What are the Benefits of CBN?

Cannabis derived compounds called cannabinoids are taking a huge presence in the natural health and scientific community.  Cannabinoids like CBD, THC, and CBN are now widely available to the American populace and people around the world. CBN is a particular cannabis-derived compound that is making waves with its ability to help with health disorders, calm anxieties and even coax sleep from insomniacs. CBN may be able to help you too.

Though there are no guarantees with any health product, and this one is still in its infancy when it comes to research meaning more research is needed to be done, there’s a lot of hope surrounding CBN health potential benefits. If you’ve wondered “What are the benefits of CBN?” or considered CBN weed benefits for yourself or someone you love, it’s time to learn more about CBN cannabinol today.

What Is CBN?

Before you can understand CBN benefits, you need to know what CBN is. It stands for Cannabinol, and is more commonly found in aged cannabis and hemp plants. It is a cannabinoid, a class of molecules capable of binding to the endocannabinoid system in humans. Our bodies make cannabinoids naturally to send signals, moderate pain and keep homeostasis in the body. Supplementing the body’s endocannabinoid system with cannabinoids may have potential benefits.

The cannabis plant happens to make similar chemicals that also take advantage of this system. Hence, CBN cannabinoid benefits appear across the body with CBN use, and may even pose some medical benefits too. (We will take a look at some of these specific CBN benefits below.)

This cannabis-derived compound is related to others that you might have heard of: THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol). While the first is the psychoactive compound that gives pot its potency, the second is widely available as a non-psychoactive drug. While both contain some of the same CBN cannabinoid benefits as CBN, they are all different. When combining CBN with other cannabinoids such as THC or CBD, these combinations act synergistically with one another to create an overall effect. 

One of the main CBN benefits is that it is also a non-psychoactive compound, though people report being able to “feel” it more than its cousin, CBD. Among other CBN cannabinoid benefits often associated with the better-known THC are a relaxed feeling, the ability to sleep and eat, and pain relief. THC, the more known cannabinoid found in recreational and medical cannabis, is psychoactive unlike CBD and CBN. Let’s take a closer look now.

Potential Benefits of CBN

The potential benefits of CBN cannabinoid products are indisputable if you look at the scientific research and speak anecdotally to people who use CBN benefits in their wellness routine. There are a variety of people with health conditions that could reap the benefits of CBN. Some of the most common CBN cannabinoid benefits related to health are pain relief, anti-inflammatory action and the stimulus of appetite. Together, these CBN benefits work to keep the body healthier.

This is especially true for those who have dysregulated systems. Anyone who has trouble eating or managing pain will see huge CBN benefits from regular use. Also, CBN cannabinoid benefits can be helpful on a short-term basis, such as following an injury. Many people see significant CBN gummies benefits, although you can get CBN cannabinoid benefits other ways, such as:

• CBN Oils and tinctures
• CBN Gummies
• CBN Vape pen cartridges

CBN Cannabinoid Benefits: Pain Relief

Pain can be debilitating, especially when it’s chronic. It’s therefore no surprise that one of the main CBN cannabinoid benefits may be to relieve pain. Scientific research shows that peripheral analgesics may help for chronic pain disorders such as myofascial pain. One study found CBN cannabinoid benefits in rats, where it worked as an analgesic alongside CBD. 

Specifically, it found that “peripheral application of these non-psychoactive cannabinoids may provide analgesic relief for chronic muscle pain disorders such as temporomandibular disorders and fibromyalgia without central side effects.” Interestingly, it found that CBN benefits were enhanced by the presence of other cannabinoids, including CBD.

While the study used muscular injections, this is promising for CBN cannabinoid benefits as a whole, including the benefits of CBN oil and other widely available products. These health benefits of CBN might be related to anti-inflammatory properties, discussed next.

CBN as an Anti-Inflammatory

Other CBN benefits include the ability to reduce inflammation. The mechanisms are different from traditional medical approaches such as steroids, according to studies. What’s great about these CBN cannabinoid benefits is that, unlike over-the-counter pain relievers, there don’t appear to be side effects from anti-inflammatory CBN benefits. This offers possibilities such as CBN cannabinoid benefits for muscle inflammation, CBN benefits for possible arthritis, or even CBN cannabinoid benefits after a workout.

CBN and Appetite Stimulation

One of the main benefits of CBN that people usually get from THC is stimulation of appetite. Many people would prefer CBN effects and CBN benefits to THC, though, because these CBN cannabinoids don’t make them high. If you or someone you know is struggling with appetite, the good news is that CBN cannabinoid benefits include making you hungrier. 

Note that CBN is different from CBD, which tends to suppress appetite. For those with cancer or other diseases who struggle to maintain weight, these CBN benefits are potentially game-changing.

CBN Benefits for Mental Health

CBN benefits for mental health are also potentially significant. CBN cannabinoid benefits include helping you feel more relaxed, moderating anxiety and depression, and potentially falling asleep. Here’s a closer look at each of these CBN cannabinoid benefits.

