Other Cannabinoids Than CBD: What Is CBC?
12 October 2020CBD, or cannabichromene, is a cannabinoid like CBD, found in the hemp plant. These days, ever more people are learning about the possibilities of CBD supplements. However, while CBD has become a bit of a celebrity, CBC and its potential benefits are only being discovered. The advantages that CBD can have for our health and wellbeing are being mapped with increasing precision. In the case of CBC, that map is more of a rough outline right now. Research into this substance is just getting started. Still, there is a very real chance that CBC can mean a lot for our health, too; whether in combination with other cannabinoids or by itself.
What Is Cannabichromene?
Cannabichromene is a cannabinoid: these are natural compounds capable of working with the endocannabinoid system of our body. Insight into how cannabinoids such as CBD and THC operate keeps on growing, but for CBC, investigations are still at a very early stage. That automatically means that the potential health benefits of CBC are not yet clear. Initial studies do point out, however, that CBC has great potential for powerful interaction with other cannabinoids; a mechanism called the entourage effect. By the entourage effect, scientists literally mean that the whole is more than the sum of its parts. In other words: using several cannabinoids in combination can produce even greater effects than using all these cannabinoids individually could.
Key Cannabinoids
The ECS mentioned above is a system that is constantly at work trying to keep the body in perfect balance. To do so, it influences a wide range of physiological processes, including memory, the immune system, patterns of sleep and wakefulness, and the emotions. This process works by what we call receptors. These work like ‘keyholes’ in our nervous system, in which specific cannabinoids ‘fit’ like tiny corresponding ‘keys’. If the ‘key cannabinoid’ fits the ‘keyhole’, the nerve cell relays a message to other parts of the nervous system. These message signals allow your body to control its own internal balance.
The body is capable of producing its own ‘key cannabinoids’. Our own internal cannabinoids are known as endocannabinoids. However, we can also extract cannabinoids from hemp or cannabis lants. These plant-based cannabinoids are called phytocannabinoids. Supplements such as SupMedi’s CBD Supplements contain these ‘green cannabinoids’, giving you the chance to support your own ECS in a natural way. The main receptors of the endocannabinoids system are CB1 and CB2. These correspond with ‘key cannabinoids’ like CBD or THC. CBC works in a slightly different way, though. This special cannabinoid operates by a special type of receptor, and that is why CBC produces subtly different results.
Which Receptors Does CBC Affect?
CB1 And CB2 Receptors
Like CBD, CBC hardly influences our CB1 receptors at all. This explains why CBC produces no psychoactive effects, in contrast to cannabinoids working with CB1 receptors such as THC. In other words: CBC cannot get you high. For a long time, cannabichromene was not thought to interact with CB2 receptors, either. Recent studies show, however, that it does in fact trigger that ECS receptor. This means that CBD may well have interesting health effects. In any event, further research is needed to truly understand its potential.
TRPV1 Receptors
Nonetheless, there are many more receptors in the body that are not directly linked to the ECS, but which can still work together with cannabichromene. One example is the TRPV1 receptor, also known as the capsaicin receptor. It derives its name from the ability to help your body detect temperature. The ‘hot’ sensation caused by peppers is based on the substance capsaicin, but TRPV1 receptors also play a role in detecting pain caused by inflammation or by toxins, for instance.
TRPA1 Receptors
TRPA1 is another receptor affected by CBC. This receptor is associated with detecting irritation and other forms of pain. Examples include inhaling acrid smoke or chemicals. The influence of CBC decreases the pain experienced in such cases, rather than making the irritation worse.
Both these receptors are linked to the perception of irritation, discomfort, and pain. CBC activates these receptors, which in turn triggers the body to produce more endocannabinoids. One such endocannabinoid is anandamine. CBC not only increases production and release of anandamine; it also prevents cells from reabsorbing the anandamine produced. This allows the anandamine to stay present in the bloodstream for longer. These mechanisms illustrate how CBC can affect how your endocannabinoid system works in direct and indirect ways.
The Possible Health Effects Of CBC
Potential Against Cancer
Research indicates that cannabichromene could prove a powerful tool in the battle against cancer. This could be due to its potential to increase anandamine production in the body. One study involved mice with skin cancer that received cannabinoids. It turned out that cannabinoids might be effective against inflammation and tumour growth. In in vitro conditions, anandamine appears successful in treating breast cancer. That makes CBC and other cannabinoids promising candidates in the ongoing search for cancer treatment options.
Pain And Inflammation
For anyone suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, CBC could be a very helpful cannabinoid. It is known to have analgesic pain blocking properties, as well as having anti-inflammatory potential. CBC does so by using a different mechanism than regular pain medication does. Interestingly, this explains why CBC does not produce the unwanted side-effects seen in most regular painkillers. CBC’s potential effectiveness is further increased if used in combination with the cannabinoid THC. Animal studies suggest that the entourage effect might make CBC a very powerful anti-inflammatory agent.
CBC And Depression
Depression is another common condition that might benefit from the entourage effect. CBC and THC could work together to counter depression. They both show properties that might help relieve the symptoms of depression. Since depression is a serious global problem that gets bigger every year, the natural treatment options offered by CBD supplements containing CBC could be very promising for the future.
CBC Is In Every SupMedi CBD Supplement
Just like some other less well-known cannabinoids, such as CBN or CBG, cannabichromene is not easy to find for sale online or in stores. Purchasing CBC oil is possible in theory, but even if you manage to find it, it’s probably very expensive. Fortunately, there is a much easier way to benefit from CBC. Cannabichromene is already present in all SupMedi CBD supplements. Every single CBD product we develop is a so-called broad spectrum CBD Supplement. That means they contain not just CBD, but the whole rich diversity of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids naturally found in hemp plants. The one cannabinoid we take out is THC, to make sure you can’t get high from using them.
The entourage effect allows all those different cannabinoids to work together effectively. SupMedi CBD Oil, CBD Tablets, and our CBD Nutrition, Drinks and Skincare products contain all cannabinoids present in natural hemp plants, except THC. Our supplements are produced using only the finest natural ingredients. Independent laboratories test all products for purity and content. That’s how we make sure you can support your health with the finest CBD Supplements. So allow yourself the very best and head for our webstore to discover which CBD Supplements best suit your needs.
