(Cannabichromene) is the 3rd most dominant cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant after THC and CBD. And like CBG, it is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, as it does not bind with the CB-1 receptor like THC does. This means that CBC won’t make you feel “high,” in the traditional sense, but you might find that your body and mind do feel relaxed afterwards.
What is CBC?
CBC was first isolated and in 1966 by Dr. Raphael Mechoulam’s team in Israel, along with CBG, THC, CBD, and CBN. It is one of the “Big 6” cannabinoids prominent in cannabis research, although you have likely not heard much about the effects of CBC, yet.
Like CBG, there has been far less research done on CBC than CBD or THC, but studies are proving that CBC has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, antidepressant, and neuroprotective properties.
The Effects of CBC
When used topically, CBC soothes inflammation of the sebaceous glands and minimizes sebum production, which are important in treating acne. CBC is said to reduce acne by as much as 12% when used topically.
When taken orally, CBC is helpful at easing depression. Like CBG, CBC inhibits the uptake of the endocannabinoid, anandamide, allowing for this naturally occurring chemical to stay in your system for longer than it normally would. Anandamide is released to promote happiness and pleasure, to stimulate the appetite, to promote sleep, and to regulate body temperature, to name a few.
How Does CBC Work in the Body?
CBC binds with the TRPV1 and TRPA1 receptors in our central nervous system, making CBC a helpful cannabinoid for inflammation and pain relief. When CBC binds with these receptors, it signals to the brain to release more anandamide, which helps to ease pain.
CBC is also proving to be a powerful anti-tumor cannabinoid. Studies are finding that it is second best, behind CBG, at inhibiting the growth of new cancer cells. It is believed that CBC’s cell strengthening properties are a result of its ability to harness anandamide, which helps to slow cell growth.
Similarities Between CBC and CBG
Like CBG, studies are suggesting that CBC can be helpful in treating neurological diseases like Traumatic Brain Injury, MS, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s. And like CBG, CBC is proving to be a helpful cannabinoid for people with IBS and Chron’s Disease. Research suggests that CBC’s anti-inflammatory action is specific to the intestines. It has shown to be able to ease diarrhea without causing constipation.
In Conclusion
There is much more to learn about the effects of CBC, but it is safe to say that it plays an important role in promoting homeostasis by participating in the entourage effect, which is achieved when multiple cannabinoids are consumed at the same time. CBC is a dominant cannabinoid that is combined with other cannabinoids in most cannabis strains, but it is often overlooked.
The cannabinoid profile in our CBG Broad Spectrum Oil varies a bit batch by batch, but it is usually a blend of CBG, CBGa, CBC, and sometimes CBDV. We’re reminded of the first time we ever experimented with infusing our CBG hemp flower into MCT oil and shared it with friends and family. People’s first reaction was that they were surprised that there wasn’t any THC in the oil, as they reported feeling relaxed and uplifted. What they were actually feeling was the combination of CBG, CBC and anandamide, as there was no THC in our oil to take any of the glory.
It goes to show that there are many cannabinoids “behind the scenes” of THC and CBD that often get over-looked. There is a vast spectrum of cannabinoids available. THC, CBD, CBC, CBG, CBN, CBV, CBDV, THCV are usually the most prevalent. Cannabis generally works best when multiple cannabinoids are consumed at once, as this is as nature (and plant breeders) intended. You might not realize it’s there, but you might find that CBC is alongside a lot of your favorite cannabinoids and adding to the benefits that you are enjoying.