CBD vs CBN: Key Differences and Which one is the Right Choice for you?

Did you know 7 out of 10 adults say they stay awake at least one night a week? ¹ If you are a part of this very wide-eyed majority with a disturbed sleep cycle, you have probably scrolled past headlines that claim “hemp extracts for calmer nerves and deeper sleep.”

Yet, the deeper you dive into the hemp world–the more nuanced everything gets. You end up with a whole alphabet soup of compounds: CBN, CBD, CBG, CBC…each promising its own part in wellness and sleep.

The above compounds (CBD, CBC, CBG) are some of the naturally occurring cannabinoids in cannabis plants. Research on many cannabinoids like CBN and CBD is still catching up, but their potential benefits are hard to ignore.

These compounds have great health benefits, but which one is right for you? CBD oil or CBN oil for sleep? Confused? Stick around with us, we will clear up the fog and compare these two cannabinoids to see what might give you those dreamy nights you have been longing for.

Key Takeaways

• CBN is derived from aged THC in cannabis plants. It may show mild psychoactive effects upon consumption.

• CBD is a non-intoxicating mildly psychoactive cannabinoid. It may provide a wide range of health benefits such as anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety effects that aids sleep and eases stress.

• CBN is often associated with potential sleep aid and pain relief properties.

• CBD has much broader applications in terms of health: it not only reduces feelings of anxiousness, but also eases pain and helps in managing stress.

• Both CBN and CBD are cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant although each has distinct properties and uses.

• CBD is more readily available in various forms than CBN. Forms commonly available are oils, edibles and topicals.

• CBN is gaining attention for its potential therapeutic applications despite being a less prevalent cannabinoid.

What are Cannabinoids? 

Cannabinoids are naturally occurring chemical compounds found both in the cannabis plant and inside your own body ². There are mainly two types of Cannabinoids:

1. Endocannabinoids: Endocannabinoids are a type of cannabinoid that are produced by your body itself. Examples: Anandamide, 2-AG.

2. Phytocannabinoids: Phytocannabinoids are those cannabinoids that are produced by the plants, typically Cannabis sativa plant. They mimic endocannabinoids to restore balance in the body.  Examples: CBD,CBN, THC.

Synthetic cannabinoids also exist in the market. These are artificially created cannabinoids which are potent and dangerous to use. They are psychoactive in nature and mimic the same actions of an endocannabinoid in the body. Example: JWH-018 ³.

These cannabinoids interact with a network in the body called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Think of cannabinoids as a group of messengers that ping your body’s ECS to help run things smoothly. Let's learn a bit about the ECS.

What is ECS, the Endocannabinoid System? 

Endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a system that regulates sleep, pain, stress and the overall health of your body. It is a network spanning a variety of tissues in the body including the brain and immune cells that produce endocannabinoids. These endocannabinoids then activate your body’s cannabinoid receptors by interacting with them.

There are two types of cannabinoid receptors: CB1 AND CB2. CB1 is mainly found in the brain and central nervous system (CNS) while CB2 is primarily found in peripheral tissue and immune cells.

The receptors (CB1, CB2) act like a lock and the endocannabinoids act like a key that can gain entry to cells. The lock and key orientation when combined together form the endocannabinoid system ⁴.

What is CBN (Cannabinol)?

Cannabinol also known as CBN is a minor cannabinoid like CBG and CBC that occurs naturally in hemp plants. Minor cannabinoids are cannabinoids which occur in smaller quantities, hence why you will only see trace amounts of CBN present in fresh hemp flowers.

CBD (Cannabidiol) and Delta-9 THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are called major cannabinoids as they are found in more abundant quantities.

CBN forms naturally as a result of oxidation and degradation of THC present in aged cannabis.

CBN is non-intoxicating in nature. It is claimed to have a mild sedative effect that promotes relaxation and sleep to users. Recent studies have also hinted that CBN has antimicrobial, neuroprotective and pain-modulating properties⁵.

