CBD (cannabiDiol) and CBN (cannbiNol) are two of more than 100 types of cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.

These two non-toxicating compounds share a lot of similarities and interact with the same receptors. Although, there are several key differences between CBD and CBN, including the ways they affect the body when consumed.

But what are the benefits of CBD in comparison with CBN? And what is CBN anyway? Keep reading to find out more about these two cannabinoid compounds and their key differences!

What Is CBD?

CBD is a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid compound. By law, it can only contain trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which you can click for more information about here. With such low amounts of THC, CBD won’t make you feel high. Instead, CBD helps to restore balance to your endocannabinoid system, meaning that it has the potential to help with a variety of health issues.

The Benefits of CBD

Research on taking CBD is still in the early stages, but there are a lot of promising results in support of the benefits of CBD.

In particular, a 2020 review also showed that CBD could be a potential treatment for a range of neurogenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and epilepsy. There’s also evidence to suggest that CBD may be an effective anti-cancer treatment, while it’s also useful for reducing the symptoms of cancer treatments, such as nausea.

Findings also show that CBD could be a good alternative to traditional anxiety and depression medications. And, many people find CBD effective for insomnia, while there’s a lot of support for using CBD as a more natural option for pain relief.

What Is CBN?

CBN comes from the cannabinoid compound, THC. When THC components age, they break down, leading to the formation of CBN. Considered a mild chemical, CBN is around 25 percent as effective as THC. So, although CBN doesn’t produce the same kind of high as THC, it does have mild psychoactive reactions in larger doses.

The Benefits of CBN

There’s a lot less research into CBN when compared to CBD and THC. Fewer people use CBN too, meaning that there’s also a limited amount of anecdotal evidence in support of the potential uses and benefits of CBN.

Although, people who have used CBN agree that it is effective as a sleep aid. So far, only one small-scale study from 1975 has found evidence to support this. And, while we only have the results from animal studies to back up other potential CBN benefits, CBN may have pain relief effects, anti-inflammatory effects, and neuroprotective effects.

The Differences Between CBD and CBN

As this quick guide shows, there are several big differences between CBD and CBN.

Their names may be easy to confuse and they are both non-toxicating cannabinoid compounds. But, these two substances differ in terms of how they originate, the amount of THC they contain, their popularity, and their benefits, as well as how well-researched they are.

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