You’d be forgiven for thinking that all CBD products are alike, and indeed, CBDa is another cannabis compound that may sound just as foreign as CBD once did. (But, we know, that seems like ages ago.) However, not all CBD compounds are made equal. CBDa is a precursor for CBD, and as an acidic cannabinoid, it requires a process of decarboxylation before it can be transformed into CBD. (More about this process later on…)
CBDa is also one of a wide variety of cannabinoid compounds that are currently being researched and explored, and CBDa is well worth your while to find out more about. Indeed, there are some notable CBDa benefits and therapeutic effects, including the entourage effect, that you may find interesting and can access before your friends.
The good news is that all you have to do is read on to find out all about CBDa, what it is, how it differs from CBD, and what the benefits of it are.
What is CBD?
Before we can compare CBDa to CBD, let's have a little recap on what CBD is and what it's used for.
CBD or Cannabidiol is the prime non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in the cannabis (marijuana/hemp) plant. It's also the stuff you’ll find in all sorts of balms, gummies and oils that are currently on the market. Such CBD products are so popular because of their impact on both mental and physical health, with many people swearing by CBD products for anxiety in particular.
What is CBD Good for?
CBD comes in a range of forms, including capsules, gummies, tinctures, and oil. What it is used for and how effective it is will depend on both which method of delivery you choose and the dosage.
Larger doses tend to be stronger, and delivery methods such as holding CBD oil under the tongue are fastest because it can more quickly enter the bloodstream in this location.
CBD has a range of applications, including but not limited to:
Mental health
This study found that CBD could lower negative mental health symptoms such as anxiety and depression in those with mood disorders.
Pain relief
Used since ancient times in the form of cannabis to treat pain, it's suggested that CBD acts on the endocannabinoid system, which helps to regulate the sensation of pain.
Heart health
Due to its action of dilating blood vessels, CBD could be helpful for those with high blood pressure and reduce their risk of serious conditions such as heart attacks and strokes.
What is CBDa?
Now we know more about CBD and its use, we can take a peek at CBDa.
CBDa is more than just random letters.
CBD, CBG, CBC, CBN, and now CBDa may just sound like the cannabis plant or the scientists studying it are just throwing nonsense letters at us. Or steaming hot bowls of alphabet soup. However, we assure you that this knowledge is only meant to nourish you. We’ll help you understand, and we’d never deny any genuine soup-lover soup.
CBDa, or cannabidiolic acid, is a precursor to CBD. And, the precursor to CBDa, you may ask? CBGa, as you may recall, CBG is the mother of all cannabinoids. All cannabinoids break down from CBGa and CBGa.
CBD starts as CBCa, THC starts as THCa, and so on. You may not have heard about this phenomenon in daily life unless you’re scientifically inclined. But yet, you’re here, and you’re reading this. Look at you, smarty pants.
If you’re thinking this means that CBDa exists in a more raw form of the cannabis plant, you’re correct. Another point for you (and some soup). But why would we care about what CBD is before it’s CBD? Just how easy is it for the average person to get hold of CBDa products now and in the future? In short: It won’t be easy, and it won’t be right away, but there is mounting evidence to suggest it will and should occur.
How does CBD come from CBDa?
You may well be wondering at this point how CBD comes from CBDa and why it matters. Well to put it simply, CBDa is what CBD is made from. You can think of it as a raw type of CBD, and by heating CBDa the carboxylic acid chain bonds are broken within it, leaving activated CBD which up until this point is believed to be more easily absorbed by the human body so it can get to work on the endocrine system.
CBDa is the raw version of the CBD molecule with a carboxylic acid chain. When exposed to heat, the bond of the carboxylic acid chain breaks off and is released as CO2, and we're left with CBD. This process is known as decarboxylation. Both compounds interact in the body's endocannabinoid system and several other unique receptor sites to support one's overall health.
The thing is that the process stems from the parallel one of making THC, where THCa is heated to create THC. Traditionally, it has been thought that this made these types of molecules more bioavail, that is they were more easily absorbed by the body. Yet recently thinking is starting to suggest that this not actually be the case, especially when this process is applied to CBDa.
How is CBDa different from CBD?
Now we come to the important bit. How exactly is CBDa different from CBD, and what does it matter?
Well, first of all, CBDa works differently in the body than CBD. Here comes the science stuffy: This is because it does not directly affect the endocannabinoid pathway, but affects it indirectly instead.
Indeed, CBDa does not bind directly to the CB1 and CB2 receptors like most cannabidiols do, but binds to the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzymes and inhibits them.
Since the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme is linked to issues like inflammation and pain, especially after an injury, its inhibition can help to relieve these issues. Something that makes CBDa a very promising possible solution for those who are suffering from pain and inflammation-related issues.
Is CBDa better than CBD?
Now this begs the question, is CBDa better than just plain old regular CBD? The answer is both yes and no, because CBD and CBDa, while coming from the same original source, have gone through different processes and have different applications. In fact ,it is because of this that they can be used in tandem to create what is known as the entourage effect. This is when different compounds complement each other and enhance the overall effect.
What are the uses of CBDa?
Now that you know CBDa is a building block for CBD, let’s talk a bit about what happens when we allow CBDa to shine. Overall, CBDa shows promise — even more profound promise — for addressing inflammation and mood improvement/regulation. According to research, CBDa benefits specifically include the following, which are fairly overwhelming:
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CBDa showed the same anti-inflammatory benefit as NSAIDS, but to an even more powerful degree than CBD and some other options in an animal study back in 2008.
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In 2013, CBDa was 1,000 times more effective than CBD in helping promote serotonin and the reduction of anxiety and nausea in an animal study.
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In 2017, CBDa demonstrated the potential to combat highly aggressive breast cancer cells in a human study.
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CBDa may also exert a positive effect on memory, as this study, which involved mice with Alzheimer's Disease has suggested. Once administered CBDa the mice’s memory improved when tested. It is suggested that this was because the CBDa reduced inflammation in the brain, and reduced the presence of harmful proteins that can contribute to the presence of Alzheimer's symptoms.
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Lastly, this cow-based study showed that hemp with a high CBDa content helps to relieve distress and resolve inflammation in the cows that were given it. Researchers found that the cows given the CBDa hemp had lower cortisol (stress hormone) measures at the end of the study. They also observed that the cows seem calmer, which could suggest that CBDa may be useful for these purposes in humans as well. Although further research must be done in the area to prove this.
OK, so how do we wield CBDa if we wanted to?
Raw cannabis products that are developed without the addition of heat will include amounts of CBDa. However, it may be a while before tons of products are marketed for their CBDa content (*update: check out this CBDa tincture!), as research is still ongoing. That being said, it is certainly something worth keeping your eye on.
But, you have to admit, all of this sounds pretty cool, right? But, again, why or how would CBDa help the average person, or when? It’s difficult to say. However, as it is suggested, CBDa may be even more powerful than CBD. Of course, it’s just a matter of time, as cannabis gains more legitimate respect and attention, before it could be showing up everywhere.