What is CBN Good for?
Cannabinol (CBN) is a rare cannabinoid that can be found in hemp plants. It is not currently as popular as major cannabinoids like THC or CBD, but medical studies indicate that it probably deserves more attention. In recent years, CBN has emerged as a possible super-supplement with the potential to treat cancer, insomnia, and more. In this blog, we will share with you information about CBN and surface some of the most relevant research findings around this cannabinoid.
Origins of CBN
Despite some of the new hype, CBN was the first cannabinoid to ever be identified when British scientists isolated it from hemp resin in 1896.(1) Ironically, hemp plants do not actually produce CBN themselves, but only the compounds that break down into CBN over time. So while fresh hemp does not contain much CBN, you can attain more of CBN by simply allowing the plant material to age.(2) According to recent research, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to do that.
What are the effects of CBN?
CBN isolate has presented itself as one of the most exciting rare cannabinoid ingredients because of its many potential therapuetic effects. While there is still research to be done, the initial research shows that cannabinol has the following characteristics:
Antibacterial Properties of CBN
CBN has been shown to have powerful antibacterial properties. CBN demonstrates potent activity against MRSA, a dangerous type of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.(3) Earlier this year, one study even found that CBN was better at reducing the kind of dental bacteria that causes cavities, bad breath, and tooth decay than Oral B or Colgate toothpaste.(4)
Physically Restorative Properties of CBN
In addition to possibly treating the life-threatening conditions listed above, CBN may also be extremely useful in managing everyday ailments and injuries. Studies suggest that CBN may do wonders for pain, and structural damage.
When it comes to pain management, CBN may be a great complement to CBD. A recent animal study has suggested that while CBN alone is a viable pain relief option, a combination of CBN and CBD is even better. In the study, a 1:1 blend of CBN and CBD provided longer-lasting pain relief than CBN alone, CBD alone, or a 5:1 blend of CBD and CBN. This suggests that evenly ratioed blends of CBN and CBD may be used to provide relief from muscle pain or chronic disorders like fibromyalgia.(5)
For example, CBN has been shown to inhibit skin cell proliferation. Since psoriasis has been shown to be caused by overactive cell multiplication. CBN has also been reported to stimulate bone growth and collagen production, potentially making it a remedy for conditions like osteoporosis.(6)
CBN for Sleep
Despite all of the great wellness benefits described above, CBN is marketed almost exclusively as a sleep aid. While there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to back up this use case, and even early indicators in our research lab that CBN may support sleep, the published and democratized scientific research supporting this potential use case is limited.
Many of the claims about CBN’s sedative effects can be traced back to a study from 1975. In this study, five male volunteers reported that while a combination of CBN and THC made them feel “drugged, drunk, dizzy, and drowsy.”(7) In that same study, CBN supplementation alone produced no effects on volunteers.(8) Yet, some believe that the sedative properties of CBN might be promoted with the presence of other cannabinoids and terpenes in formulations.
Another possibility is that CBN removes other barriers to sleep. For example, if muscle pain is keeping you awake, then the best way to fall asleep may be to simply relieve that discomfort with CBN.
Finally, “CBN may mimic natural cannabinoid-like molecules within the body (endocannabinoids) which have been shown to promote rapid-eye-movement sleep by interacting with melanin-concentrating hormone neurons in the lateral hypothalamus,” says Dr. Andrew Salzman MD, OBX Chief Science Officer and cannabinoid researcher.
While at this point there is still limited scientific evidence supporting sleep-inducing properties of CBN, we plan to rigorously study this cannabinoid in our labs to uncover its full therapeutic potentials.
Why CBN Sourcing Matters
As the studies above indicate, cannabinoid supplementation is much more complicated than we might naturally expect. Cannabinoid interactions can be mysterious and confusing. Who would ever guess that combining THC with CBN produces an extreme sedative effect? Or, that combining a pain reliever (CBD) with another pain reliever (CBN) enhances the effects of both, but only if the ratio is 1:1?
In order to avoid unwanted effects and get the most out of your cannabinoid supplement, you should pay close attention to information on ingredients and sourcing. Testing in the cannabinoid industry has not been standardized. The FDA has warned that many products may present unfounded health claims, misrepresent their cannabinoid contents, or even contain dangerous contaminants, like pesticides and heavy metals.
Our whitepaper on CBD testing contains more information on testing and processing, along with a checklist that can help you find a quality supplier. You can use this to help you find rare cannabinoid products with 99%+ purity and third-party testing validation. You can buy cbn isolate from OBX, as our isolate consistenly yields greater that 99% purity.
Once you’ve found a trusted, quality product, there is still the matter of figuring out what cannabinoids, blends, and ratios of work for you. This may be harder than it seems. Everyone’s body works slightly differently, so finding the perfect wellness routine will be all about discovering how cannabinoids like CBN influence your individual endocannabinoid system.
The Future of CBN
Like many of the other cannabinoids, there is still a great deal to be discovered and understood about the therapeutic potential of CBN. As research institutions continue to garner the resources to organize and publish clinical trials and rare cannabinoid processors begin to yield consistent purity and scale in the production of cannabinol isolate, we believe there is a great deal of potential for this cannabinoid to be one of the leading rare cannabinoids to transform health and wellness. If you’re looking for CBN for sale, you can purchase CBN isolate with Open Book Extracts.
