CBDa, or cannabidiolic acid, is a cannabinoid in the hemp plant. CBDa is converted to CBD when exposed to heat, such as during decarboxylation. CBDa is known for its potential anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and is only found in raw, unheated CBD flower and has many health benefits. In this article, we will discuss what CBDa is and how you can consume CBDa daily.
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What Is CBDa?
If you're a cannabis enthusiast, you're probably familiar with CBD. But what is CBDA? Just like CBD, CBDA is a cannabinoid, a compound found in cannabis plants. However, CBDA is the raw form of CBD. In other words, when CBD is exposed to either heat or sunlight (a process called decarboxylation), it converts from CBDA to CBD. So, if you're looking for the benefits of CBD in its purest form, look for products that contain CBDA. However, because CBDA is less stable than CBD, it's more challenging to find products that contain this cannabinoid.
Difference Between CBD and CBDa?
The main difference between CBD and CBDa is that CBDa is a predecessor to CBD. To create CBD, the raw cannabinoid CBDa needs to be heated to at least 145 degrees F.
Although CBDA research is in its infancy compared to that of CBD, it is already clear that the two compounds share some commonalities.
- Users won't experience any euphoria or altered state of consciousness, as CBD and CBDa don't have any psychoactive properties. This is because CBD and CBDa have been found to interact directly with our endocannabinoid receptors.
- The 5-HT1A serotonin receptors are expected to be activated by both CBD and CBDa, leading to their characteristic actions. Serotonin is an essential neurotransmitter in our brains that regulates our mood, sleep, anxiety, and even sickness, so you've probably heard of it.
Anxiety, sadness, inflammation, and even a rare form of epilepsy are just some of the conditions that CBDa shows benefits. CBD is used in a broader range of products than CBDa because of its adaptability and more significant research.
What Is Decarboxalated?
Decarboxylation is the process of removing a carboxyl group from a molecule. In the cannabis plant, decarboxylation occurs when CBDA is heated and transformed into CBD. This process is essential for making CBD edibles and topicals, as it activates the CBD. There are a few different ways to do this, but the most common at-home method is to simply bake the CBD flower in an oven at 240 degrees Fahrenheit for around 40 minutes. This will convert CBDA into CBD, and you'll be good to go!
What is CBDa Good For
CBDa, or cannabidiolic acid, is a cannabinoid in the hemp plant. Unlike its more famous cousin CBD, CBDa has not been widely studied. However, preliminary research suggests that it may offer various potential health benefits. For example, CBDa has been shown to reduce inflammation and nausea. It also has anticonvulsant and neuroprotective properties.
CBDa activates 5-HT1A serotonin receptors more potently than CBD. Mood modulation, nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal motility are just a few physiological processes serotonin can influence.
CBDa Benefits
1. CBDa For Anti-Seizure
The first cannabis-derived pharmaceutical, Epidiolex, was approved by the FDA to treat drug-resistant epilepsy, catapulting CBD into the public eye. Therefore, its acidic progenitor may reduce the intensity and frequency of seizures.
Studies comparing the effects of CBDa and CBD were conducted by GW Pharma, the pharmaceutical company behind Epidiolex. The research group discovered that CBDa, in some cases, had a greater bioavailability and a quicker onset of action than CBD.
Essentially, the results of their research indicated that just modest amounts of CBDA were necessary to achieve their desired benefits, reducing the potential for CBDa's harmful side effects. However, CBDa has shown more incredible promise than CBD in lowering seizures in some patients.
2. CBDa For Nausea
Researchers from Ontario's Guelph University compared CBD's effects on nausea and vomiting to those of CBDa. CBDa relieves both motion sickness and nausea and toxin-induced nausea and vomiting.
The investigations revealed that CBDa was particularly effective in reducing preoperative motion sickness. A person may experience this if they become nauseated before receiving chemotherapy. Since there are now no effective therapies for this type of nausea, CBDa represents a very promising potential avenue for future research.
In another experiment, the researchers compared the effectiveness of a CBDa with that of the anti-nausea medication ondansetron. Researchers discovered that adding even a tiny amount of CBDa to an antiemetic medication increased its energy. CBDa has the same therapeutic efficacy as CBD at a CBD dose that is one thousand times lower.
