When you think about full-spectrum CBD products, CBD and THC are most likely the first cannabinoids that come to mind. However, there are over 100 other cannabinoids that exist in the cannabis plant, and they each work with your body in their own unique ways. So, even though you may be considering a CBD isolate product, you’ll be able to take advantage of more of those cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytonutrients if you opt for a full-spectrum or broad spectrum product.
While researchers have known about CBD and THC for some time, other cannabinoids like CBG, CBN, and CBC are starting to pique the interest of consumers and those in the cannabis industry. To date, CBG is becoming better known than CBN or CBC, but that shouldn’t stop you from learning more about these other amazing cannabinoids. Even though research on CBC, or cannabichromene, is currently limited, what little information there is on this cannabinoid is both promising and encouraging. Our quick primer on CBC will tell you how it interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system, or ECS, as well as help you decide whether CBC is right for your own unique goals and needs.
What is Cannabichromene?
Even though research is limited on cannabichromene, what information there is on it shows that it’s possibly one of the most plentiful non-psychoactive cannabinoids in the hemp plant. Some scientists believe that it may have even more power than CBD to bring the body back into a state of balance. Interestingly, most cannabinoids need to be heated, or decarboxylated, to bring them into an active state, but small amounts of CBC are decarboxylated when the flower is simply dried and cured. Because CBC is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, you can take advantage of what it has to offer without feeling “high” like you would with large amounts of THC.
Some of the other cannabinoids that scientists have identified in the cannabis plant are:
- Cannabidiol (CBD)
- Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDA)
- Cannabinol (CBN)
- Cannabigerol (CBG)
- Cannabigerolic Acid (CBGA)
- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
- Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCA)
- Cannabichromenic Acid (CBCA)
What are Cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are compounds from the cannabis plant (of which hemp is a subspecies) that all interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, or ECS, that helps to bring the body back into a state of balance. Some of the systems that the ECS influences are the digestive system, the immune system, and the nervous system. The ECS is very complex and is found throughout the entire body. It contains cannabinoid receptors and enzymes that work to break down cannabinoids.
The CB1 and CB2 receptors are the two main receptors of the ECS. While the CB1 receptors are found throughout the body, with the highest concentrations in the brain, the CB2 receptors are not as spread out in the body. These receptors are primarily found in immune cells and in some neurons. Interestingly, CB1 receptors help to lower and/or regulate the psychoactive effects of some cannabinoids. Scientists believe that CBC stimulates the CB2 receptors by interacting with the TRPA1 and TRPV1 transient receptor potential channels, which have something to do with discomfort and inflammation.
What Does CBC Do?
While researchers believe that CBC doesn’t have a large impact on the CB1 receptors, they are intrigued by how the cannabinoid affects the TRP channels in the body. A few studies have shown that CBD can potentially have an effect on how neurons are created in the brain. Further studies have even shown that CBC may have some connection to skin concerns like irritation and acne. Because CBD products are growing in popularity, the hemp plant, and cannabis as a whole, is experiencing a great de-stigmatization of sorts. Therefore, because more people are receptive to learning about hemp, more research is being conducted. So, we can assume that increased research on lesser known cannabinoids like CBN, CBG, and CBC, will continue and even grow and improve as time goes on.
How Can You Choose the Best CBC Products?
Since it’s not that likely that you’ll find a CBC isolate product, your best bet is to opt for a full-spectrum or broad spectrum product that contains CBC. Some tips for finding top-quality CBD products are:
- Opt for Full- or Broad Spectrum Products: When you choose full-spectrum or broad spectrum CBD products, you’ll be able to receive all of the terpenes, phytonutrients, and cannabinoids that the hemp plant has to offer. A great way to start is to try FAB CBD full-spectrum CBD oils in your choice of strength and flavor.
- Choose Full-Spectrum Products for the Entourage Effect: Full-spectrum products include terpenes that give plants their unique scents and colors. Terpenes have a unique makeup that enables them to work in conjunction with cannabinoids. During a phenomenon called the entourage effect, cannabinoids and terpenes work with each other to enhance one another’s positive properties while lowering their negative ones.
- Independent Third-Party Lab Tests: Respected and reputable brands, like FAB CBD, care about transparency. As such, they hire independent third-party labs to routinely test their products for potency and purity. Additionally, these brands also make lab reports easy for customers to find on their website. Not only will the lab reports give details about chemicals that could potentially be lurking in a product, but they also list all of the cannabinoids that are present in each product. This way, you’ll be able to see if a product has CBC in it, and how much of the cannabinoid it contains.
- Know Where the Hemp Comes From: It’s important to know where a brand sources its hemp. Hemp that comes from organic farms in the United States in places like Colorado, is held to stricter regulations than hemp that’s grown and harvested overseas. Look for brands that use clean, organic hemp in their products.
- Read, Read, Read: The best way to avoid cheap products and find top-quality CBD products from respected brands is to shop for it online. You’ll be able to take all the time you need to read third-party lab reports, verified customer reviews, brand websites, product ingredients and descriptions, and so much more. Make a list of what you’re looking for in a brand and a product, then don’t stop until you find one that checks off all of your boxes.
Should CBC be Added into Your CBD Repertoire?
Even though CBC is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that can affect your body’s endocannabinoid system, additional research is needed to understand the depths of its impact. And until scientists and researchers learn more about CBC, the best thing you can do is to use full-spectrum or broad spectrum CBD products that contain a wealth of other cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytonutrients. Be sure to look over any third-party lab reports from brands that you’re interested in. These detailed documents will show you the cannabinoid content, potency, and purity of products that strike your fancy. After all, knowing which cannabinoids your oils, topicals, gummies, salves, and soft gels contain can only help to give you a stronger understanding of what you'll be putting into your body and how it will affect you in the long-run.
