You’ve probably come across THC and CBD – the two most universally recognized compounds in cannabis. There exists, however, an entire world of unknown cannabinoids, and one that is gaining serious momentum is CBC (cannabichromene).
While the cannabis business has zeroed in on THC’s psychotropic nature and CBD’s therapeutic potential, researchers are now exploring the chemical richness of the plant. With more than 120 different cannabinoids found within cannabis, we’re only now beginning to appreciate what this incredible plant can do.
CBC is the third most prevalent cannabinoid in cannabis, but few know anything about it, not through lack of potential, but rather through decades of prohibition restricting opportunities. With prohibition fast dying on its last legs around the globe, researchers are working overtime to study compounds such as CBC, which could have colossal medicinal uses.
Continue reading to delve into what CBC is, how it acts in your body, and why this “small” cannabinoid is making major waves among scientists.
A Primer on Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are chemical molecules found naturally in the cannabis plant that exert an effect on your body’s endocannabinoid system. Extremely versatile molecules, these are the plant’s chemical messengers that each have a unique set of characteristics and potential medical benefits.
The Creation of Cannabinoids
The intriguing cannabinoid formation process starts with CBGA (cannabigerolic acid) or the “mother of all cannabinoids.” This precursor molecule is the base upon which other prominent cannabinoids are built. During the cannabis plant’s development, certain enzymes catalyze the conversion of CBGA to some raw forms of cannabinoids:
CBG (cannabigerol)
THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid)
CBDA (cannabidiolic acid)
CBCA (cannabichromenic acid)
The Transformation Process
The transformation does not stop there. It loses its carboxyl group (the “A” nomenclature) when burned, heated, or allowed to sit for extended periods through a process known as decarboxylation. Decarboxylation strips the carbon dioxide atom from the organic acids and activates them: THC, CBD, and CBC.
The Potential for Discovery
And so what is so fascinating about this place is that the potential for finding all that can be found here is so vast. To date, scientists have isolated more than 120 cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, but ongoing studies continue to find new ones and shed light on previously latent characteristics. Each cannabinoid seems to impact your body’s systems uniquely, giving them a rich tapestry of possible medicinal uses that scientists are only now starting to explore.
What Is CBC?
Cannabichromene is the third most abundant cannabinoid present in cannabis plants, following the highly recognized CBD and THC. Despite being present in high quantities in the plant, few users know about CBC and its applications since they all have information on CBD and THC.
How Is CBC Different from THC?
While THC is psychoactive, CBC is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. What that implies is that CBC won’t produce the euphoric “high” that normally comes with cannabis use. You can therefore visualize CBC as being just like CBD – both of these compounds have medical benefits without impinging on your mental capacity or cognitive functioning.
Why Is CBC a Minor Cannabinoid?
Even though CBC is pretty common compared to other cannabinoids, it is still one of the lesser-known cannabinoids. This will seem puzzling at first, but it is logical once you consider how cannabis plants create cannabinoids.
As a general rule, the cannabis plant produces higher levels of THC and CBD than CBC. “Minor” or “rare” cannabinoid describes substances that are present in lower concentrations as components of the overall profile of cannabinoids present in the plant.
The Importance of CBC’s Distinctive Attributes
The unique properties and lower production levels of CBC have contributed to its delayed recognition in both research circles and consumer markets. Whereas THC and CBD have hogged the spotlight for decades, CBC has been toiling behind the scenes the whole time.
As more and more studies increasingly explore the medicinal potential of secondary cannabinoids such as CBC, we might begin to witness attitudes changing towards these molecules, from secondary agents playing supporting roles to THC and CBD, but as full-fledged members with their therapeutic abilities.
How Does CBC Work in the Body?
The endocannabinoid system is like your body’s control center. It helps manage important functions such as:
- Pain management
- Mood stability
- Appetite control
- Sleep cycles
This complex system includes endocannabinoids, specialized receptors, and enzymes that work together to keep your body balanced and stable.
How CBC Differs from Other Cannabinoids
CBC impacts the systems of your body differently than other cannabinoids. Here’s how it does it:
THC: Directly binds to CB1 receptors in the brain with psychoactive effects.
CBC: Mainly impacts TRPV1 and TRPA1 receptors rather than impacting typical cannabinoid receptors.
The Role of TRPV1 and TRPA1 Receptors
The TRPV1 and TRPA1 receptors are utilized for pain perception and heat control, and the TRPA1 receptor is used to detect inflammation and transmit pain. CBC’s interaction with both receptors can alter pathways of pain and inflammation without any intoxicating side effects.
The Power of the Entourage Effect
One of the more fascinating features of CBC is that it can create a multiplied effect for other cannabinoids through what is called an entourage effect. That is, when CBC is paired with THC or CBD, it can strengthen their medical effects and lead to a more effective treatment.
Why Full-Spectrum Products Are Often More Effective
It is the synergy between the multiple cannabinoids that makes these formulas stronger than a single agent. The multiple cannabinoids take advantage of the additive effect to provide more complete care for most diseases.
For short, CBC achieves this by stimulating certain pain and inflammatory receptors and enhancing the activity of other cannabinoids. Its unique mechanism of action makes it the best candidate for pain relief with no effect on cognitive functions.
Therapeutic Applications of CBC and Implications for Cancer Research
Investigations into the therapeutic potential of CBC indicate astounding anti-inflammatory activity that intrigued researchers as far back as the 1980s. In groundbreaking rat model studies exploring edema, CBC was more potent at higher dosing levels than conventional NSAIDs. This put CBC in the position of a natural, powerful competitor for reversing inflammation without the ruthless side effects typically associated with conventional medications.
