Phytocannabinoids: What They Are and Their Effects

When covering CBD, we’re referring to one cannabinoid that’s found in the hemp plant. This extremely popular cannabinoid is known for having the potential to provide all kinds of benefits, and even has been thoroughly studied for its effects on the human body. Therefore, an influx of people are seeking out CBD products in order to try to find relief from their ailments.

However, the hemp plant contains so much more than CBD. In fact, there are possibly 100 or more cannabinoids found in the hemp plant, which means that limiting yourself to CBD may be a detriment if you’re trying to reap as many benefits as possible from the plant extract.

So, we’ll be covering the more popular cannabinoids that naturally exist in the hemp plant. This will help you figure out how to purchase CBD for the best results possible based on the unique blend of cannabinoids in a particular strain of hemp.

What are Phytocannabinoids?

Phytocannabinoids are cannabinoids that are derived from plant material. The human body has many cannabinoid receptors throughout its systems, including the immune system, digestive system and neurological system. Our bodies are supposed to produce their own cannabinoids, which the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) uses to regulate these important bodily systems. The endocannabinoid system sends cannabinoids to these receptors so that beneficial chemical reactions can occur.

However, scientists now believe that most of us are deficient in cannabinoids. This is one reason why CBD products have become so popular. They seem to naturally give the body cannabinoids so that our ECS can use them to improve our overall well-being.

Cannabis is extremely unique in that it boasts a wide variety of cannabinoids that cannot be found in any other plants. The hemp plant in particular contains a host of cannabinoids that have each been found to have the potential to benefit the mind & body.

Hemp plants are categorized by strains, and each strain is determined by its unique combination of cannabinoids and other plant compounds. In other words, some strains will have more of the CBG cannabinoid while others will have more of the CBN cannabinoid. Each cannabinoid affects the body in its own unique way, which is why different strains can produce different effects.

Understanding Those Main Phytocannabinoids in the Hemp Plant

Now, let’s discuss the main cannabinoids that are found in the hemp plant. Each of these cannabinoids is present in the hemp plant in a fairly high amount. Bear in mind, however, that there are far more hemp-specific cannabinoids than the ones listed below.

CBD (Cannabidiol)

CBD is the cannabinoid that we all know and love. It’s the leading compound found in the hemp plant, which is one of the reasons why it’s so popular. CBD has become so popular because research indicates that it has strong medicinal benefits, and won’t get a user high like other plant compounds. Whenever you purchase a hemp-based product that’s intended for medicinal purposes, it’s going to have a high amount of CBD compared to other compounds, unless the product happens to be an isolate of another compound.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

THC is the psychoactive compound that is found in both the marijuana and hemp plants. It’s extremely abundant in marijuana, which is why this plant gets users high. However, in hemp, you’ll only find about 0.3 percent THC, which is not nearly enough to deliver psychoactive effects. It’s important to know that THC does more than get a person high. It’s believed that THC could possibly improve digestive ailments, depression and neurological issues.

Cannabinol (CBN)

CBN is a compound that’s becoming more popular due to its unique sedative-like properties. CBN has developed a reputation for benefiting sleep because of the way in which it interacts with CB2 receptors in the brain. CBN is less abundant in hemp than CBD, which is why CBN isolates are far more expensive.

Cannabichromene (CBC)

Researchers are only now beginning to study CBC as its own unique medicinal compound separate from CBD. This is because it’s believed that CBC has the unique ability to block pain receptors in the brain, which means that it may be a promising pain reliever that doesn’t come with the side effects associated with hardcore pain medications.

Cannabigerol (CBG)

There is an incredibly small amount of CBG in the hemp plant, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not capable of benefiting you. CBG is currently being studied for its potential positive effects on a wide range of common ailments.

How to Enjoy a Wide Variety of Cannabinoids When Using CBD

So, now that you know what these unique cannabinoids do, you probably want to get your hands on all of them. Well, luckily for you, that’s not hard at all. See, when we talk about CBD products, we’re using a blanket term. Most CBD products don’t contain just CBD. They contain a highly concentrated hemp extract that contains all of the cannabinoids above, with CBD existing in the highest amount.

What you want to look for when purchasing a CBD product is the term “full spectrum.” This means that the hemp extract in the formula contains all of the compounds that are naturally found in that particular strain of hemp.

Also, you may want to familiarize yourself with different hemp strains. As we said earlier, different strains have different compositions of these cannabinoids. If you feel that one cannabinoid is extremely helpful for you, you may wish to seek out a strain that has a uniquely high level of that cannabinoid.

The World of Phytocannabinoids is Absolutely Fascinating

Anyone who is only focusing on cannabidiol and not the rest of these compounds is doing themselves a disservice. As CBD products become more popular, more and more research will go into studying these unique cannabinoids and how they may be able to help people find relief from their symptoms. If you want to reap the benefits of all of the cannabinoids above, purchase a full spectrum CBD-based product and take it regularly.