OTHER CANNABINOIDS IN HEMP (BESIDES CBD) THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
*Disclaimer: This article is not meant to serve as a substitute for veterinary advice. Dr.Hempdog believes firmly in the contents of this article because of the thorough research that backs it up and our own experiences with the thousands of dogs that we have helped through the years (including our own). You should always defer to your veterinarian when adding anything to your dog's unique wellness routine.
You’ve likely heard of common cannabinoids like CBD and THC, but did you know that there are dozens of other cannabinoids in hemp that can be extremely helpful for animals as well? In this article, we’ll walk you through some of the most significant secondary cannabinoids in hemp and what the science says about how they could help dogs suffering from inflammation, pain, anxiety, seizures, and even cancer.
What are Cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are a class of helpful natural compounds that interact with the endocannabinoid system in all mammal bodies. They're found in many plants and foods throughout nature, but amazingly, cannabinoids are found most abundantly in the hemp and Cannabis plants. Furthermore, the human brain produces cannabinoids of its own known as “endo-cannabinoids” (internal cannabinoids) which also help to maintain homeostasis.
Every mammal has an endocannabinoid system that works this way, but horses and dogs have the most sensitive endocannabinoid systems ever studied, which means that we can use cannabinoids to help them with many conditions. While CBD and THC are the most well-known cannabinoids, current findings demonstrate that many other cannabinoids (such as CBC, CBG, etc.) can effectively treat certain ailments in unique ways, and can furthermore actually enhance CBD and one another, which is known as the entourage effect.
- From the Journal of Alternative Complimentary and Integrative Medicine: http://www.heraldopenaccess.us/openaccess/cannabidiol-and-contributions-of-major-hemp-phytocompounds-to-the-entourage-effect-possible-mechanisms
The Benefits of Lesser-Known Cannabinoids in Dr.Hempdog
Dr.Hempdog’s product features an array of cannabinoids beyond CBD, all of which have been studied for numerous medicinal benefits. Here’s what the science says about each of these lesser-known cannabinoids found in our tinctures:
CBDV | Cannabidivarin
CBDV is a chemical variant of CBD (the “V” technically stands for “varin,” but is easiest to remember as “variant”). As CBD’s counterpart, CBDV is similarly safe and effective, but can also provide unique benefits of its own according to current findings:
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One 2019 study found that CBD and CBDV alike could potently combat inflammation and muscle degeneration.
- From the British Journal of Pharmacology: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30074247/
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A 2013 study revealed not only that CBDV was anticonvulsant, but that simultaneous administration of CBD and CBDV resulted in a synergistic, additive effect in reducing seizures.
- From the British Journal of Pharmacology: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23902406/
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A 2011 study demonstrated that CBDV could inhibit pain via a complex chemical pathway, giving it unique therapeutic potential for those with chronic pain.
- From the Journal of Biological Chemistry: https://www.jbc.org/content/287/1/91
CBC | Cannabichromene
CBC is a profoundly beneficial cannabinoid that often flies under the radar, yet studies show that CBC has potent anti-inflammatory and painkilling properties which are further enhanced by other cannabinoids:
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A 2013 study found that CBC inhibited inflammation, and could even increase the body’s natural production of helpful endocannabinoids (which you can learn more about here), creating an especially powerful anti-inflammatory effect.
- From the British Journal of Pharmacology: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23373571/
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Another 2011 study similarly showed that CBC and CBD could increase levels of natural endocannabinoids in the body, and that doing so was one of the reasons why CBC could so potently alleviate pain.
- From the British Journal of Pharmacology: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3041249/
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A 2010 study showed not only that CBC was anti-inflammatory on its own, but that a small amount of THC could actually enhance CBC’s ability to reduce inflammation.
- From Drug and Alcohol Dependence: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2967639/
CBG | Cannabigerol
CBG is closely related to CBC, but isn’t found in very high quantities in most hemp strains. However, our product features a significant amount of CBG, which is extremely helpful since studies show that CBG can benefit those suffering from certain ailments:
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A 2019 review displayed CBG’s ability to inhibit chronic pain, comparably to several other cannabinoids such as CBC.
- From Frontiers in Neuroscience: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6340993/
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A 2014 study found that CBG was a safe and effective potential treatment for colorectal cancer.
- From Carcinogenesis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25269802/
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A 2013 study demonstrated that CBG could significantly inhibit inflammation and that it could potentially be enhanced by other cannabinoids.
- From Biochemical Pharmacology: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23415610/
CBN | Cannabinol
CBN is starting to be understood as a valuable sleep-aid, yet shares none of the intoxicating properties of THC. Studies show that it’s also effective as an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective cannabinoid. CBN trials with dogs are still in their earliest stages, but there are a variety of human studies that help to illustrate the incredible potential of this cannabinoid:
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One 2017 review highlights the fact that CBN activates certain cannabinoid receptors which are known to cause sedation and relaxation.
- From Progress in the Chemistry of Organic Natural Products: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5345356/
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A recent 2020 study found that CBN, like several other cannabinoids, was potently neuroprotective and could help to treat Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
- From Biomolecules: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7277636/
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A 2019 study demonstrated that CBN could reduce pain sensations.
- From Archives of Oral Biology: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31158702/
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A 2016 review cites CBN as one of many cannabinoids that can alleviate arthritis and inflammation.
- From FASEB Journal: https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1096/fj.201600646r
CBDA | Cannabidiolic Acid
CBDA is what’s known as a cannabinoid acid (the “A” stands for “acid”), which means that it’s the original, raw form of CBD that the hemp plant produces. While CBDA can be manually converted into CBD via a heat activation process known as decarboxylation, CBDA is known to have benefits of its own according to these studies:
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A 2018 animal study found that a 1:1 CBD:CBDA mixture was extremely effective at alleviating arthritic inflammation and pain in dogs, with no notable side effects.
- From Frontiers in Veterinary Science: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30083539/
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A 2018 review states that CBDA, among other cannabinoids, can provide benefits for those suffering from anxiety and cancer, and is furthermore even more potent for seizure alleviation than CBD.
- From Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6200872/
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One 2012 study interestingly found that hemp extracts high in CBDA and THCA could make CBD twice as available in the bloodstream, suggesting an incredible synergy between CBDA and CBD.
- From Planta Medica: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22411724/
How to Identify the Cannabinoids In Your Hemp Product
Hemp products containing a variety of cannabinoids are clearly superior to the many superficial CBD products you’ll commonly find on the market, but how can you identify what cannabinoids are in the products you buy? The answer is simple: lab work.
Any hemp product worth its salt will come with what’s known as a Certificate of Analysis (COA), which, at a minimum, will show what cannabinoids are in the product. A good COA should also include a profile of helpful terpenes and an absence of toxic solvents, heavy metals, and pesticides. You can’t have confidence in any product that lacks an easily available, up-to-date COA with the company’s name on it. Dr. Hempdog’s latest COA excels in all of these regards, and is always readily available at the bottom of our website, clearly showing that we have a full spectrum of anti-inflammatory cannabinoids in our product (CBG, CBC, CBDV, etc.) that helps our product stand above the rest.
If you have any questions about how cannabinoids could help your dog with some of the ailments they suffer from, we encourage you to reach out to our team of experts today. You can easily schedule a free 15-minute informational call on our website, or, if you prefer, by emailing us at woof@drhempdog.com, or contacting us at (720) 773-9595. We’ll equip you with the knowledge you need to help your animal(s) be as successful as possible with our best in class hemp products - just let us know, we are here to help your animals.