CBD vs CBDA: What are the Differences?

The cannabis plant has more than 400 chemical entities with more than 60 of them being cannabinoids, making it a complex plant. Cannabinoids that are most commonly talked about are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which have differing effects.  There are other cannabinoids that provide benefits to the body such as cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), which is like CBD but has its own unique properties.

Hemp plant that contains mostly CBDA

What is CBDA?

Cannabidiolic acid or more commonly known CBDA, is a type of compound called a cannabinoid. CBDA is similar to CBD but is most abundant when the cannabis plant is freshly harvested and is a precursor compound to CBD. CBD, the non-psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis, is made from CBDA when it goes through a process called decarboxylation removing the A or the acidic carboxyl group from the molecule. Decarboxylation can happen instantly, such as when the cannabis plant is smoked or vaporized, or over a long period of time by degradation while the plant is at room temperature. This process is seen as the activation process to allow CBD to work in tandem with the endocannabinoid system.

How can CBDA benefit you?

 If CBDA isn’t active, how can it benefit the body? What does this raw CBD precursor provide that CBD doesn’t?

CBDA and other acidic precursors such as THCA are considered to not be pharmacologically active compounds. Turns out they still interact in the body, but they affect the endocannabinoid system differently than their decarboxylated forms. CBD can bind to receptors in the body called CB1 and CB2 to activate other receptors that cause positive effects on the body, such as the serotonin receptor 5-HT1A, to help improve anxiety, nausea, and the perception of pain.

When research began on CBDA, scientists noticed CBDA resembled the molecular structure of other common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Researchers found that CBDA does interact with the endocannabinoid system but not the same way as CBD. CBDA has been found to reduce pain and inflammation because it acts on the same COX-2 inhibitor as NSAIDS in reducing pain and inflammation. CBDA is even found to be more powerful at reducing anxiety and nausea than CBD.

CBD vs CBDA: How to use?

CBDA and CBD can be found in tinctures,topicals, edibles, and many other products. To get the freshest CBDA, buds on cannabis can be extracted to obtain the compound. CBD and CBDA can be found to provide similar health benefits, but CBDA has been seen to result in a3-fold higher Cmax of CBD in the bloodstream in people. The best approach to using CBD and CBDA is to use them together to boost each other’s benefits to achieve the entourage effect. How to use CBDA is up to your own personal preference. If you enjoy using it topically to enhance your skin come visit us at our website.