CBD vs. CBN: What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages?

Cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) are two of the more than 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plantTrusted Source. Cannabinoids are molecules that have the ability to interact with the endocannabinoid system, which is a group of receptors in your body.

You're probably more familiar with CBD than CBN if you're like most folks.

Since some states have begun to legalise recreational cannabis, CBD products have grown in popularity. Many people use CBD products to assist manage chronic pain or lessen anxiety symptoms.

There hasn't been much human research on CBN's possible benefits. However, a few tiny studies suggest that it may have the capacity to relieve pain and serve as a sedative.

Let's compare and contrast the benefits and differences of CBD and CBN.

What are the advantages and applications of CBD?

CBD is a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid, which means it does not get you high like tetrahydrocannabinol does (THC). It's often used to treat a variety of ailments, including pain and anxiety.

Although CBD research is still in its early phases, some early studies have yielded promising results and discovered that CBD has a favourable safety profileTrusted Source.

CBD is available in a number of different forms, including:

• gummies
• tinctures and oils
• lotions & creams
• tablets and capsules
• vapes

Here's what we know so far about CBD's possible health benefits:

Management of anxiety and depression

CBD appears to be a promising alternative to standard drugs for treating anxiety and depression, according to preliminary research. CBD's benefits are assumed to be linked to its activity on 5-HT1A receptors, which researchers are still trying to figure out how it works.

Before giving a public statement, 57 participants in a 2019 Brazilian studyTrusted Source were given either a placebo or 150, 300, or 600 milligrammes (mg) of CBD. The researchers discovered that giving 300 mg of CBD to subjects lowered anxiety considerably.

Participants with anxiety or sleep disorders were given 25 to 175 mg of CBD per day in a research supervised by Dr. Scott Shannon in 2019. A month later, 79.2 percent of participants said their anxiety symptoms had improved.

Seizure reduction and neuroprotection

CBD could be a possible therapy option for a number of neurogenerative illnesses, according to a review of studies published in 2020 by Trusted Source.

CBD's potential to treat: is still being researched.

Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that affects people.

Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia.

epilepsy

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects people

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved CBD under the brand name Epidiolex to treat Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes (two rare kinds of epilepsy) as well as seizures caused by tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).

Sleep

CBD is said to aid sleep by many people.

CBD may help sleep quality, according to some scientific evidence, but further research is needed to fully comprehend its potential.

After a month of consuming between 25 and 175 mg of CBD daily, 66.7 percent of participants reported improved sleep quality, according to the same 2019 study led by Dr. Scott Shannon.

Pain alleviation

CBD may be useful at reducing chronic pain by interacting with the body's endocannabinoid system, according to research.

Seven patients who had recently received a kidney transplant were given 50 to 150 mg of CBD twice daily for three weeks in a 2018 studyTrusted Source. Two patients experienced complete pain relief, four experienced moderate pain relief, and one patient experienced no change.

Treatment for cancer

CBD has been shown in studies to help with cancer treatment side effects like pain and nausea.

CBD may possibly have anticancer properties, according to some preliminary research.

CBD may help decrease tumour growth and boost tumour cell death, according to a 2019 assessment of studiesTrusted Source evaluating in vitro and in vivo studies. The study focused on pancreatic cancer.

What are the advantages and applications of CBN?

CBN is formed when THC, a psychoactive cannabinoid, is broken down. It's somewhat psychoactive, but it doesn't get you high as THC does.

CBN isn't as well-studied as CBD. There is currently very little research looking into its possible benefits. CBN is frequently advertised as a sleep aid, but further study is needed to back up these claims.

Here are some of the most common CBN applications and potential benefits:

Sleep

CBN is said to aid sleep by many people. There is only one study that shows it can potentially serve as a sedative, and it was conducted in 1975Trusted Source with only five male subjects.

Participants in the study who were administered a mixture of THC and CBN had more sedative effects than those who were given THC alone.

Pain alleviation

In a 2019 rat study, both CBD and CBN were found to be effective in reducing myofascial pain in rats. CBN and CBD in combination were significantly more effective than either of them alone.

The researchers came to the conclusion that CBN and CBD could help with TMJ issues and fibromyalgia discomfort.

Effects on the nervous system

CBN was proven to be effective in delaying the onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in rats in a 2005 studyTrusted Source (ALS). However, it is unclear whether it has the same effects on people at this time.

Anti-inflammation properties

CBN has been shown to lessen the inflammation induced by arthritis in ratsTrusted Source. Human study, on the other hand, is required to properly comprehend its potential benefits.

What are the most significant distinctions between CBD and CBN?

CBD and CBN are two distinct compounds, despite their identical names.

In a cannabis plant, CBD is usually the second most prevalent cannabinoid. Cannabis plants with a greater CBD content can be bred by manufacturers.

Because CBN is produced by the breakdown of THCTrusted Source, manufacturers can't directly modify the amount of CBN in a plant. The breakdown of THC into CBN can be accelerated by exposing it to heat.

Both cannabinoids are still in the early stages of research. CBD, on the other hand, is currently the subject of much more research. As a result, CBD is much more widely available.

CBD has been licenced by the FDA to treat two rare kinds of epilepsy, as well as TSC seizures. CBN has not been approved by the FDA to treat any conditions.

What are the differences between CBD and CBN in terms of probable adverse effects?

CBD is generally considered to be safe and has a favourable safety profile. The following are the most common side effects:

diarrhoea

tiredness

weight and appetite fluctuations

When CBD is used with certain drugs, it may raise the risk of liver damage in a dose-dependent mannerTrusted Source.

• leflunomide
• lomitapide
• mipomersen
• pexidartinib
• teriflunomide
• valproate

CBN has no known adverse effects, but that doesn't rule out the possibility of them. It just indicates that CBN hasn't been investigated thoroughly enough to find them.

If you're thinking about using CBD or CBN, talk to your doctor first.

Before taking CBD, CBN, or any other new supplement, speak with your doctor. A doctor can advise you on a starting dose and tell you whether the product may interact with any of your current prescriptions.

Although CBD and CBN may help your present treatment, they should not be used as a substitute for approved medicines and treatments.

Takeaway

Cannabinoids such as CBN and CBD are found in the cannabis plant. Both are still in the early stages of research.

There has been more CBD study to date. It may help treat diseases like chronic pain, anxiety, and depression, according to some studies.

Before conclusions concerning CBN's potential advantages can be reached, considerably more human research is required.