The cannabidiol (CBD) market could reach $13.4 billion in revenue by 2028. More people are experiencing the benefits CBD can offer firsthand. For example, it might relieve anxiety, help you sleep, or relieve pain.
As more people look into CBD, other cannabinoids are gaining popularity as well. Cannabinol, or CBN, offers its own list of potential health benefits. What benefits can CBN potentially offer? Keep reading to find out! In this guide, we'll review everything you need to know about this cannabinoid.
Then, you can make an informed decision before choosing a cannabinoid to try yourself. Discover the potential benefits of using CBN with this helpful guide today!
What is CBN?
First, let's answer the question that's likely on your mind: what exactly is cannabinol?
CBN is one of the many chemical compounds, or cannabinoids, found in the cannabis plant. In fact, cannabis now has over 100 different known cannabinoids. Some are more abundant (and therefore easier to find) than others.
Most people don't realize that CBN was the first cannabinoid identified by scientists. Over time, heat and oxygen cause THC to convert into CBN. CBN is also produced from THC that's extracted from cannabis plants.
THC is the cannabinoid that's best known for causing psychoactive effects, including a potential mind-altering high. THC is also used to help people with:
- Low appetite
- Glaucoma
- Pain
- Nausea
Unlike THC, CBD doesn't cause psychoactive effects. Instead, CBD is known for its potentially therapeutic effects. It helps people sleep, relieve pain symptoms, and ease anxiety.
Currently, there's no research that indicates CBN is psychoactive. However, it does produce sedative effects, meaning it could be good for sleep as well.
Cannabinoids in the Body
Before we talk about the potential health benefits of using CBN, it helps to know more about cannabinoids. Cannabinoids impact the body's natural endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS was named with cannabinoids in mind (since endocannabinoids were discovered first).
The ECS is a cell-signaling system throughout the body. It impacts different functions, including:
- Sleep
- Motor control
- Stress
- Skin and nerve function
- Metabolism
- Appetite and digestion
- Mood
- Learning and memory
- Muscle formation
- Reproductive system function
- Cardiovascular function
- Inflammation and other immune system responses
- Chronic pain
- Bone remodeling and growth
- Liver function
- Skin and nerve function
These functions keep our body in a state of homeostasis, or balance. When an external factor causes harm (such as an injury), the ECS kicks in. The ECS is composed of three main components: endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes.
Endocannabinoids ensure internal functions run smoothly. They're created as needed.
Receptors bind with endocannabinoids to tell them what to do. The two main receptors are the CB1 and CB2 receptors. They're found in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Enzymes break down endocannabinoids once their job is done.
Cannabinoids like THC, CBD, and CBN can bind with CB1 and CB2 receptors. THC, for example, binds with both. This allows it to stimulate your appetite or stop pain.
CBD, on the other hand, is thought to prevent endocannabinoids from breaking down. This could allow endocannabinoids to have more of an effect on the body. More research is needed, though.
CBN, on the other hand, seems to have a low affinity for CB1 receptors. It prefers to bind with CB2 receptors instead.
You can learn more about the differences between these cannabinoids in CBN vs. CBD: The Differences Explained. Learn more about the differences between CBD and THC here.
Potential Health Benefits
Before you review these potential benefits of CBN, it's important to note that the research is very preliminary. Scientists are still looking into the potential benefits CBN can offer. It's also important to note that everyone responds to CBN and other cannabinoids differently. The affects you experience might differ from someone else's experience.
Before trying cannabinol for yourself, it helps to keep an open mind. Here are a few of the potential health benefits CBN could offer.
Sleep
CBN could work as a powerful sedative. Research on mice indicates that CBN can prolong sleep time. Its sedative effects could become stronger when it's combined with THC, too.
However, there's a lack of research to determine CBN's full scope of sleep-inducing properties.
Pain Relief
CBN could have analgesic (pain-relieving) properties as well. It could influence the activity of neurons that are sensitive to capsaicin. Capsaicin is a compound found in chili peppers. It's often added to topic pain relievers as well.
Capsaicin-sensitive nerves are important to the body's ability to perceive pain. Using CBN could ease your pain symptoms as a result. This study on rats indicates that CBN could relieve pain as well.
It might help patients with pain symptoms associated with conditions like fibromyalgia.
Antibiotics
CBN might also help fight bacteria. A study conducted in 2008 looked into CBN's effects on the MRSA bacteria. MRSA causes staph infections. CBN's ability to kill off the bacteria (which are usually resistant to antibiotics) could indicate antibacterial properties.
Anti-Inflammatory
Like CBD, CBN could help reduce inflammation in the body. Inflammation is associated with many health conditions, including:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
- Obesity
- Arthritis and joint diseases
- Allergies
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Psoriasis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Reducing your inflammation levels could reduce your risk of these health conditions. One rodent study found that CBN could reduce inflammation associated with arthritis in rats.
Fight Cancer
There are a few promising studies that indicate cannabinol might have direct cancer-fighting capabilities. It could help slow or top the growth and spread of cancer cells. It might even help reduce tumor sizes.
More research is needed, however.
Appetite Stimulant
CBD may be able to suppress a person's appetite. CBN, on the other hand, could stimulate a person's appetite. CBN could help patients who are struggling to maintain an appetite due to an illness, such as cancer.
Bone Healing and Growth
Cannabinol might help activate stem cells that would create new bone cells. This would allow it to stimulate the production of new bones.
CBN might even help heal fractured bone and reverse bone loss. This process might allow it to become a potential therapy for osteoporosis patients.
Anti-Convulsant
CBD is already used as a form of epilepsy treatment, due to its anticonvulsant properties. CBN could help as an anticonvulsant as well.
Cracking into Cannabinol: Your Guide to CBN's Potential Benefits
To recap, what are the benefits of using cannabinol? CBN could help you sleep. It shows promise as a form of treatment for many health conditions, too.
Remember to keep an open mind before trying CBN for yourself. Searching for more tips and tricks? We have you covered.
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