CBN is short for cannabigerol and is one of the less well-known cannabinoids found in cannabis, and it is already being claimed to have a wide range of health benefits, such as aiding sleep, providing pain relief, and stimulating the appetite.
As we learn more about CBN, it could become one of the more widely used cannabinoids thanks to its potential health benefits and non-intoxicating effects.
What Is CBN Oil?
CBN, known as cannabinol, is one of the many cannabinoids found in cannabis plants.
CBN is produced as a result of exposing THCA, the acidic form of THC, to heat, air, or light, all of which can cause it to break down into other compounds.
Although it is a product of THC and has a similar chemical structure, it is not intoxicating and has health effects more similar to those of CBD.
Like many of the other chemical compounds in the cannabis plant, it is becoming more widely used by a wide range of people thanks to its potential health benefits.
CBN Vs CBD: What are the differences?
CBN is not the same thing as CBD, though it has some similarities, such as some of its therapeutic effects, including relief from pain and inflammation.
Unlike CBD, cannabinol interacts directly with your cannabinoid receptors. This means it may have different effects and different interactions with medications than CBD. However, research into the implications of this difference is ongoing.
The effects of CBN are not as well known as the health benefits of CBD. Though research into both is still in the early stages for each compound, there are more studies and trials into the effects of CBD than CBN.
While much is still unknown about cannabigerol, it is believed to have similar health effects to other cannabinoids such as CBD. These include:
- Pain relief
- Appetite stimulation
- Neuroprotective effects
- Antibacterial effects
- Anti-inflammatory properties
CBN Vs CBG
Although cannabinol and cannabigerol have some similar effects, such as pain relief and reducing inflammation, they are quite different compounds.
CBG, or cannabigerol, is the oxidized form of cannabigerolic acid, or CBGA. CBGA is present in a cannabis plant throughout its lifespan, and the plant will convert the CBGA it produces into THCA, the acidic form of THC.
While CBN is a naturally-occuring product of oxidizing THC from a harvested plant, CBGA is used by living plants to create THC and other key cannabinoids, but CBG, the non-acidic form of CBGA, does not occur naturally, and must be synthesized from CBGA via heating.
CBN is only present in large quantities in older cannabis plants, CBG can also be found in hemp flowers as well as cannabis. CBG also does not have intoxicating effects, although it is converted into THC by natural processes throughout the lifespan of the plant.
Research has suggested a number of possible health benefits related to taking CBG, some of which it shares with other cannabinoids such as CBD and CBN:
- Anti-anxiety effects
- Pain relief
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Possible sleeping aid
- Relief from some eye problems, including glaucoma
- Reducing growth of tumours
CBN Oil Benefits
Very few of the claims of CBN oil’s health benefits have been conclusively proven yet. In fact, most are only in the early stages of study.
Understanding the state of current research will help you decide whether or not to believe each of the claims made about cannabinol.
Taking CBN For Sleep
CBN oil is sometimes advertised as a sleeping aid. There is some anecdotal evidence to support this idea, but no conclusive research has been conducted to truly investigate this possible capability of CBN.
CBN is believed by some to have soporific properties because of the way it is formed by exposing THCA to the air.
THCA is present in cannabis flower, and so cannabis flower that is left outside of a container for a long time has a higher CBN concentration.
Some people experience increased soporific effects from smoking old cannabis buds, which contain more CBN.
As a result, there is some speculation that CBN is responsible for the increased drowsiness people experience from smoking old cannabis.
There have not been any studies to confirm this, however. Even if this effect does occur, it may only happen in the presence of THC.
Taking CBN For Anxiety
Research has not found any links between CBN and anxiety yet, though some people may find stress-relieving effects from it on an individual level.
CBN May Provide Pain Relief
A study conducted on rats found that CBN can relieve pain, and suggested that it could be used to relieve pain in humans who have conditions like fibromyalgia. No studies on human subjects have been conducted to test this theory yet though. [1]
CBN Might Stimulate The Appetite
Another study on rats showed that cannabinol made the rats eat more food, and continue to eat for longer periods of time. If CBN has the same effect on humans, it could be used to help people who have lost their appetite due to a health condition or medical treatment. [2]
CBN Could Help Preserve Your Brain Health
A study conducted on rodents found that CBN could delay the onset of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in some cases. If it has similar neuroprotective effects on people, it might be used to protect people from various brain diseases. [3]
Antibacterial Properties
CBN may kill off MRSA bacteria, according to a 2008 study. MRSA is resistant to many of the antibiotics that are usually used to treat staph infections. [4]
CBN Health Benefits Summary
Most of the claims made about CBN have not been studied in humans in any detail, or at all.
That does not mean it lacks these health benefits, only that they have not been researched yet.
As a result, you should always talk to your doctor before taking CBN oil to treat any health condition.
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