After years of restriction, the scientific community’s newfound ability to explore medicinal effects of various components of cannabis, like terpenes and phytocannabinoids, is bound to be one of the most impactful advancements of our time. A few years ago, we were still fairly in the dark about the efficacy of medical cannabis; now we can barely keep up with the new research surfacing on a daily basis.
What is CBDV
CBDV, or cannabidivarin, is another powerful phytocannabinoid that we at Blue Forest Farms have been enjoying learning more about lately. Cannabinoids are chemical molecules found in plants and some bodily fluids like breast milk, that produce receptor shape changes in the body’s cells. These receptor changes promote full cell homeostasis (returning to a relatively stable equilibrium). This is one of the major reasons why cannabinoids aid in reducing inflammation. For those who need a quick recap on the endocannabinoid system (ECS): humans and most animals possess cannabinoid receptors throughout their bodies that are signaled internally by endocannabinoids or externally by the consumption of cannabinoid-heavy plants like cannabis, including hemp. Learn more about the ECS.
CBDV Oil Effects and Benefits
While there still isn’t a lot of research into the full extent of its benefits and effects, scientists have found that CBDV shares several similarities with the CBD cannabinoid, including its molecular structure (1) and its non-psychotropic qualities (2). This cannabinoid’s ability to reduce and fully eliminate convulsions caused by epilepsy is by far the most heavily researched topic regarding CBDV, and much of the results have been promising (3, 4). Other studies have found that CBDV may have additional potential therapeutic applications, like eliminating discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract and reducing nausea (5).
GW Pharmaceuticals is also actively developing a CBDV formula after discovering its effectiveness in “treat[ing] seizures in pre-clinical models of epilepsy with significantly fewer side effects than currently approved anti-epileptic drugs.” They have also been investing more of their resources in exploring potential applications for other neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rett syndrome, and Fragile X (6).
We still have a long way to go in comprehending and appreciating the full range of applications involving these various cannabinoids, but these recent advancements are promising signs of our progress as a community.
Resources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22970845
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30056123?fbclid=IwAR0ezU5VqD_I1jHD_gi5vfyU7etxqanM3kW0w3waiRKbohgvAfqgM88z9ns
- https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.02207.x
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3570572/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23902479
- https://ir.gwpharm.com/press-releases