Pain Relief and Relief of Osteoarthritis
Analgesic activity of CBC extends beyond archaic inflammation control. Rat models of osteoarthritis were found to be relieved of pain and symptoms of inflammation by CBC in experiments. More remarkable in the observations is the fact that CBC was able to provide relief without the side effects of the unwanted type displayed by NSAIDs, i.e., gastrointestinal upset or cardiovascular disease.
The cannabinoid has a strong antinociceptive effect, i.e., can inhibit or block the perception of pain by various mechanisms. CBC achieves this through interactions with:
- CB1 receptors
- TRPA1 receptors
- Adenosine A1 receptors
Its multi-targeted nature allows CBC to treat diverse types of pain, including inflammatory pain with an acute character, chronic pain conditions, and neuropathic pain.
Anticonvulsant Activity in Severe Epilepsy
CBC’s anticonvulsant properties have shown great potential in treating malignant types of epilepsy. The famous strain Charlotte’s Web, which also gained popularity for its therapeutic purposes, has high concentrations of CBC along with CBD content. Both have been especially helpful in the treatment of Dravet syndrome, an acute type of epilepsy that typically starts in life at birth and is characterized by acute episodes of recurring, prolonged seizures commonly triggered by fever.
Mood Enhancement and Antimicrobial Benefits
CBC has incredible mood-lifting qualities that are roughly 10 times stronger than CBD. This is achieved through CBC’s power of increasing anandamide levels, or the brain’s “bliss molecule.” Anandamide, from the Sanskrit term “ananda” for joy or pleasure, is a strong player in the world of mental well-being and emotions.
The cannabinoid also exhibits superior antibacterial action at a time when drug resistance is increasingly proving to be an issue. Among many cannabinoids evaluated for antimicrobial activity, CBC has emerged as one of the most potent against bacterial and fungal infections.
Cancer Research Breakthrough
Epidemiological research demonstrates CBC’s growth inhibition in cancer cells through the regulation of receptor expression. The research suggests that CBC can modulate CB2 receptor regulation, leading to cancer cell death through the activation of programmed cell death pathways.
Research has established CBC’s growth inhibition in various forms of cancer cell lines, including:
- Breast cancer cells
- Gastrointestinal cancer cells
- Head and neck cancer cells
When used in conjunction with other cannabinoids such as CBD and THC, CBC is more potent in inhibiting cancer cell growth, which indicates that the entourage effect is a primary causative agent of its anti-cancer activity.
Why Are We Just Now Hearing About CBC?
The late discovery of CBC knowledge comes directly from decades of prohibition on scientific research into cannabis that radically limited scientific investigation. When marijuana was declared a controlled substance, scientists were confronted with a pile of red tape, insufficient funds, and numerous legal hurdles that made extensive cannabinoid research all but inconceivable. Such regulatory circumstances compelled scientists to experiment with only small quantities of well-documented drugs such as THC and CBD and relegated lesser cannabinoids such as CBC to the background.
The history of cannabinoid discovery reflects how prohibition kept us ignorant about the chemistry of cannabis. Although CBC was discovered decades ago, no serious studies on its medicinal potential were conducted. Scientists couldn’t test different types of cannabis or conduct extensive studies to inform us about how CBC works in our bodies.
The past few years have witnessed a revolutionary paradigm shift in new cannabinoid findings with the massive legalization across the world. Nations such as Canada, some U.S. states, and other nations in Europe have opened up channels for authentic cannabis research. With such regulatory transformation, there has been heightened scientific interest, as researchers are now able to:
- Procure better-quality samples of cannabis for research
- Carry out controlled human experiments
- Research cannabinoid interactions without legal hurdles
- Get enough funding for egalitarian research
The rate of research has been phenomenal. Researchers are finding new cannabinoids every day and unlocking the medicinal value of previously underappreciated chemicals like CBC. Every piece of research is leading to the last, contributing to a constantly expanding archive of knowledge that still adds depth to the complex medicinal universe beyond CBD and THC.
Comparing CBC to Other Cannabinoids (CBD & CBG)
Learning how the cannabinoids vary puts you in the picture as to why CBC is making waves among the wellness community. CBD is the name that everyone’s heard of when it comes to natural pain relief and anxiety regulation, but CBC operates your body in completely different ways.
CBD benefits stand firm – it directly works on your endocannabinoid system’s CB1 and CB2 receptors in a manner to establish relief from inflammation, anxiety, and insomnia. CBD is widely used as it is handy, and there is an abundance of research to support its medicinal use.
The Role of CBG
CBG traits make it the “mother cannabinoid” because CBGA is the precursor to all other cannabinoids, including CBC. CBG is usually found in smaller quantities but has promise for gastrointestinal illness and neuroprotection.
Distinctive Features of CBC
CBC differs from CBD and CBG in interesting ways:
Receptor Interaction: CBC does not directly bind to CB1 or CB2 receptors like CBD does. It binds to TRPV1 and TRPA1 receptors, which are solely responsible for detecting pain and inflammation
Mood Enhancement: CBC is 10 times more powerful at enhancing mood than CBD by increasing your brain’s natural “bliss molecule”, anandamide
Antibacterial Properties: In tested cannabinoids, CBC is found to be more antibacterial and antifungal
The Power of Collaboration
True magic occurs when these cannabinoids perform in harmony. The entourage effect is how CBC enhances THC and CBD’s medicinal qualities instead of substituting for them. Your endocannabinoid system hears this cannabinoid symphony better than isolated chemicals.
That synergy is the reason full-spectrum products with CBC, CBD, and other minor cannabinoids are more holistic in relief compared to single chemicals. Give us a call today at (931) 253-1991 for more information or to learn more about how you can get the most out of your CBD journey.
