Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is well-known for its intoxicating effects, but cannabidiol (CBD) has risen to prominence in recent years due to its alleged medicinal benefits. However, these are not the only two cannabinoids present in cannabis plants (there are over 140 of them) with possible benefits, or CBN cannabinoid, is also on the increase.
CBN cannabinoid, while less studied and used than CBD and THC, shows potential in treating some diseases. Learn more about this uncommon cannabinoid, as well as its possible advantages and drawbacks.
CBN? Did you hear about it?
The cannabinoid cannabinol (CBN) is present in the cannabis sativa plant. It can also be manufactured synthetically.
CBN is formed when THC degrades due to heat, air, and/or light exposure. “This is why larger quantities of CBN may be discovered in old, dry cannabis,” explains Eric Adams, CEO, president, and director of InMed Pharmaceuticals, a rare cannabinoid manufacturer and developer. CBN, on the other hand, is not known to produce the high euphoric effects associated with THC.
What Is the Difference Between CBD Cannabinod and CBN Cannabinoid?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a well-known cannabinoid present in cannabis sativa plants. CBD, like CBN, is not generated directly from THC, but rather existing independently inside the plants.
CBD has received more clinical research than CBN and is more widely available in mainstream retail items. CBD has various medicinal advantages, according to research, but CBN cannabinoid cannot match with that list just yet.
CBD benefits may include (but are not limited to):
- Relieving anxiety and depression symptoms
- Relieving pain caused by diseases such as multiple sclerosis, cancer, and nerve injury
- Reducing arthritis symptoms
- Considering Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes, two uncommon types of epilepsy
- Treatment of opioid addiction in conjunction with other therapies
- Both CBN and CBD bind to CB2 receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system, which aids in central nervous system function and allows the body to respond to both internal and external stimuli. CB2 receptors are mostly linked to immune system modulation.
CBN’s Potential Advantages
CBN research is limited, particularly in human clinical trials, however certain preclinical investigations show that CBN may be a medicinal chemical in a few ways.
How to Treat Epidermolysis Bullosa
CBN cream is now being tested as a therapy for epidermolysis bullosa, a rare illness that causes the skin to blister readily. InMed Pharmaceuticals’ CBN cream was found to be “well-tolerated on both normal, undamaged skin as well as on open wounds and caused no delay in wound healing” during the second phase of its clinical research.
According to Eric Hsu, senior vice president of pre-clinical research and development at InMed Pharmaceuticals, CBN may have anti-inflammatory action that might be “helpful in treating chronic wounds when healing has been delayed by persistent inflammation.”
Reducing Glaucoma’s Effects and Symptoms
According to InMed Pharmaceuticals’ study, CBN may be effective in treating eye diseases such as glaucoma, which causes vision loss and blindness by damaging the optic nerve at the back of the eye. Glaucoma is related with high eye pressure, and reducing that pressure is a recognized technique to reduce the development.
In an in vitro study conducted by InMed Pharmaceuticals, it was shown that treating particular retinal cells with a topical CBN compound resulted in a high percentage of cell survival when the cells were subjected to higher pressure conditions. In these experiments, CBN outperformed CBD and THC. CBN can also have neuroprotective properties, which means it can protect nervous system cells and structures by lowering or avoiding natural cell death.
Chronic Muscle Pain Relief
A 2019 study on rats discovered that CBN cannabinoid, as well as CBD and a combination of the two cannabinoids, reduced muscular sensitization. CBN may give pain relief for chronic muscular pain disorders such as temporomandibular disorders (pain in the jaw muscles, joints, and nerves) and fibromyalgia (pain all over the body), according to the researchers, although clinical trials have yet to confirm this notion.
CBN’s Potential Dangers and Side Effects
It’s impossible to determine exactly how CBN affects the human body without a large number of clinical investigations. However, tiredness and sedation, as well as a positive drug test result, are two possible side effects of CBN.
Sedation and drowsiness
According to Laura Fuentes, a certified compounding pharmacist and the chief officer of research and innovation for Green Roads, a CBD products firm, drowsiness is a potential adverse effect of CBN cannabinoid, especially when taken with CBD.
“As a result, we do not suggest that consumers use CBN products throughout the day,” she explains. “As more research becomes available, we will have more information on side effects and drug interactions.”
Having said that, users frequently turn to CBN products for help with sleep and relaxation, in which case these effects may be regarded as possible advantages by the user.
Positive Drug Test Finding
“There is evidence that using CBN may result in mistakenly failing drug tests,” says Mark Ratner, M.D., chief science officer of Theralogix, a nutraceutical firm.
CBN was observed to provide a positive result in two distinct drug tests in at least one research, and in one test, CBN cannabinoid even demonstrated a “additive effect” with THC, basically boosting the appearance of THC. So, even if you had almost undetectable amounts of THC in your blood, the presence of CBN may skew your levels higher, leads to a positive drug test, depending on the sensitivity of the drug test.
Where Can I Purchase CBN Products?
If you decide to test a CBN product, you will most certainly discover several possibilities from well-known CBD businesses. When purchasing cannabis goods, ensure that the company:
- All of its goods have a certificate of analysis (COA). This document should specify the precise quantities of cannabinoids in the item, as well as the existence of molds, heavy metals, and pesticides.
- Third-party testing is used. To avoid conflicts of interest, biases, and label mistakes, a corporation should send its products to a 3rd laboratory for independent testing. You may also check at third-party labs for further information.
How to Make Use of CBN
Before beginning to use CBN, consult with a medical practitioner, especially since clinical trials are limited.
CBN, like CBD, comes in a variety of forms, the most popular of which being oils or tinctures, gummies, or capsules. You’re also more likely to locate CBD products containing CBN rather than goods that only contain CBN.