What are the Potential Health Benefits of CBN?

CBN, a minor cannabinoid that can be derived from hemp, is still in the early stages of research, but it is already drawing attention for potential health benefits such as: 

CBN-rich formulas help in falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer. A study linked CBN with fewer nighttime disturbances and better sleep efficiency. 

CBN has proven to help with chronic pain and inflammation relief. It can help people with faster physical recovery. 

Lab studies on neuroprotection and immune modulation have found CBN to show anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

CBN research is still in early stages and so far it is limited to studies with relatively small sample sizes. Larger human studies are still under process.

What Is CBD?

Cannabidiol, also called CBD, is one of over a hundred cannabinoids found in hemp and cannabis plants. It is the non-intoxicating cannabinoid found abundantly in some hemp plants and a major cannabinoid just like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

It won’t get you high like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and binds weakly to CB1 or CB2 receptors. It modulates them and influences other pathways in the endocannabinoid system.

In addition to its interactions with CB1 and CB2 receptors, CBD targets diverse range of molecular sites:

• 5-HT1A partial agonist: associated with anxiolytic and mood-stabilizing effects.

• TRPV1/TRPV2 channel agonist: leads to rapid desensitization, contributes to analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.

• PPAR- agonist: involved in metabolic regulation and further supports anti-inflammatory responses.

• GPR55 antagonist (inverse agonist): may attenuate pain perception and pro-inflammatory signaling.

• ENT-1 inhibitor: reduces adenosine uptake, thereby increasing extracellular adenosine concentrations, which enhances anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective actions.

Studies on CBD have demonstrated it can reduce anxiety and inflammation in humans. CBD is also known for helping in relieving seizure disorders. Epidiolex is the first FDA-approved plant-derived CBD medicine that is used to treat childhood epilepsies today like Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

What are the Potential Benefits of CBD?

Growing researches suggest that CBD although a non-intoxicating cannabinoid can offer several health benefits, some of which are: 

CBD can help in managing stress and promote relaxation without any degree of intoxication. 

CBD helps in suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines, which contribute to chronic pain and joint swelling in the body. It can be used to ease soreness and reduce inflammation. 

CBD shortens the sleep-onset time in humans and helps in increasing sleep duration with those dealing with insomnia. 

Recent trials have also highlighted anti-oxidant properties of CBD, which may shield neurons in disorders like Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis. 

Differences Between CBN and CBD

Both CBN and CBD have major differences between them and their mechanism of production in cannabis.

However, they do share some similarities.  Both have potential anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, neuroprotective properties, and both can modulate enzymes in the endocannabinoid system. 

Some of the major differences between CBN and CBD are:

CBN is a derivative of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the main psychoactive cannabinoid of cannabis plants. It is formed when THC gets exposed to heat, light and oxygen over time. 

CBD, on the other hand, is not derived from THC. It is derived from the cannabinoid called CBDA (Cannabidiolic acid).

CBD is widely known for management of seizures and anxiety relief, whereas CBN is often used for sleep due to its mild sedative effects. 

CBD is more abundant and readily available in the market compared to CBN. Since CBN only occurs in small amounts in aged or oxidized cannabis plants, it requires more processing resulting in a higher cost.

Several studies have been conducted on CBD, while CBN is still undergoing larger human studies to explore its wellness benefits.

CBD & CBN for pain relief

CBD helps in pain management by dialing down the inflammatory cytokines; the chemical messengers responsible for muscle aches in our body. 

Many users take CBD oil sublingually to ease chronic pain and whole-body aches. It calms overactive immune responses that increase swelling and discomfort. 

While CBN is mostly known for sleep, early studies suggest that it also helps in moderating pain signals, especially nerve related discomfort. People are now exploring CBN tinctures for pain when standard CBD alone doesn’t seem to work ⁶.

CBD + CBN better together for pain? Early studies and users suggest that a combination of CBD and CBN may promote better sleep and provide longer-lasting natural pain-relief, thanks to their complementary effects.  

