Cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) are two of the more than 100 cannabinoids discovered in the cannabis plant. Endocannabinoids are molecules that may bind to a variety of endocannabinoid receptors in the body called the endocannabinoid system.
CBD is more well-known than CBN, which is why it’s so popular. CBD products have grown in popularity since certain states legalized recreational marijuana. Many individuals use CBD medicines to alleviate anxiety disorders or manage chronic discomfort.
There has been very little human study on the possible advantages of CBN. However, there are a few tiny trials that suggest it may aid in pain relief as well as acting as a sedative. Let’s have a look at CBD vs CBN and their various benefits and distinctions.
What are the benefits and uses of CBD?
CBD, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid. CBD does not make you feel high like THC. It’s used to treat pain and anxiety, among other things. There are still many unanswered questions about CBD research, but preliminary studies have produced encouraging results and indicated that it has a favorable safety profile.
CBD is sold in a variety of forms, including:
- gummies
- oils and tinctures
- creams and lotions
- capsules and pills
- vapes
Here’s what the research says so far about CBD’s potential benefits:
Anxiety and depression management
CBD has shown promise as a potential substitute for traditional therapies for anxiety and depression. Researchers aren’t sure how it works, but CBD’s advantages are thought to be due to its interaction with 5-HT1A receptorsTrusted Source.
In a 2019 study, 57 participants received either a placebo or 150, 300, or 600 mg of CBD before giving a public speech. The researchers discovered that folks who were given 300 mg of CBD had significantly reduced anxiety. Participants with an anxiety or sleep problem were given 25 to 175 mg of CBD per day in a 2019 study led by Dr. Scott Shannon. At the one-month mark, 79.2 percent of individuals reported enhanced anxiety symptoms.
Neuroprotection and seizure reduction
CBD may be a viable treatment option for a range of neurogenerative disorders, according to an independent review published in 2020.
Research is ongoing on CBDs potential to treat:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- epilepsy
- multiple sclerosis
Epidiolex, a pharmaceutical drug derived from CBD under the brand name Epidiolex has received approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes (two severe types of epilepsy) and tuberous sclerosis complex seizures.
Sleep
CBD is said to help many people sleep. There’s some scientific evidence that CBD might improve sleep quality, but more study is needed to determine its full potential. After a month of consuming between 25 and 175 mg of CBD daily, 66.7 percent of participants in Dr. Scott Shannon’s 2019 research reported improved sleep quality.
Pain relief
CBD may work by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system, according to a 2018 researchTrusted Source. For 3 weeks, seven transplant patients who had recently undergone treatment with 50 to 150 mg of CBD twice per day had no improvement in total pain, four experienced modest relief, and two experienced complete pain alleviation.
Cancer treatment
CBD has been shown to help with a variety of issues caused by cancer treatment, including pain and nausea. Some early research have also suggested that CBD may have anti-cancer properties. CBD was found to aid in the growth of pancreatic tumors in a 2019 review of studiesTrusted Source published on in vitro and in vivo investigations. Pancreatic cancer was the focus of the study.
What are the benefits and uses of CBN?
CBN is a metabolic degradation product of THC. It has a mild psychoactivity and does not produce the same high as THC. CBN isn’t researched as much as CBD. There’s really little research currently done on its potential advantages. CBN products are commonly marketed as sleep aids, despite the fact that there’s still a lot to be discovered about them. Here are some of CBN’s most common applications and potential advantages:
Sleep
CBN is said to help people sleep. However, there’s just one research revealing that it has a sedative effect – it was conducted in 1975 and involved only five males. In the study, those who consumed a blend of THC and CBN had more powerful sedative effects than those who took THC alone.
Pain relief
According to a 2019 rat study, CBD and CBN were able to reduce myofascial pain. In addition, a blend of CBN and CBD was more effective than either singly in reducing TMJ pain and fibromyalgia discomfort. The researchers found that CBN and CBD may assist with TMJ sufferin
Neuroprotective effects
A 2005 rat studyTrusted Source found that CBN was able to delay the onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, it’s still unclear if it has any impact on people.
Anti-inflammatory effects
There’s some evidence that CBN may help decrease inflammation brought on by arthritis in rats. However, human study is required to fully comprehend CBN’s potential advantages.
What are the primary differences between CBD and CBN?
CBD and CBN are two distinct compounds, despite their similar names. CBD is the second most common cannabinoid in cannabis plants after THC. Breeders may try to boost CBD content in their strains by breeding them. nManufacturers have no influence over the amount of CBN in a plant since it stems from THC’s decomposition. Heat can accelerate the breakdown of THC into CBN.
There hasn’t been a lot of research on both cannabinoids. However, there is substantially more CBD research going on right now. Because of this, CBD is typically easier to come by. CBN isn’t FDA approved for the treatment of any illnesses.
What are the potential side effects of CBD vs. CBN?
CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid that has a favorable safety and efficacy profile. The most frequent adverse effects include:
- diarrhea
- tiredness
- changes in weight and appetite
The combination of cannabidiol (CBD) with other drugs, such as ethanolamine citrate, can cause liver damage. When mixed with certain medicines, for example:
- leflunomide
- lomitapide
- mipomersen
- pexidartinib
- teriflunomide
- valproate
CBN has no known negative effects, but that doesn’t imply there aren’t any. It simply implies that CBN hasn’t researched enough to identify them.
Talk with a doctor if you’re interested in using CBD or CBN
Before taking CBD, CBN, or any other new supplements, it is crucial to consult with a physician. A doctor can provide you with a suggested starting dosage and see whether the product has the potential to interact with any of your current medicines.
While CBD or CBN may offer promise as a supplement to your current treatment, you should not use them instead of tried and true therapies and procedures.
Takeaway
Cannabinoids found in cannabis include CBN and CBD. Cannabinoids are still being researched, with few studies available on either.
To date, there’s been more study on CBD. There is some evidence that it may help with issues like chronic pain, anxiety, and depression.
The Harvard Business Review also highlights the difficulty of earning a profit from CBN since it’s difficult to know if those benefits exceed those of other types of complex carbohydrates. Meanwhile, as noted previously, there is no research suggesting that CBN has any advantages or disadvantages over other carbs. CBN still lacks an extensive amount of human study before we can draw any conclusions about its potential advantages.