References
1) Wood, Spivey and Easterfield. “Cannabinol:”J. Chem. Soc., 20 (1899).
2) Russo EB, Marcu J. Cannabis Pharmacology: The Usual Suspects and a Few Promising Leads. Adv Pharmacol. 2017;80:67-134. doi:10.1016/bs.apha.2017.03.004
3) Appendino G, Gibbons S, Giana A, et al. Antibacterial cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa: a structure-activity study. J Nat Prod. 2008;71(8):1427-1430. doi:10.1021/np8002673
4) Stahl, Veronica, and Kumar Vasudevan. “Comparison of Efficacy of Cannabinoids versus Commercial Oral Care Products in Reducing Bacterial Content from Dental Plaque: A Preliminary Observation.” Cureus vol. 12,1 e6809. 29 Jan. 2020, doi:10.7759/cureus.6809
5) Wong H, Cairns BE. Cannabidiol, cannabinol and their combinations act as peripheral analgesics in a rat model of myofascial pain. Arch Oral Biol. 2019;104:33-39. doi:10.1016/j.archoralbio.2019.05.028
6) Scutt A, Williamson EM. Cannabinoids stimulate fibroblastic colony formation by bone marrow cells indirectly via CB2 receptors. Calcif Tissue Int. 2007;80(1):50-59. doi:10.1007/s00223-006-0171-7
7) Karniol, I G et al. “Effects of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabinol in man.” Pharmacology vol. 13,6 (1975): 502-12. Doi
8) Ibid.
What is CBN Good for?
Cannabinol (CBN) is a rare cannabinoid that can be found in hemp plants. It is not currently as popular as major cannabinoids like THC or CBD, but medical studies indicate that it probably deserves more attention. In recent years, CBN has emerged as a possible super-supplement with the potential to treat cancer, insomnia, and more. In this blog, we will share with you information about CBN and surface some of the most relevant research findings around this cannabinoid.
Origins of CBN
Despite some of the new hype, CBN was the first cannabinoid to ever be identified when British scientists isolated it from hemp resin in 1896.(1) Ironically, hemp plants do not actually produce CBN themselves, but only the compounds that break down into CBN over time. So while fresh hemp does not contain much CBN, you can attain more of CBN by simply allowing the plant material to age.(2) According to recent research, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to do that.
What are the effects of CBN?
CBN isolate has presented itself as one of the most exciting rare cannabinoid ingredients because of its many potential therapuetic effects. While there is still research to be done, the initial research shows that cannabinol has the following characteristics:
Antibacterial Properties of CBN
CBN has been shown to have powerful antibacterial properties. CBN demonstrates potent activity against MRSA, a dangerous type of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.(3) Earlier this year, one study even found that CBN was better at reducing the kind of dental bacteria that causes cavities, bad breath, and tooth decay than Oral B or Colgate toothpaste.(4)
Anti-Cancer Properties of CBN
While many cannabinoids are being considered for anti-cancer therapies, CBN seems to be particularly effective.(5) For example, one study found that CBN was able to significantly reduce tumor size and increase the lifespan of mice with lung cancer, while CBD did neither.(6)
Neuroprotective Properties of CBN
CBN is also being investigated as a possible neuroprotective. In one study, CBN supplementation significantly delayed the onset of adult-onset neurodegenerative disease in mice. This suggests that it might be useful in treating ALS, the most common adult-onset motor neuron disorder in humans.(7)
Physically Restorative Properties of CBN
In addition to possibly treating the life-threatening conditions listed above, CBN may also be extremely useful in managing everyday ailments and injuries. Studies suggest that CBN may do wonders for pain, and structural damage.
When it comes to pain management, CBN may be a great complement to CBD. A recent animal study has suggested that while CBN alone is a viable pain relief option, a combination of CBN and CBD is even better. In the study, a 1:1 blend of CBN and CBD provided longer-lasting pain relief than CBN alone, CBD alone, or a 5:1 blend of CBD and CBN. This suggests that evenly ratioed blends of CBN and CBD may be used to provide relief from muscle pain or chronic disorders like fibromyalgia.(8)
CBN may also be a good option for treating structural conditions. For example, CBN has been shown to inhibit skin cell proliferation. Since psoriasis has been shown to be caused by overactive cell multiplication, scientists now believe that CBN may be a viable treatment for the painful skin condition.(9) CBN has also been reported to stimulate bone growth and collagen production, potentially making it a remedy for conditions like osteoporosis.(10)
CBN for Sleep
Despite all of the great wellness benefits described above, CBN is marketed almost exclusively as a sleep aid. While there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to back up this use case, and even early indicators in our research lab that CBN may support sleep, the published and democratized scientific research supporting this potential use case is limited.
