Opportunities are that you’ve heard of THC and CBD – the most plentiful and popular cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are naturally coming chemical compounds discovered in the cannabis plant that interact with the body and may assure potential health benefits ranging from stress to pain relief.

There are over a hundred compounds that can be found in the cannabis plant, with one of them is cannabidiol acid (CBDA). CBD has particularly been well researched for its efficient therapeutic properties that can assist to manage symptoms of inflammation, anxiety disorders, and a host of other conditions.

Despite CBDA being the preceding to the formation of CBD and showing commitment in preclinical studies, relatively, CBDA has accepted meaningful less attention from the scientific community, media, as well as the public. Therefore, we will illustrate the following questions below:

  • What is CBDA?

  • How does it work?

  • How does CBDA differ from CBD?

  • What are the potential health benefits of CBDA vs CBD?

  • Is CBDA better than CBD?

What Is CBDA?

Before comparing CBDA vs CBD, we need to know about what CBDA is. All leading cannabinoids found in hemp and cannabis stem from a ‘parent’ cannabinoid mentioned as cannabigerol acid (CBGA). Relying on the plant enzymes activated for each strain, CBGA is transferred to three distinct precursor compounds: cannabichromene acid (CBCA), cannabidiol acid (CBDA), and tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THCA).

Cannabidiolic acid or CBDA is among the few naturally coming cannabinoids discovered in the stems, flowers, and leaves of cannabis varieties such as Sativa, Hemp, or Indica. After the formation of CBDA, it is switched into CBD through thermal decarboxylation. The decarboxylation method is where CBDA changes to CBD when passed through a heat source, creating the molecule that loses the acidic carboxyl group.

Decarboxylation means when hydrogen and carbon dioxide are removed from the CBDA, thereby converting cannabinoid properties. In most cases, the method occurs naturally with time or when the plant is disclosed to heat and light from the sun or smoked. Moreover, CBDA can be considered to be the raw form of CBD. You can learn more from Colorado CBD company.

As CBD, CBDA interacts with the endocannabinoid system as a cannabinoid and may offer a range of health benefits from mood enhancement to pain relief.  CBDA is the acid state of CBD and holds the same signature as THC and THCA. Since it is generally converted to CBD by the majority of the consumption process, despite CBDA being plenty in its ‘raw’ cannabis form, most users aren’t disclosed to CBDA. If you want to devour CBDA, you can consider using tinctures, topicals, and capsules instead. Some might choose to juice raw cannabis to gain their daily dosage of CBDA.

2 powerful compounds in cannabis plants: CBDA vs CBD

Though CBD and CBDA have a physical connection and come from the same cannabis plant, they are distinctly different. Both of them are cannabinoids, natural compounds found in the cannabis plant. It is calculated that 113 cannabinoids are grown by cannabis. Still, the concentration of each cannabinoid varies relying on the plant variety and if the plant has been decarboxylated.

CBD is found in very little quantities in growing cannabis plants. Much of CBD subsists as CBDA, and it’s only when the cannabis plant comes from, cut, and subjected to heat that CBDA changes to CBD. These cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system, a regulatory connection that converts the release of brain neurotransmitters that assure body functions are kept in balance. However, CBDA is an acidic cannabinoid that touches the endocannabinoid system separately compared to decarboxylated cannabinoids like THC and CBD.  


Potential Health Benefits of CBDA and CBD

Though the majority of cannabinoids incur either CB1 or CB2 receptors directly, CBDA doesn’t work in the same way. Rather, it assembles with the ECS by preventing the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme. The COX-2 enzyme is associated with inflammation after an infection or injury, so by inhibiting COX-2 enzymes, CBDA might have the capability to alleviate inflammation and its linked pain.