Home Health A Deep Dive Into CBDA: The Minor Cannabinoid You Should Know About

A Deep Dive Into CBDA: The Minor Cannabinoid You Should Know About

by Izabelle Morris

Most people have heard of CBD. It has grown in popularity drastically since federal legalization in the 2018 Farm Bill, with an estimated 1 in 7 adults using a CBD product to support their health and wellness. But what about its precursor CBDA? CBDA is a minor cannabinoid that through research has shown it can be used in major ways. And in some ways, it is even better than the well-known CBD! Let’s take a deep dive into what exactly CBDA is, how it can benefit you, and what makes it better than CBD.

What is CBDA?

Source: leafly.com

First, what is CBDA? CBDA is an acidic cannabinoid found in both hemp and cannabis plants. It is the precursor to CBD, meaning when CBDA is decarboxylated, a process where cannabinoids are exposed to heat, it converts to CBD. This poses a problem when extracting CBDA, as a vast majority of extraction methods utilize heat in the process, causing the conversion of CBDA to CBD. By the time the final extract is made, there is only trace amounts, if any, of the acidic cannabinoids left. With growing consumer interest and emerging research discovering the many benefits of CBDA, essentiascientific.com, a global solution provider is finding ways to extract cannabinoids without the use of heat. By forgoing heat in the process, they can then extract acidic cannabinoids at a mass scale. Thus, helping to deliver more products with CBDA to the market for consumers.

CBDA is non-psychoactive meaning it will not induce any euphoria to those who consume. Rather, it increases clarity and focus, while decreasing anxiety when ingested. CBDA can also be used to counteract uncomfortable euphoria brought on by ingesting too much THC.

The Benefits of CBDA

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CBDA has been less studied compared to CBD, though current and emerging research shows it has great therapeutic potential to help with an array of ailments and diseases. Here are some of the many benefits of CBDA:

Reduces Anxiety and Depression

CBDA may be a potential plant-derived therapeutic for patients with anxiety and depression. CBDA activates the 5-HT1A or serotonin receptor, an important receptor to target in anti-psychotic, anti-anxiety, and anti-depressant pharmaceutical medications. The 5-HT1A receptor can help with mood, memory, cognition, and more. In a 2017 study, CBDA demonstrated anti-anxiety affects by activating the receptor on doses 10,000 times lower than that of CBD, when administered to a rodent model.

Reduces Inflammation and Hyperalgesia

CBDA has demonstrated its ability to reduce inflammation and hyperalgesia in numerous studies. Hyperalgesia is an increased sensitivity to pain caused by damage to the nerves or chemical changes to the nerve pathways. This can occur from nerve and tissue injuries, as well as with long term opioid use, and is seen often in patients with chronic pain conditions. In a 2018 research study, CBDA demonstrated does dependent anti-hyperalgesia and anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, to compare CBD to CBDA, an equivalent dose was administered to the rodent model, and CBD did not reduce hyperalgesia, nor inflammation. This suggests that CBDA is more effective than CBD in this instance.

Potential Therapeutic for Covid-19

CBDA was recently propelled into the media spotlight, along with another acidic cannabinoid CBGA, after a 2024 Oregon State University study found they could potentially help with the fight against Covid-19. Researchers examined the effects of CBDA and CBGA when introduced to the SARS-Cov-2 virus invitro. They found CBDA and CBGA prevented the virus that causes Covid-19 from entering the cells by binding to the spike protein. With Covid-19 having such a major impact globally, it is prominent more research is done into this matter. Additionally, this same type of action can potentially help patients with hepatitis and HIV.

Along with the benefits above, CBDA has also demonstrated its ability to reduce seizures, and combat nausea and vomiting. As more research is conducted, it is a matter of time before we discover even more therapeutic benefits this minor cannabinoid holds.

What makes CBDA better than CBD?

Source: healthline.com

Research has demonstrated CBDA has many advantages compared to its neutral counterpart CBD. In many instances it is a more potent therapeutic, and consumers can use less CBDA compared to CBD to feel therapeutic benefits. Here are some of the ways CBDA is superior to CBD:

Higher Bioavailability

CBDA is astoundingly 19x more bioavailable than CBD! This means when we ingest an equivalent amount of CBDA and CBD, our bodies can absorb more CBDA. This allows for lower doses of CBDA than CBD to have an effect. In fact, a patent filed for the therapeutic use of CBDA to treat various seizure disorders found CBDA was more beneficial at combating seizures than CBD. They accredited the findings to CBDA’s higher bioavailability. Additionally, patients could use lower doses of CBDA compared to CBD to achieve the same effects. At current there is an FDA approved drug with a fixed ratio of plant-derived CBD to treat seizures, and the maker, GW Pharma, is hoping to create an even better CBDA version.

Greater affinity to serotonin receptors

Source: sr.wikipedia.org

When compared to CBD, CBDA has demonstrated a greater affinity to the 5-HT1A or serotonin receptor in numerous studies. The receptor is most commonly known for its role in mental health. However, it is responsible for modulating many processes in the body including nausea and vomiting, the cardiovascular system, as well as pain signals. CBDA’s greater affinity to the receptor makes it more powerful in numerous instances when compared to CBD, such as reducing anxiety and depression symptoms, and combating chemotherapy induced nausea. Additionally, it allows for lower doses of CBDA for therapeutic effects.

CBDA is an up-and-coming cannabinoid you should definitely be on the lookout for. Thanks to global solution providers, CBDA is now available in a stable form to infuse into cannabinoid-based applications, making it possible to craft more products with CBDA. Thus, allowing more consumers to benefit. CBDA can be a great addition to an existing cannabinoid routine and can even help boost the effects felt from other cannabinoids, by the way of the entourage effect. CBDA products are also a great way to begin a cannabinoid regimen and delivers a wide range of benefits to all who consume. Whether you are just beginning with cannabinoids or have been taking them a long time; CBDA is a cannabinoid you do not want to overlook.

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