CBD Vs. CBN: The Difference, Benefits and effects

CBN – is this forgotten cannabinoid that’s going to reshape the cannabis industry?

Probably not. But, it doesn’t hurt to know that there is one more cannabinoid which comes with quite a few health benefits.

Hey everyone, lately, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about CBN. Even questions like – is it a typo?  

So, today, I’m on a mission to educate you all about CBN. But, I’ll also put my own twist on the story. I’ll be comparing CBN against my favorite cannabinoid. And you guessed it; it’s CBD of course.

So, let’s get started, shall we?

What is CBD?

As you might already know, the cannabis plant consists of many cannabinoids (a total of 113 cannabinoids have been identified as of today), among other things. Out of these, the most common are THC and CBD.

Although 113 cannabinoids have been identified today, back in the 60s, things were very different. It was around this time, Robert Mechoulam isolated the two compounds.

After performing the first test itself, it was found that CBD was drastically different from THC. While that may be common knowledge now, back then, nobody really understood how they worked.

Soon enough, it was found that CBD didn’t induce any effect of ‘high’ on the test subjects. There appeared to be no behavioral difference as in the case of the THC tests.

Through the years, the medicinal benefits of CBD became clearer as more tests were conducted. Now, let’s find out what they are.

The Benefits of CBD

#1 Reduces Anxiety

If you’ve read any of my CBD product reviews, you’ll know that CBD has successfully treated my anxiety. I wouldn’t know what I’d do without my daily dose of CBD oil.

However, if you’re skeptical about my results, I suggest you check out this study.

#2 Anti-inflammatory

Although I don’t have any first-hand experience of CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties, my friend, Daisy, wrote quite a brilliant article for my blog about her experience with CBD topicals. And yes, she treated her inflammation successfully using a CBD cream.

But, how exactly does CBD work against it? Well, inflammation is caused due to substances known as cytokines. CBD is known to block the actions of cytokines and thereby, reducing inflammation. You can read more about it here.

#3 Protects the Brain

A recent study found that CBD has neuroprotective effects. But, what exactly does that mean? Well, simply put, CBD helps reduce damage caused to the brain and nervous system. Moreover, it can induce the growth of new neurons. The same article also indicates that CBD can prevent oxidative stress and promote recovery as well.

And that’s not all; CBD’s antioxidant properties have revealed that it can be effective against multiple neurological disorders includingParkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

#4 Anti-epileptic and Anti-seizure

Although studies haven’t been conducted on humans, it has been found that CBD has been quite effective in treating seizures in rats. Moreover, another study found CBD’s efficacy against drug-induced seizures.

#5 Reduces Neuropathic Pain

I have the first-hand experience when it comes to CBD’s effects on reducing neuropathic pain. If you’re new to my blog, here’s a brief backstory on my condition.

I’ve been suffering from chronic back pain for as long as I can remember. But, my daily dose of CBD keeps the problem in check. And as long as I’m on my CBD medication, it’s completely non-existent.

Here are some studies which show the efficacy of CBD against chronic pain and orofacial pain problems.

#6 Suppresses Psychoactive Effect

While this may not be a huge deal, not everyone likes the feeling of high. Fortunately, CBD can suppress the psychedelic effects of THC. This is especially useful if you’re using medical marijuana, which usually has a greater concentration of CBD than THC.

You can read more about how CBD suppresses the psychoactive effect here.

These were some of the benefits of CBD. There are many others as well. And as time progresses, and marijuana laws become less lenient, we will surely learn much more about its positive effects.

And now, it’s time to talk about CBN.

What is CBN?

CBN or cannabinol is essentially a non-psychoactive cannabinoid which is produced when THC breaks down due to oxidation. This process can occur both naturally and artificially.

And although cannabinol is not as popular as CBD or THC, you might already be acquainted with it. In fact, in older marijuana strands, the THC slowly breaks down into CBN. And while it may not have the psychoactive effects, recent studies have proved that this compound has quite a few therapeutic effects.

So, for all the lovers of Mary Jane out there, there’s no harm in consuming the ‘stale’ strands. In fact, it could well be more useful than the fresh product itself.

Now, let’s find out what CBN has to offer.

The Benefits of CBN

#1 Anti-seizure

Like, CBD, CBN also has anti-seizure properties. In fact, according to this study, cannabinol has shown a reduction in seizures in the mice model. However, it’s not as effective as CBD.

#2 Antibacterial

According to a 2008 study conducted by the University of Piemonte Orientale, Italy, it was found that cannabinol displays antibacterial properties. In fact, it showed promising results against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria.

#3 Appetite

Now, this is where CBD and CBN completely differ. While CBD suppresses hunger, CBN, on the other hand, induces it. And that can be really beneficial if you’re having trouble meeting your daily food requirements.

If you want to read more about the difference between CBD and CBN on appetite, click here.

#4 Pain Relief

According to a study conducted in 2002, it was found that CBN activates the same pain pathways as CBD and THC. In fact, it performs similarly to THC when it comes to pain relief. Moreover, it doesn’t have psychedelic effects.

Interestingly, when CBN works together with THC, it is even more effective.

#5 Sleep Aid

Now, as you might already know, I use CBD regularly to treat my sleep problems. CBN too works as a sleep aid. In fact, among all the cannabinoids, CBN is the most effective.

If you want to learn more about cannabinol’s effect on sleep, I suggest you follow this link.

#6 Burn Treatment

According to a study conducted in 2010, it was found that cannabinol has the potential for treating burn victims. Now, this is mainly due to its hypothermic ability. What do I mean by that?

Well, allow me to explain. It has been found that CBN can lower body temperature. And that along with its anti-inflammatory property can help provide relief to burn symptoms.

#7 Bone growth

Now, this property hasn’t been as well researched as the earlier ones, so, take it with a grain of salt. A study conducted in 2007 found that CBN may stimulate the growth of bone marrow cells.  In other words, cannabinol may help in the bone formation process.

Is CBN an alternative to CBD?

No! It isn’t, and probably will never be. But, that doesn’t mean it’s insignificant. CBN comes with unique benefits, and I’m sure we’ll find more as time progresses.

Moreover, there’s still a long way to go before CBN isolate products hit the market. But, at least now, all the medical marijuana users out there no longer need to feel bad about their old strains.

And now that this misunderstood cannabinoid has proved to have multiple therapeutic effects, you can expect its popularity to only rise from here.

Final Words

That about wraps it up for today. I hope my article has cleared your misunderstanding of this forgotten cannabinoid. And as for CBD, it’s here to stay. And it will only grow bigger as our governments become more lenient towards marijuana laws.