What Is CBDA? CBDA vs CBD Simply Explained

CBD, CBG, THC, CBDa ….huh? These and many more are cannabinoids found in the hemp plant. We have already told you several times what CBD is and what effects are attributed to cannabidiol. But what is this CBDa that suddenly everyone is talking about? You will now get all the answers you need to this question from us.

CBDa – the underestimated cannabinoid

CBDa is short for cannabidiolic acid, in German Cannabidiolsäure. As you can already guess from the name, CBDa is closely related to the well-known CBD. Put simply, cannabidiolic acid is the acidic precursor of CBD. Cannabinoids are the main constituents of the hemp plant and, without further processing, only occur as acidic precursors. Without these, there would be no CBD at all. We show you what this conversion process looks like here:

The valuable flower of the cannabis plant does not contain CBD, but CBDa. To obtain the highest possible amount of cannabidiol and cannabidiolic acid, the flowers have to be extracted. This produces full hemp extract. When the full extract is heated, for example by cooking or vaporising, a process known as decarboxylation occurs. In the process, CBDa is converted into CBD. Unlike THC and THCa, CBD and CBDa are non-psychoactive. So they can’t get you high. If you want to retain a large proportion of the cannabidiolic acid, the decarboxylation process must not be 100% completed.

How does CBDa work?

While most cannabinoids bind directly to the CB1 or CB2 receptors, cannabidiolic acid works differently. It interacts with the endocannabinoid system by inhibiting the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). COX-2 enzymes are associated with inflammation after an injury or infection. Cannabidiolic acid is therefore credited with an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effect. In a study, scientists found that CBDa has a positive influence on serotonin levels. Excess serotonin, caused by stress factors, can lead to nausea and vomiting. Scientists have shown that cannabidiolic acid can be used to reduce excessively high serotonin levels and may therefore be a valuable aid for nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.

What does research say about cannabidiolic acid?

Cannabidiolic acid has received little attention so far. Research is therefore still in its infancy. At the beginning of 2022, CBDa received a great deal of attention when Canadian scientists from Oregon State University and Oregon Health & Science University published a study on CBDa and CBGa. It was shown that the two cannabinoids prevented coronaviruses from docking onto human cells. The study also showed that cannabidiolic acid and cannabigerol bind to the spike protein. The variants Omicron, Alpha B.1.1.7. and Beta 1.351 were examined.

In which products can you find cannabidiolic acid (CBDa)?

Cannabidiolic acid (CBDa) is naturally contained in all our full spectrum CBD products – for example in our high-quality MAGU CBD oils. Thanks to the gentle full spectrum formulation, the entire range of valuable cannabinoids and terpenes of the hemp plant is preserved, which noticeably enhances the synergy effect (entourage effect). Besides our classic oils, you can also find the full plant spectrum including CBDa in our water-soluble CBDeus line.