appetite stimulation, & overall health improvement.
Cannabinol (CBN)
Cannabinol (CBN) et cetera is another compound found in marijuana that’s not made from THC but is called cannabionol (CBN). CBN is a derivative that contains no psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) but does contain several other compounds, including cannabidiol (CBD) and vanillacetyl-cannabinol (VCAT), a variant of THC that does not have the same effects as pure THC.
These variations in CBN make it an interesting molecules to study. A number of clinical trials have tested its benefits, with mixed results. Some studies show it can reduce symptoms of symptoms of spasticity, like muscle contractions that are too hard or frequent, and others do not find any benefits.
However, this may be due to the fact that CBD does not appear to affect certain parts of the brain that deal with muscle contractions.