Cannabinoids
Phytocannabinoids are cannabinoids that occur naturally in the cannabis plant, whereas endocannabinoids are produced by humans. Cannabinoids are a perfect fit for specialised receptors found throughout the brain, nervous system, and immune system of the human body, and are responsible for cannabis’ effects on the body. Cannabinoids can act independently to deliver a particular therapeutic effect and also work together to regulate one another or create a unique effect.
The therapeutic impact of whole plant medicines are greater than the effects from single molecule cannabinoids, something that has been labeled the entourage effect.
Cannabis contains over 500 natural compounds. Cannabinoids make up at least 111 of those compounds. While some
cannabinoids are psychoactive, other are not. Of the 111 cannabinoids, two have been researched extensively.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is well known for its psychoactive properties. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. CBD and THC are produced independently in the cannabis plant from the precursor CBG. CBD and THC are usually present in the highest concentrations, and are therefore the most recognised and studied as both cannabinoids have numerous medicinal benefits, such as pain relief, anti nausea and anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to protect neurons from injury or degeneration.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the most common psychoactive cannabinoid and is best known for causing the euphoric feeling people get from smoking or inhaling cannabis. However, it also has a number of medical applications, and is commonly reported to relieve pain, nausea and depression and improve appetite among many other things.
Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA)
THC is mostly present in the cannabis plant as THCA, its acidic precursor. THCA is not psychoactive, which is why ingesting cannabis raw is popular amongst medical users who commonly take raw preparations as THCA possesses some of the same therapeutic benefits as THC.
CBD is non-psychoactive because it does not act on the same pathways as THC and gives the chemical a significant advantage as a medicine. CBD is quickly changing the debate surrounding the use of cannabis as a medicine especially for young children since health professionals prefer treatments with minimal side effects.
Cannabinol is a weak psychoactive cannabinoid found in trace amounts in cannabis and has been shown to have analgesic properties. It is mostly a metabolite of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and acts as a weak agonist of CB1 receptors, but has a higher affinity to CB2 receptors, with lower affinities in comparison to THC.
CBG is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, and the building block for THC and CBD. CBG is quickly converted to other cannabinoids by enzymes in the cannabis plant, which explains the low concentration of CBG in most strains.
CBG is also responsible for most of cannabis’s medical effects and has been shown to reduce intraocular pressure, making it ideal for glaucoma patients. CBG can also inhibit the uptake of GABA in the brain, which can decrease anxiety and muscle tension.
Although CBG hasn’t been studied nearly as much as THC or CBD, a small body of evidence also suggests it has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects as well as anti-depressant and some modest anti-fungal properties.
CBC is non-psychotropic cannabinoid, and bears structural similarity to the other natural cannabinoids. Evidence suggests that it may play a role in the anti-inflammatory and anti-viral effects of cannabis, and may contribute to its overall analgesic effects.
Recent studies show that CBC along with CBD and THC have anti-depressant effects. Another study showed that CBC helps promote neurogenesis, stimulation of the growth of brain cells. It has also been shown to normalise gastrointestinal hypermotility (diarrhea) without reducing the transit time in an animal study.
CBDV is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid very smilar to CBD, and has bben proven to be a powerful way to minimise the severity and duration of seizures resulting from many conditions. It is also good at reducing nausea and vomiting resulting from a variety of pharmaceutical drugs, treatments, and conditions.