Anxiety Reduction Properties

Studies have shown that CBD, whose benefits are closely related to CBN benefits, can help reduce anxiety in studies. Therefore, there’s good scientific foundation for the anecdotal CBN cannabinoid benefits of anxiety reduction. Many people who take it do note that CBN cannabinoid effects include potential anxiety reduction. 

One way CBN cannabinoid products may do this is through moderating panic attacks. Another way these CBN benefits accrue is through decreasing hypervigilance. Additionally, CBN cannabinoid benefits may stem from its sedative effects. 

CBN benefits may occur with only one use of CBN as needed. Alternatively, some people get these CBN cannabinoid benefits every day with regular use of oils, gummies, tinctures or other products that contain CBN benefits.

CBN and its effects on Depression

While there isn’t yet strong research showing the CBN benefits as a depression modulator, researchers have good reason to hope this might prove to be the case. Given the role the endocannabinoid system plays in managing mental processes, including anxiety and depression, it’s reasonable to assume one of the CBN benefits may prove to help with depression.

There could be many reasons for this mechanism of CBN. For one thing, anxiety and depression are often related. Addressing one with CBN may help treat the other. For another, CBN cannabinoid benefits include moderating the body’s mood and reducing stress, which can also help with depression. Both CBN cannabinoid benefits may help explain the uptick in mental health some experience when using CBN regularly.

CBN as a natural sleep aid

There are hundreds of cannabinoids within the hemp plant and there are many benefits. If you are looking for something uplifting, try cannabis sativa. However, research suggests there is evidence that sleep aid is also among the CBN benefits. This could be due to the above CBN cannabinoid benefits, anxiety and depression management. When both are present, it is harder to get to sleep. When the mind is calmer, as is pretty clear that it is utilizing CBN, most people have an easier time reaching Dreamland.

Of course, cannabis and sleep have been scientifically proven to be a good mix, but is this one of the main CBN benefits? It appears so. In fact, the CBN cannabinoid benefits are far greater than CBD for sleep, Dr. Elizabeth Ardillo tells Food52. Taking it regularly can help you get these CBN benefits on a nightly basis and possibly get the benefit of CBN in other areas of your life as well, like mental health (discussed above).

CBN is a natural alternative to pharmaceuticals

CBN benefits also extend to natural healthcare. One of the main reasons that CBN has become so popular, in fact, is because CBN doesn’t rely on unnatural chemicals. The fact that our endocannabinoid systems intersect so naturally with CBN cannabinoids, means those CBN benefits are frequently without side effects, and so are a better option than OTC or prescription meds. Here are some of the main natural health CBN cannabinoid benefits.

CBN has antibiotic properties

We all know about the good microbes, but bad microbes are responsible for a variety of health issues and infections. Among the many CBN benefits is that it’s a natural antibiotic. This is potentially one of the most important CBN benefits due to the looming threat of antibiotic resistance. The human race may not stand a chance if we don’t find new types of antibiotics, and it looks like CBN may potentially do just that.

Studies show that CBN cannabinoid benefits the body by fighting off bacteria. The mechanism of this is not yet clear, but the effects were. Also, making these CBN benefits even more significant, this might end up being an antibiotic that doesn’t engender resistance. That would make it potentially among the most scientifically important CBN cannabinoid benefits listed here.

CBN for Nerve Protection in older users

While many conditions contribute to degeneration in older people, nerve conditions are among the most devastating and painful to watch or experience. Happily, CBN might include neuroprotective effects. Limited studies show that CBN benefits motor neurons and have shown cannabinol delays symptom onset of SOD1, whose degeneration causes conditions such as ALS.

Even more positively, these CBN benefits accrued without side effects. That means you get all the CBN cannabinoid benefits without shortening lifespan or creating other conditions that might outweigh the CBN benefits. Overall, we need more studies, but the fact that you can get these CBN cannabinoid benefits in a non-psychoactive way is very promising for older adults.

CBN and its effects on bones

Other CBN benefits could include bone healing. These are important CBN cannabinoid benefits for multiple groups: people who have suffered injuries, people with bone deficiencies, or people with osteoporosis. In the latter case, the CBN benefits come from the potential to regrow bone, which can make osteoporosis sufferers less prone to injury.

CBN with Glaucoma Patients

Cannabis has been used to treat glaucoma for years. This disease, which manifests as increased pressure in the eye, disrupting vision and potentially causing pain, has shown to respond well to cannabis products. However, some people don’t like the psychoactive properties of THC, the main product used to treat it. That’s where CBN come in.

Happily, the CBN benefits include glaucoma symptom reduction. Because glaucoma has no cure and eventually leads to blindness, it is a serious illness indeed. Currently, the main treatments include drops that lower IOC (intraocular pressure), but it is still a progressive disorder. The good news is that CBN not only lowers IOC, they “provide direct neuroprotection to the retinal ganglion cells.” That means CBN cannabinoid benefits glaucoma patients in multiple ways, first by treating symptoms and second by protecting the structure of the eye itself.

Is CBN right for you?

Still wondering if CBN is for you? The good news is, it’s easy to try these CBN cannabinoid benefits out by acquiring products near you. Whether you enjoy eating cannabis products or want to simply add them to your routine with oils or capsules, you’re likely to have a marijuana dispensary near you that can help you out.