If you’ve ever wandered into the more technical realm of information around THC and CBD, then you’ve probably heard at least a little about the endocannabinoid system, its role within the body, and how it interacts with various cannabinoids to produce a wide range of well-known effects. What you likely haven’t heard about before, however, is a potent compound known as beta-caryophyllene and how it can influence the endocannabinoid system.
In the article below, our team of specially trained experts from GnuPharma will delve into the essential details you should know about b-caryophyllene, how it works, and the various benefits it can provide! Please continue reading through the sections below to learn more, and consider exploring our wide assortment of other expertly written resources to access additional information on various fascinating topics.
Related: Sleep and the Endocannabinoid System
The Endocannabinoid System: Basics to Note
Before delving into the fascinating topic of b-caryophyllene, let’s take a few moments to explain some essential basics concerning the endocannabinoid system, or ECS, that you may not know about. In short, the ECS is a complex network of cellular receptors throughout the body that communicate via chemical signals.
Though experts are still researching the ECS to understand how it operates more fully, they do know that it plays a critical role in regulating a wide range of essential processes and functions, and research has directly linked it to many others, including;
| Sleep Memory and learning Mood Stress Appetite, metabolism, and digestion Temperature control Pain control (including chronic pain) Muscle formation Motor control |
Skin and nerve function Respiratory system function Bone growth and remodeling Motor control Liver function Immune responses and inflamation Fertility Reproduction |
The ECS revolves around three vital components to function correctly; endocannabinoids, endocannabinoid receptors, and enzymes.
Endocannabinoids are natural molecules produced within the body, similar to various cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Endocannabinoids bind to specific receptors throughout the body, signaling that the ECS needs to take a particular action. At present, experts have managed to locate two key endocannabinoids that both play critical roles within the ECS. These include 2-arachidonoylglyerol (2-AG) and anandamide (AEA).
The two primary receptors that impact the ECS most are the CB1 receptors- primarily located in the central nervous system (CNS)- and the CB2 receptors, found mainly in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Endocannabinoids bind to the receptors to create various results within the ECS. The effects they trigger primarily depend on which endocannabinoid is involved and where the receptor is located within the body.
Finally, specific enzymes are responsible for breaking down endocannabinoids once they have completed their work. The two enzymes involved in breaking down endocannabinoids include monoacylglycerol acid lipase (which breaks down 2-AG) and the fatty acid amide hydrolase (which breaks down AEA).
Related: It Is Time to Move Past Pharma's Failed Model of Medicine.
What You Need to Know About B-caryophyllene
In short, beta-caryophyllene, b-caryophyllene, or BC, is a complex chemical that bridges cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds within the cannabis plant, along with others. It’s also known as the “pepper terpene” and is responsible for giving various cannabis strains its warm, spicy, and woody aroma, similar to cloves and black pepper. According to some research, BC may possess anti-inflammatory effects and be potentially valuable for treating various ailments, including nerve pain and arthritis.
In 2015, our highly trained scientific experts at GnuPharma discovered that the human body could be predictably influenced by manipulating the endocannabinoid system, also called a master system. Our researchers found that the BC molecule was a powerful influencer of the endocannabinoid system. After making this discovery, our company quickly patented that molecule along with several others*.
As it turns out, BC is a potent modulator of the CB2 receptor. In fact, BC is stronger at modulating the CB2 than any of the cannabinoids found in cannabis, except for THC, which means that BC is far more potent than cannabidiol (CBD) alone. That, alongside the fact that BC is safe to consume and has no psychological effects, makes it a very promising molecule for scientists looking into different ways to support proper ECS functioning and overall health.
Are you ready to get healthy while adding a little extra spice to your daily life by leveraging high-quality CBD products? GnuPharma is here to help, so be sure to check out our shop full of top-quality CBD-based solutions designed to support better rest, beauty, energy, and brain health.
Are There Any Benefits to B-caryophyllene?
Now that you understand the basics of BC, let’s discuss some of the questions you likely have about the molecule itself.
Is it beneficial to impact the CB2 receptor using BC? Well, it turns out YES!
When your body wants to perform specific tasks, it generally uses the endocannabinoid system as its mechanism of change and regulation. Having more resources available to interact with the ECS, like BC, is VERY useful for the body. The CB2 receptor is used commonly across and throughout the human (and mammalian) body. It has specific, general, and widely diverse functions related to regulation (as we explored above).
Generally, “sickness” is caused by a pathogen. When you become sick, your body naturally has to respond to protect itself from pathogens threatening its overall health and safety. In order to fight illness effectively, your body has to make immune cells that attack and defend against it. These cells originate in bone, and the number of cells these bone stem cells produce is controlled via the CB1 and CB2 receptors.
Impacting the CB2 receptor with BC is just like your body signaling this receptor. So, by taking BC, we can actively help bolster our immune system by providing our bodies with the ability to build immune cells.
The CB2 receptor is also deeply involved in brain functions and how we defend our brains from oxidative stress and other issues. Affecting CB2 is “neuroprotective,” meaning it helps protect our neurological (brain, nerves, signals) functions. Someone with dementia or other brain dysfunctions might benefit from intentionally impacting their CB2 receptors with BC molecules, and ongoing research strongly proves this concept’s legitimacy*.
Yet another benefit of the BC molecule is that, by using it, we can cause the CB2 receptor to activate a vital pathway within the body intentionally. While more scientific research is needed to fully understand the impact of the pathway on the body overall, we at least know that it affects the status of every cell in our bodies and that it is important to the efficiency of energy production within cells.
.
According to other research, BC may also positively impact a range of specific physical and mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, chronic or neuropathic pain, and various neurodegenerative disorders.
Related: CBD Bioavailability & Absorption: A Problem Worth Solving
How to Add B-caryophyllene To Your Routine
As it turns out, BC is a relatively common molecule produced in nature, so it isn’t a challenging molecule to come by. People can find it in various herbs and spices, including basil, cloves, cinnamon, and oregano. At GnuPharma, we use black seed and black pepper in our formulations due to the high amounts of BC they naturally contain. We also use BC as a “raw” terpene additive within our products. For example, our TrueMedX branded products, Comfort, Rewind, and Calm, are based on the actions of the CB2 receptor.
Final Thoughts and Factors to Consider
Giving our bodies the ability to more purposefully affect the CB2 receptor is VERY beneficial. Because it affects our master regulatory system, CB2 can help with a myriad of issues, including pain management, sleep regulation, immune response, auto-immune response, and inflammatory type diseases.**.
If you’d like to access a top-quality source of BC for yourself, then consider exploring our online shop at GnuPharma today! We offer a diverse selection of products, including topicals, tablets, tinctures, and much more, with several specially formulated solutions to address a wide assortment of issues, including rest, energy, brain health, immune system support, and beauty! We even offer a small selection of expertly made pet products so your fuzzy buddy can enjoy the benefits we offer.
*Please contact us if you are currently using beta-caryophyllene in your formulas. We want to license our patented information and want to do so in a reasonable way which both expands the knowledge about the endocannabinoid system and also offers customers maximum benefits.
Do you want to try out some top-quality CBD products to see what benefits they can produce in your daily life? GnuPharma is proud to provide our eager customers with a wide selection of specially formulated CBD solutions to address everything from brain and gut health to energy and rest.