Bend one finger for each time someone said to you that no one is born to be an expert. Well, while you may run out of fingers counting, we should admit those sayings a complete truth. No one is born knowing every piece of information; therefore, we have to work tirelessly to learn new concepts and use the knowledge to advance our surroundings further and improve the quality of life. However, no matter how hard we would be learning, there still are many things we would not be able to master everything.
While on the one hand, we are stopped by a lack of time, the other thing stopping us is fear and mostly ignorance. We can assure these two things do not help anyone become any wiser and just set us back, making us miss many great – no, incredible – opportunities. Our whole team at Biomedicanna can agree that one of the most exciting things that happened to us is joining people passionate about hemp and wellness. As we now can call ourselves some experts in the field of CBD Oil, CBG Paste and Cosmetics, every day, we receive many inquiries regarding what those three letters – CBD or CBG – mean…
Today is the day you will become an expert yourself! As much as we love our jobs, one of the most lovable parts about it is educating others about the benefits of the products we offer. We have prepared a handy guide of the most commonly used abbreviations you can use whenever facing uncertainty!
Cannabichromene (CBC) is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. Deriving from the CBGa same as THC and CBD, CBC is more similar to CBD due to its non-intoxicating properties and potential medical effects. Working well with other cannabinoids and well working alone, CBC remains in the bloodstream for longer and is thought to be very effective in fighting cancer cells. Besides, CBC has excellent anti-inflammatory and painkilling abilities together with antidepressant properties. However, this compound is still relatively new and requires more research to describe its therapeutic powers fully.
Cannabichromenic acid (CBCA) is an acidic cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp plants. CBCA is also a chemical precursor to CBC, but the previous component derives from CBGa, the mother compound. CBCA and CBC have different therapeutic properties, and as CBC forms in cannabis plants even before flowering begins, CBCA, similar to other acidic cannabinoids, is extracted by juicing raw plants. CBDA is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid, which medical researches and experiments show compounds beneficial abilities to relieve pain and minimise various inflammations.
Cannabicyclol (CBL) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis. Discovered in 1964, CBL is still relatively new and unresearched as it appears in minimal amounts, making it harder to understand compounds’ beneficial properties. However, scientists managed to get familiar with the CBL molecule’s structure which they say is similar to CBD; this also means CBL cannot deliver the effect of being high. On the other hand, there is one thing differentiating CBL from other compounds – its nature. While other compounds are found in early-to-mid stages of a plant’s life, CBL is created as a by-product of storing cannabis for more extended periods – as another compound, CBC, is exposed to light, it degrades and turns into CBL.
Cannabidiolic acid (CBDa) is an acidic cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp. CBD is less known as the previous acts as a mother compound for the latter – as CBDa is heated and exposed to various light sources, it converts to CBD, and even though these two compounds are close, they do break down when used in different ways. While CBD is the most popular in oil drops, CBDa’s consumption methods are more uncommon. CBDa usually comes in the forms of topicals or tinctures, and some people even juice young plant leaves to enhance the effects of relieving inflammation and reduced pain.
Cannabidivarin (CBDV) is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis plants with lower THC levels. Being relatively new, CBDV has not yet been thoroughly researched. However, experiments have shown CBDV to have similar properties as CBD – they both reduce the severity and frequency of seizures, relieves nausea, and fight inflammation. CBDV has also shown effective in treating Crohn’s, HIV/AIDS. Considered as an alternative remedy, CBDV is used in tests regarding various neurodevelopmental conditions, including Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet researches are far from finished.
Cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVa) is a minor cannabinoid found in cannabis plants. Being an acidic version of CBDV, it does not have any psychoactive properties. Like other acidic cannabinoids, one of the best ways to benefit from CBDVa is to juice the raw cannabis plant, but the level of this component varies depending on plants’ growth place and type. As mentioned, CBDVa beneficial properties are much like CBDA – the list includes anti-inflammatory abilities, potential to reduce seizures and prevent vomiting and nausea, therefore, giving relief to epileptic individuals and chemotherapy patients.
More explained abbreviations after a photo– keep scrolling!
Cannabigerol (CBG) is a cannabinoid obtained mainly from young cannabis plants as they contain higher amounts of the compound than fully grown plants. CBG is also found in smaller quantities than CBD or THC, which makes CBG products more expensive. Compounds beneficial properties are valued all across, and farmers now try to meet the demand of CBG by crossbreeding and genetically mutating different types of the cannabis plant. Like CBD, CBG products and especially CBG paste is widely used to help various patients deal with the pain without experiencing any intoxicating effects and fight cancerous cells.
Cannabigerolic acid (CBGa) is one of a bunch of acidic components found in the cannabis plant. For years researchers viewed CBGa as a minor cannabinoid, but only recently academicians started to call it the mother of all cannabinoids. Being a foundational compound of a cannabis plant, CBGa is a precursor to THCa, CBDa, CBCa, and of course, CBG. CBGa helps the plant to thrive by triggering natural leaf pruning to direct as much energy as possible towards the growing flower. While this property is fascinating, there is little information about CBGa’s application to human health. Still, as far as research is going, the results show CBGa preventing cancer cell growth and antibacterial and anti-inflammatory abilities.
Cannabinol (CBN) is one of many minor compounds found in older batches of cannabis. The longer cannabis is held unused, the more THC component ages; during this process, psychoactive cannabinoid THC breaks down to CBN, which lacks psychoactive abilities and is usually non-psychoactive or have mild-psychoactivity levels. Even though there is a minimal number of researches conducted regarding CBN effects on the human body, several studies present the compound’s antibacterial and painkilling properties and talk about it reducing intraocular pressure, therefore, possibly reducing the risk of glaucoma. While there are many different misconceptions about various cannabinoids, CBN is wrongly thought to have super-sedative abilities; however, there has not been much research on such effects making researchers refrain from such saying.
Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is a non-psychoactive form of THC found in undried cannabis plants. As the plant dries, THCA decays and converts to THC. Due to this and THCA acidness, it is popular to juice cannabis to take advantage of THCA. Despite little research regarding the compound’s beneficial abilities, preliminary research suggests THCA having anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-emetic, and neuroprotective properties. Therefore, soon THCA can be used to treat digestive disorders, chronic pain, epilepsy, etc.
Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) is a psychoactive compound found in cannabis plants. Mostly known for its properties of stimulation and euphoria, THCV is also known to relieve stress and reduce panic and anxiety attacks. While THCV’s molecular structure is similar to THC’s, the previous has a different array of medical effects – it acts as an appetite suppressant rather than enhancing hungriness. As THCV effects have been little studied, various research shows positive results in treating osteoporosis, helping with diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease – THCV promotes bone cell growth, may regulate blood sugar levels, and improve motor control.
Tetrahydrocannabivarin acid (THCVa) is a mother cannabinoid to THCV, produced by exposing the cannabis plant to heat or light. Despite this molecular connection and assumed potential of relieving Alzheimer’s symptoms, THCVa is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, so researchers focus more on its therapeutical properties. Even though THCVa lacks research, like most of the cannabinoids, this component is thought to have similar anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving abilities. As mentioned previously, THCVa is usually acquired through juicing raw cannabis plants.
Now you know what each of these tricky abbreviations mean – just do not be afraid to use them, and of course, let us know if you still have questions!