The main differences between CBD and CBDA from a health perspective…
Health Benefits of Cannabis
The world of cannabis is immense. As scientists began to explore the plant in detail due to its health benefits, they began to understand this miraculous cannabis world.
Within the simple plant lies hundreds of chemicals that work the magic in our body to cure a large spectrum of diseases, both physical and mental.
When we breakdown the components of cannabis, we end up with about 113 cannabinoids and a range of terpenes. Among the cannabinoid THC, CBD, and CBN has been of primary interest to the scientist community.
Cannabinoids come in various forms. The cannabinoid oils and pastes have an impact on the body because of the interaction with the endocannabinoid system.
To understand how these different cannabinoids can influence our health, we need to start from its interaction with our body. We will discuss two cannabinoids in detail – CBD and CBDa.
What are CBD and CBDa?
Among the various cannabinoids of cannabis are CBD and CBDa. CBD is a short form for cannabidiol, and it takes the credit for the various medicinal values one can derive from the cannabis plant.
CBD oils and other products are available on the market for treating ailments such as chronic pain, epileptic seizures. The compound does not have psychoactive effects on the body like THC. Cannabidiol acid (CBDa), on the other hand, converts to CBD when heated.
The decarboxylation process, such as during smoking or vaping, helps convert this acid into cannabidiol, which has various health benefits. CBDa is the form available in the raw plant, and it is the acid precursor of CBD.
The beginning compound of both these cannabinoids is CBGA. CBGA is the natural form in which the cannabinoids are present in the cannabis plant.
In the presence of a CBDa synthase, it converts into CBDa, which further converts into CBD during decarboxylation. Both these compounds share common properties and health effects as they are derivatives.
Research shows that CBD and CBDa have anti-inflammatory properties and anti-proliferative properties and many more health benefits to count.
Benefits of CBD vs CBDA
The common ancestor to the two compounds means that the interaction of them with our endocannabinoid system is the same. The only difference is their target receptors.
While CBD is known to interact with adenosine, vanilloid, and serotonin receptors, CBDa mostly works in blocking COX-1 and COX2 receptors to reduce inflammation.
CBD also inhibits CPR55 receptors that help improve cancer-fighting properties, balancing blood pressure and bone density. The best strains of marijuana will give you a chance to experience both these cannabidiols.
CBD is among the first few cannabinoids to have progressed rapidly in the medical community. Currently, FDA approved medication known as Epidiolex is available for the treatment of epileptic seizures, which contains CBD. It stands as solid proof for CBD`s effective anti-seizure properties.
CBD has antipsychotic properties, which makes it the right match to pair with THC dominant compounds to reduce the effects. It is among the greatest advantages of full-spectrum CBD oils, where the cannabinoids complement and compensate for disadvantages, if any, and give the best possible health benefits.
CBD has been proven extremely effective for treating mental ailments such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and panic disorders. CBD has also proven to be useful for treating conditions related to involuntary muscle spasms such as Parkinson’s disease, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple sclerosis.
A large body of research about the usefulness of CBDa, its efficiency for post-chemotherapy treatment is a fascinating area to explore.
While currently, cannabis-based recovery during this stage is under trails, studies indicate that CBDa could have a particularly influential role in coping with side effects of chemotherapy.
There is evidence to show that CBDa can help reduce nausea, vomiting, tumor proliferation, anxiety, as well as inflammation. CBDa could be the road to a healthy recovery for cancer patients after the therapy. CBDa has proven to be useful for antitumor activities, especially in the case of breast cancer patients.
A study from 2012 held in Hokuriku University backs up this claim by showing that CBDa helps inhibit breast cancer cell migration.
The various ways to consume CBD and CBDa
The type of consumption determines bioavailability or delivery such as THC delivery using smoking, vaping. The various forms of CBD products known to us are oils, vaping juices, tinctures, creams, lotions, capsules that are available on the market today.
CBD infused juices, and other such edibles are also available. In terms of CBDa, the options are quite limited. The reason is that CBDa is present only when the plant extracts are in its raw form, or it gets converted to CBD.
Hence CBDa ingestible such as through fruit juices, salad dressing, drops, syrups, capsules are mostly available.
Which one to prefer?
CBD has been the center of medical research for almost a decade now. Hence the level of research climbing up to clinical trials is higher in this case.
Whereas CBDa is still a new compound of interest in this sector. Thus most of the available work is still restricted to the preclinical stage of animal trials.
Some claim that CBD is a superior compound to CBDa as it offers more medicinal benefits comparatively. But unless the level of research matches, there isn’t a right or wrong side in this debate.
In terms of consumption, the fact that patients would prefer an alternative form of medications to smoke or consumables suggests that CBDa could have a broad scope for medicinal use.
CBDa is a rather pure form of the cannabidiol which eliminates problems of smoke, toxic residue and delivers the best possible health benefits.
But studies indicate that CBD is absorbed faster into the system as compared to CBDa. Hence scientists are looking for combining the two compounds or preparing medications to ensure you derive the best value from both.
Together they create miracles
While we wish to understand the difference between the cannabinoids genuinely, it is essential to know that the beauty of cannabis lies in giving a united front of cannabinoids for health benefits.
Today, scientists understand the reason why full-spectrum oils are more potent than isolated varieties. The complementary properties of the cannabinoids help elevate the best in each of them and suppress the negatives.
It makes cannabis as a whole an incredible compound to enjoy various health benefits. A full cannabinoid and terpene profile could be the right choice for seeking relief from various physical and mental ailments.
Leave a Reply