Both compounds are effective on their own, but a balanced CBD +CBN formula can ease the aches and set you up for better sleep. 

Is CBD or CBN Better For Sleep?

If you hang around wellness forums long enough, you will know both CBD and CBN are effective for sleep. They are not identical though:

CBD acts like a “chill-out” cannabinoid. It dials down your anxious thoughts, eases the muscle tension and soothes nagging aches. CBD prepares your body for sleep rather than directly aiding sleep. 

CBN acts more like a sleep-trigger. Because it is derived from THC, it carries a gentle sedative effect that nudges your body towards sleep faster than CBD alone.

A lot of real world data say CBN is better at inducing sleep than CBD. This is why you see shelves filled with CBN-isolate gummies and tinctures labelled “PM”. 

But here’s the twist, studies report that you get better results when you pair CBN with CBD. The combination of CBN with CBD taps into the entourage effect. They amplify each other’s benefits. 

To conclude, a balanced combination of CBD + CBN oil will often outperform straight CBN isolates for deeper and wake-free sleep. 

How Much CBN and CBD for Sleep? Product Options

Don’t overdo it as a beginner. With CBD and CBN, you should always start small and adjust the dosage according to how your body responds. 

Ideally, you should use a blend of both CBD + CBN like GOODNIGHT CBD + CBN Oil which is formulated to help you drift off without grogginess.

Why Cannovia’s GOODNIGHT stands out?

The GOODNIGHT CBD + CBN Oil, just like our Delta-9 THC Gummies, is made from Whole-Spectrum™ and Nano-ionized™ cannabinoids.

Whole-Spectrum formulation enhances the entourage effect more effectively than isolated compounds. And the nano-ionization process increases bioavailability in your body. It ensures that the cannabinoids are absorbed quickly; leading to faster onset and longer lasting benefits.

But remember: everyone’s different with specific sensitivities. So if the initial dose doesn’t hit the sweet spot for you personally, feel free to adjust the dosage. Take it slow and pay attention to how you feel.

And hey! If you are new to hemp products, take it extra easy. Our GOODNIGHT formulation is potent, so ease into it. Start with the recommended dose and tune it up to find your perfect dosage.

Can CBN & CBD be taken together?

Absolutely. It is safe to take CBN and CBD together. In fact, stacking the two works better than when either of them is taken in isolation. The combo taps into the entourage effect and synergises their effects. As a result, you get better relaxation, deeper sleep cycles and easier pain perception. Just keep the total cannabinoid load and residual THC levels within your personal comfort zone and legal guidelines. 

Frequently Asked Questions: CBD vs CBN Edition 

Does CBD Convert to CBN?

No, CBD does not convert to CBD directly. The primary source for production of CBN is through the degradation of THC, not CBD. When THC gets exposed to air, heat or light, it oxidizes and converts into CBN. CBD and CBN are two distinct cannabinoids with different properties. They just originate within the cannabis plant.

Is CBN more powerful than CBD?

“Powerful” depends on the desired effect you want to have in your treatment. If you want to use hemp products for sleep effectiveness, then CBN has better sedative effects than CBD. For seizures, anxiety and inflammation, CBD might be a more “powerful” choice. 

Which is better for pain, CBD or CBN?

Both CBD and CBN have pain-relieving properties in them. CBD helps with easing chronic pain while CBN helps with neuropathic pain in humans. A combination of both the cannabinoids (CBD +CBN) can be even more powerful an

d may most likely outperform either CBN or CBD on its own for certain types of chronic pain.

How are CBN and CBD extracted from the cannabis plants?

While CBD is generally extracted from fresh hemp plants using methods like supercritical CO2 or ethanol extraction. CBN is extracted from “aged cannabis” which undergoes similar extraction followed by distillation for precise formulations. 

We use an innovative, physics-based Cellular Deconstruction Technology™ to gently extract the delicate cannabinoids without any synthetic chemicals to give you a purer, more natural product. 

References:

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