3. CBDa Protects Against Covid 19 (SARS-CoV-2 )
Researchers have found that CBDa has some potential to fight the SARS-CoV-2 infection. This is a fascinating new development (also known as the coronavirus). It stops the virus from infecting a person at a critical point in the process.
According to scientists at Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute led by Richard Van Breemen, the cannabis compound can bind to the spike protein found on virus particles. This stops the protein from binding to sites inside human cells. This inability to secure effectively prevents the SARS-CoV-2 virus from taking a critical step in infecting people.
Even though more research is needed, CBDa shows promise as a way to prevent and treat COVID-19 in addition to vaccines. It's important to note that all testing done so far has only used the alpha and beta strains of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, not later pressures like Delta or Omicron. Still, researchers remain hopeful that the fact that CBDa worked well against early versions of the virus is a good sign of how well they will work against later versions.
4. CBDa For Regulated Metabolism
At least one study has shown that CBDa may help people with metabolic disorders deal with their symptoms. In 2019, a computer-simulated study found that CBDa helped speed up the metabolism of lipids, which cut down on the buildup of too many lipids. Even though these early results look promising, more research is needed, especially with animals and people.
5. CBDa For Depression and Anxiety
CBD, which is not acidic, has been a possible treatment for depression and anxiety for a long time. Still, there is also reason to be excited about cannabidiolic acid. Researchers have found that CBDa not only affects the same receptors as CBD—the ones that control feelings of anxiety and well-being—but it also works as an antidepressant at 10 to 100 times smaller doses needed for CBD.
Is CBDa Legal?
CBDa is often seen as a different cannabinoid from CBD, but in the U.S. and international markets, CBDa is mainly treated the same as CBD.
The 2018 Farm Bill made it legal to grow industrial hemp in the United States. Because of this, there were suddenly a lot of CBD products on the market. By dry weight, CBD products can't have more than 0.3% THC law. Each country has its cut-off points.
CBDa is legal in almost all states because it doesn't make you feel high. In states that don't let you sell THC, CBDa products can't have any THC in them.
Alive-Market's CBD Flower Has CBDa
Alive Market grows their own CBD flower and sells it online. Because CBD flower has not been heated, the cannabinoid remains CBDa. Alive Market wants to ensure that the cannabinoids and terpenes in our CBD flower are protected; we harvest them before sunrise.
This one-of-a-kind harvesting procedure maintains the highest quality cannabinoids in CBD flower. CBD flower and olive oil can be infused to prevent decarboxylation and should be heated very slowly.
4 Ways You Can Use CBD Flower To Consume CBDa
- Grind the CBD flower and sprinkle it as a seasoning: CBD flower can be ground up, mixed with other herbs and spices, and added to food. But it's essential to keep your CBD seasoning away from other people in your home in bottles children can't open. That way, it stays a special treat just for you.
- Put the ground flower in a capsule and take them daily or weekly: Most people's daily routines work better with taking a pill than smoking, vaping, or eating an edible. Taking CBD flower in capsules is easy, private, and effective. Making these capsules at home is easy to ensure that the medicine you take fits your needs.
- Infuse the raw CBD flower into olive oil: By infusing CBD flower into olive oil, you are combining two good ingredients to make their effects stronger. Olive oil has antioxidants and polyphenols that are good for the heart. CBDa is also suitable for health and wellness. Enjoy your food, knowing that each bite has a potent amount of CBDa to help you deal with stress and make you feel calm and relaxed. Put ground flower into a jar of olive oil and let infuse for 24-48 hours, then strain the flower out using a cheesecloth.
- Put the CBD flower into a loose-leaf tea holder and infuse it into warm water, and drink it as tea: Many people feel the effects of CBD flower quickly and easily by drinking it. Many people also take it when they feel sick, have an upset stomach, or want to relax. You could mix CBD flower with black or green tea leaves before steeping it in hot water, or your favorite flower with peppermint or chamomile CBD to help you sleep or feel better in your stomach.
Conclusion:
CBDa is getting much attention as a safe and more effective alternative to traditional medicines. It has shown a lot of promise in managing many problems, such as dealing with stress, inflammation, nausea, sleep disorders, seizures, and many more. A small dose of CBDa could make the endocannabinoid system work more efficiently and even better. So what CBDa benefits are you interested in? Leave us a comment below!