Many of the claims about CBN’s sedative effects can be traced back to a study from 1975. In this study, five male volunteers reported that while a combination of CBN and THC made them feel “drugged, drunk, dizzy, and drowsy.”(11) In that same study, CBN supplementation alone produced no effects on volunteers.(12) Yet, some believe that the sedative properties of CBN might be promoted with the presence of other cannabinoids and terpenes in formulations.
Another possibility is that CBN removes other barriers to sleep. For example, if muscle pain is keeping you awake, then the best way to fall asleep may be to simply relieve that discomfort with CBN.
Finally, “CBN may mimic natural cannabinoid-like molecules within the body (endocannabinoids) which have been shown to promote rapid-eye-movement sleep by interacting with melanin-concentrating hormone neurons in the lateral hypothalamus,” says Dr. Andrew Salzman MD, OBX Chief Science Officer and cannabinoid researcher.
While at this point there is still limited scientific evidence supporting sleep-inducing properties of CBN, we plan to rigorously study this cannabinoid in our labs to uncover its full therapeutic potentials.
Why CBN Sourcing Matters
As the studies above indicate, cannabinoid supplementation is much more complicated than we might naturally expect. Cannabinoid interactions can be mysterious and confusing. Who would ever guess that combining THC with CBN produces an extreme sedative effect? Or, that combining a pain reliever (CBD) with another pain reliever (CBN) enhances the effects of both, but only if the ratio is 1:1?
In order to avoid unwanted effects and get the most out of your cannabinoid supplement, you should pay close attention to information on ingredients and sourcing. Testing in the cannabinoid industry has not been standardized. The FDA has warned that many products may present unfounded health claims, misrepresent their cannabinoid contents, or even contain dangerous contaminants, like pesticides and heavy metals.
Our whitepaper on CBD testing contains more information on testing and processing, along with a checklist that can help you find a quality supplier. You can use this to help you find rare cannabinoid products with 99%+ purity and third-party testing validation. You can buy cbn isolate from OBX, as our isolate consistenly yields greater that 99% purity.
Once you’ve found a trusted, quality product, there is still the matter of figuring out what cannabinoids, blends, and ratios of work for you. This may be harder than it seems. Everyone’s body works slightly differently, so finding the perfect wellness routine will be all about discovering how cannabinoids like CBN influence your individual endocannabinoid system.
The Future of CBN
Like many of the other cannabinoids, there is still a great deal to be discovered and understood about the therapeutic potential of CBN. As research institutions continue to garner the resources to organize and publish clinical trials and rare cannabinoid processors begin to yield consistent purity and scale in the production of cannabinol isolate, we believe there is a great deal of potential for this cannabinoid to be one of the leading rare cannabinoids to transform health and wellness.
References
1) Wood, Spivey and Easterfield. “Cannabinol:”J. Chem. Soc., 20 (1899).
2) Russo EB, Marcu J. Cannabis Pharmacology: The Usual Suspects and a Few Promising Leads. Adv Pharmacol. 2017;80:67-134. doi:10.1016/bs.apha.2017.03.004
3) Appendino G, Gibbons S, Giana A, et al. Antibacterial cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa: a structure-activity study. J Nat Prod. 2008;71(8):1427-1430. doi:10.1021/np8002673
4) Stahl, Veronica, and Kumar Vasudevan. “Comparison of Efficacy of Cannabinoids versus Commercial Oral Care Products in Reducing Bacterial Content from Dental Plaque: A Preliminary Observation.” Cureus vol. 12,1 e6809. 29 Jan. 2020, doi:10.7759/cureus.6809
5) Dariš, Barbara et al. “Cannabinoids in cancer treatment: Therapeutic potential and legislation.” Bosnian journal of basic medical sciences vol. 19,1 14-23. 12 Feb. 2019, doi:10.17305/bjbms.2018.3532
6) Munson AE, Harris LS, Friedman MA, Dewey WL, Carchman RA. Antineoplastic activity of cannabinoids. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1975;55(3):597-602. doi:10.1093/jnci/55.3.597
7) Weydt, Patrick et al. “Cannabinol delays symptom onset in SOD1 (G93A) transgenic mice without affecting survival.” Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other motor neuron disorders : official publication of the World Federation of Neurology, Research Group on Motor Neuron Diseases vol. 6,3 (2005): 182-4. doi:10.1080/14660820510030149
8) Wong H, Cairns BE. Cannabidiol, cannabinol and their combinations act as peripheral analgesics in a rat model of myofascial pain. Arch Oral Biol. 2019;104:33-39. doi:10.1016/j.archoralbio.2019.05.028
9) Wilkinson JD, Williamson EM. Cannabinoids inhibit human keratinocyte proliferation through a non-CB1/CB2 mechanism and have a potential therapeutic value in the treatment of psoriasis. J Dermatol Sci. 2007;45(2):87-92. doi:10.1016/j.jdermsci.2006.10.009
10) Scutt A, Williamson EM. Cannabinoids stimulate fibroblastic colony formation by bone marrow cells indirectly via CB2 receptors. Calcif Tissue Int. 2007;80(1):50-59. doi:10.1007/s00223-006-0171-7
11) Karniol, I G et al. “Effects of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabinol in man.” Pharmacology vol. 13,6 (1975): 502-12. Doi
12) Ibid.
