What is CBDA?
Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) is one of the lesser-known cannabinoids and while it is similar to CBD, the two have their own unique properties. Even though the hemp plant contains over 144 different cannabinoids, CBD and THC are the ones most commonly talked about, CBDA is proving to have some amazing health benefits all of its own.
CBDA works differently to CBD and has a huge range of benefits for the human body.
The anti-inflammatory properties of CBDA are quite remarkable, but we suspect it’s the relationship between cannabinoids and anandamide that will truly fascinate you. Picture this … you kick your toe, after a bit of hopping around in pain shouting profanities, the pain starts to ease… that’s the release of anandamide at work! And the more CBD/CBDA you have, the more anandamide you have available to help naturally relieve pain.
iS IT BETTER THAN CBD?
What is CBDA?
Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) is one of the lesser-known cannabinoids and while it is similar to CBD, the two have their own unique properties. Even though the hemp plant contains over 144 different cannabinoids, CBD and THC are the ones most commonly talked about, CBDA is proving to have some amazing health benefits all of its own.
CBDA works differently to CBD and has a huge range of benefits for the human body.
The anti-inflammatory properties of CBDA are quite remarkable, but we suspect it’s the relationship between cannabinoids and anandamide that will truly fascinate you. Picture this … you kick your toe, after a bit of hopping around in pain shouting profanities, the pain starts to ease… that’s the release of anandamide at work! And the more CBD/CBDA you have, the more anandamide you have available to help naturally relieve pain.
What Are the Benefits of CBDA?
Nature’s Anti-Inflammatory Warrior
CBDA has significant anti-inflammatory properties due to its nature of being a COX-2 inhibitor, and quite remarkably the molecular structure of CBDA closely resembled that of common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen, Aspirin and Celebrex.
Simply explained by Greenflower, COX-2 is an enzyme that plays a role in the development of pro-inflammatory compounds called prostaglandins. This enzyme is a target of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), like aspirin and ibuprofen. Research performed in 2008 discovered that naturally occurring CBDa selectively blocked the COX-2 enzyme, reducing its ability to synthesise pro-inflammatory compounds.
Importantly, CBDA does this naturally without any of the possible side-effects reported with NSAIDs such as headaches, indigestion, dizziness, and circulation, liver and kidney problems.
Reduced Nausea and Anxiety
Early stage research indicates that CBDA has properties that can lessen both nausea and anxious behaviours. This Canadian study done in 2013 found CBDA to be around 1000 times more powerful than CBD alone for this purpose. The study uncovered that CBDA binds to a specific serotonin receptor linked to anti-nausea and anti-anxiety effects.
More Anandamide for you and Me
Anandamide is a very special human-made cannabinoid (endocannabinoid), a natural gift from Mother Nature that our bodies produce each and every day. Anandamide is a neurotransmitter that binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain and body, stimulating a sense of happiness and mental wellness. Anandamide plays a role in memory, appetite, sleep, and pain relief. Anandamide is the compound that’s actually responsible for the ‘runners high’, not endorphins like science once thought. So anandamide is pretty important right?
CBD and CBDA, each in their own way, slow the breakdown of anandamide in the body, and make more of the chemical available to produce feelings of wellness and happiness. More anandamide is definitely a good thing!
Increased Serotonin
You’ll likely be familiar with serotonin, a chemical that impacts every part of your body, from your emotions to your motor skills. Serotonin is considered a natural mood stabilizer that controls well-being and happiness, and it’s the chemical that helps with sleeping, eating, and digesting. As one of the precursors for melatonin, serotonin helps regulates sleep-wake cycles and the body clock.
Studies have also found that CBDA is more effective than CBD at activating the 5-HT1A receptors in the body that interact with serotonin. When activated, these receptors bind with serotonin and produce effects that support your general wellbeing. While both CBD and CBDA can do this, studies have shown that in this area, the effect of CBDA is much more significant.
So what is CBDA?
CBD is present on growing hemp plants in only very small amounts. In living hemp plants, CBD exists as cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) abundantly within the fresh flowers. Once the flower is dried and heated CBD is formed. This is due to the inherent instability of the acidic molecule.
CBDA is the natural precursor to the CBD compound.
When the acidic form (CBDA) is heated up it goes through a process called decarboxylation and it becomes CBD. When heated, dried, or processed, cannabinoids undergo a change in molecular structure. In terms of its chemical composition (for the science nerds among us!), the process removes one acidic carboxyl group from its molecular chain resulting in CBD.
The same rule applies for CBGA which becomes CBG, THCA becomes THC and so forth. The plant does not produce CBD, THC, CBG, CBN and so on, the plant creates the acidic precursors to them.
Why haven’t I heard of this before?
CBDA is found in abundance in the hemp plant, however due to the varied methods of extracting it into an oil or tincture, not all CBD available on the market contains CBDA in detectable quantities.
CBDA has been on researchers radar ever since Israeli scientist Rafael Mechoulam first isolated the compound in 1965, and CBDA is just now getting loads of attention in the scientific community.
New research is showing that activating the cannabinoid acids via decarboxylation is not a requirement to reap its medicinal benefits. In some cases, CBDA has been shown to be more effective than CBD in treating certain conditions.