CBC: Does This Little-Known Cannabinoid Have Big Benefits?

Anyone even slightly familiar with marijuana has heard of THC. Most people have at least heard of CBD — even if they’re not quite sure what it is.

THC and CBD are two of the natural compounds, known collectively as cannabinoids, found in the cannabis and hemp plants. For that reason, they’re also found in weed and many CBD products; cannabinoids are responsible for most of those substances’ effects once they’re in the human body.

However, there are more than 100 cannabinoids in the plants. And if THC and CBD are the “big two,” CBC is undeniably one of the “big three.” CBC stands for cannabichromene, and while it doesn’t trigger psychoactive effects like THC does, it’s believed to provide powerful health and wellness benefits similar to the ones associated with THC and CBD.

CBC is said to have strong anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, it may work as a neuroprotectant, and some research indicates that it could even be ten times more effective than CBD for those dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression.

We’ll get into the potential medical benefits of CBC in more detail, after a look at how it fits into the story of cannabis and CBD products.

CBC, Cannabinoids, Cannabis, and Hemp

Let’s start at the beginning.

All About Cannabinoids

Both the cannabis plant (from which marijuana is sourced) and the hemp plant (from which most CBD products are sourced) belong to the same plant family, cannabis sativa. They each contain most of the same cannabinoids, although in different amounts.

The two cannabinoids most people are familiar with are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), and CBD (cannabidiol). THC is the compound that makes cannabis users high, while CBD is non-psychoactive. Both have many reported medical and health benefits, but those purported benefits vary because of the way THC and CBD work in the body.

CBC has entered the chat. It’s the third-most important cannabinoid in cannabis and hemp, and it has the same “heritage” as THC and CBD; they’re all synthesised from the same “parent,” CBGA (cannabigerolic acid). CBC, like CBD, does not cause intoxication or other effects as THC does, but it does provide its own purported medical benefits.

All three of the cannabinoids we’re discussing are quite similar structurally, but the way their atoms are arranged accounts for the differences in the ways they work once they’ve been consumed.

Cannabinoids and the Body

THC, CBD, and CBC all work by interacting with receptors in the body. Cannabinoids have chemical structures extremely similar to the endocannabinoids the body produces and uses as messengers in the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which controls an enormous number of bodily functions.

The ECS has several sets of receptors, primarily the CB1 and CB2 receptors. THC mostly binds to the CB1 receptors, which regulate many brain operations including thinking, emotions, and memory, as well as sleep, movement, hunger, and pain control. CBD mostly interacts with the CB2 receptors, which control the body’s immunity and inflammatory functions.

CBC acts differently. It does interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors, but more importantly, it also interacts with receptors that aren’t part of the ECS. It binds to the nervous system’s TRPV1 and TRPA1 receptors, which affect pain perception and stress control. That’s the major reason why CBC may have more powerful effects in those areas than other cannabinoids.

There’s one more role that CBC plays, but it’s not unique. All of the cannabinoids, terpenes, and chemical compounds found in cannabis and hemp— including CBC — work together in what’s called the “entourage effect” to boost the performance of THC and CBD in the body.

Finally, we should describe the prevalence of these cannabinoids in cannabis and hemp. The cannabis plant, and therefore marijuana, usually contains lots of THC, a decent amount of CBC, and low levels of CBD, although some medical strains are bred for high CBC content. By contrast, hemp generally has high CBD content but lower levels of CBC and very little THC.

Those are the basics. Let’s move on.

CBC and CBD Products

CBD products don’t always contain CBC (or THC). That’s a deliberate choice of the products’ manufacturers.

When cannabidiol is extracted from hemp, it contains all of the plant’s natural cannabinoids and other compounds. That cannabidiol is used to create what are called full-spectrum CBD products, which provide all of the benefits of their cannabinoids enhanced by the entourage effect.

The THC levels in CBD products aren’t high enough to get users high, and the government restricts those levels even more (in Britain, the legal maximum is about 0.2% of the product). Not everyone wants to consume even those small amounts of THC, however; some may react badly to the cannabinoids, while others may fear the remote possibility of a positive drug test.

That’s why producers create two other types of cannabidiol.

• Broad-spectrum CBD products contain only a slight trace of THC (left behind when THC is removed), but CBC and all of the other plant compounds remain. Their entourage effect is lesser, but still present.
• CBD isolate is pure CBD, with all other plant compounds removed. Products manufactured with CBD isolate have no entourage effect at all.

Bottom line: you’ll be able to receive the apparent benefits of CBC in both full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products, although the CBC’s effectiveness may be lessened a bit. CBD products produced with isolate contain no CBC.

Other than its contribution to the entourage effect, why would the presence of CBC be important?

Apparent Health and Medical Benefits of CBC

One of the most publicized potential benefits of CBC involves cancer. We’ll get to that after a look at its apparent benefits that are more applicable to the majority of marijuana and CBD users.

Inflammation and Pain

Animal studies have shown that both CBD and CBC appear to reduce the pain and inflammation suffered by rats with osteoarthritis, but CBC works in a novel way.

Both cannabinoids affect the CB2 ECS receptors that control inflammation. However, CBC seems to directly reduce inflammation that causes pain directly at the source, by interacting with TRPV1 nervous system receptors to reduce inflammation and block pain signals. The research concludes that CBD and CBC administered together appear to produce the best results.

Mood Disorders

Other studies have found that CBC may play an important role in battling mood issues like anxiety, stress, and depression. It’s not clear if the CBC provides its own, independent mental health benefits, although it appears to raise levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide (often called the “bliss” molecule) through its interaction with nervous system receptors.

Researchers also say that CBC may help “balance” the ECS and works well with other cannabinoids, particularly CBD, to provide mood elevation without side effects.

Neurological Diseases

Neural stem cells known as progenitor cells (NSPCs) are an important component in brain function, and studies show that CBC may help support the viability and longevity of NPSCs. That has important ramifications for those with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s since the NPSCs help prevent the development of those diseases.

There are also long-term implications that CBC may provide neuroprotection that can support brain health, and that its support for NPSCs may enhance learning and memory.

Skin Issues and Bone Health

CBC’s apparent anti-inflammatory properties, and its support for CBD’s apparent ability to reduce the production of oily sebum, are believed to be beneficial for the treatment of topical skin problems like acne, as shown in one study conducted with acne patients. In fact, some skincare companies have already begun focusing on the inclusion of CBC in their products.

And in preliminary research, there are indications that CBC and other cannabinoids may support bone growth while defending against the oxidative stress that can cause cellular damage.

Cancer

Studies have reported that THC could be an effective weapon against several forms of cancer, but its psychoactive properties make it a difficult treatment choice. Research has found that CBC may be an easier-to-administer and better-tolerated weapon in cannabis and hemp against tumor development and growth.

One study claims that the cannabinoid prevents the removal of the endocannabinoid we’ve already mentioned, anandamide, from the bloodstream. Anandamide has been clinically shown to fight breast cancer, and clinicians believe it may help fight other types of tumors as well.

All of these purported benefits must be confirmed by more in-depth research. However, all indications are that CBC deserves as much attention as THC and CBD for its potential medical benefits.

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