CBD Heated vs Unheated: What’s the Difference?

You might be thinking, “oh, gee, there’s heated and unheated CBD too? What does that mean? CBD heated vs unheated, is there an difference between both besides temperature?”

But worry not; the information about this compound and other known cannabidiols relate in several ways. In fact, both cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and cannabidiol (CBD) are both cannabidiols. Basically, CBDA is CBD’s acidic precursor. (More on this later)

Both THC and CBD have acidic precursors, namely tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), respectively. CBDA was the first cannabinoid acid to be discovered after first isolation happened in 1955. Even though cannabis has 483 compounds, usually only THC and CBD get the spotlight. Also, there is more research on THC and CBD than any other cannabinoids out there. All that even though out all the natural products derived from industrial hemp, the most abundant cannabinoids you will find are CBD and CBDA.

CBDA: What Is Raw/Unheated CBD?

When all the science stuff is said and done, unheated or raw CBD is CBDA, an acronym standing for cannabidiolic acid. The trichomes (resin glands) of raw marijuana plants are responsible for producing the chemical compound CBDA. When saying ‘raw’ here, it means uncured and unheated. Usually, when you trim fresh leaves and flowers directly from the marijuana plant, you get raw cannabis.

Cannabidiol (CBD), which is the more widely known molecule, stems from CBDA. Thus, CBDA is CBD’s predecessor. Studies estimate that THCA makes up 95 percent of the cannabinoids in fresh cannabis, while CBD makes up only 5 percent.

In a process known as decarboxylation or decarbing, CBDA is heated and broken down to from CBD. When you expose CBDA to heat, the acid part evaporates away to form what is known by many as “activated” CBD.

CBDA is present in all cannabis plants but is more abundant in specific strains of the marijuana plant. Strains high in CBD contain the most considerable quantities of CBDA and are less common than strains high in THC.

Will CBDA Make Me High?

No. Neither CBDA nor CBD has psychoactive properties. CBD is known to relieve physical pain, ease anxiety, and promote a positive mood. However, info is still lacking about CBDA and how it works. However, expect to feel a bit excited after taking CBDA.

CBD Heated vs Unheated: What’s the Difference Between CBDA and CBD?

CBD and other cannabinoids are derived from unheated or raw CBD, also known as CBDA. Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) synthesizes to form CBD and other constituent cannabinoids.

It is the result of refining and converting the CBDA found within marijuana, and hemp plants that creates the popular cannabinoids we enjoy.

CBD and CBDA don’t have much of a difference when it comes to their origin. Both are present in marijuana and hemp plants. Perhaps the main difference comes in how these cannabinoids are extracted and obtained. As you may already know, CBD undergoes a distillation and isolation process to separate it from other compounds present in marijuana and hemp plants. Once separated, it becomes a CBD isolate, a CBD oil, or any of the other forms. CBDA, on the other hand, isn’t usually isolated, nor is it sold on its own.

What Are The Potential The Benefits Of CBDA?

1. CBDA Offers All The Benefits Of Heated CBD And More

If you are seeking to obtain CBDA, raw marijuana and hemp plants are the best sources. Raw marijuana and hemp plants refer to plants that haven’t gone through any processing, not even drying out. When you juice raw cannabis and hemp plants, the final product you get will have a very high concentration of CBDA. That is because CBDA in high concentrations is always present in raw plants. Long story short, obtaining or extracting CBDA doesn’t require any processing, refinements, or distillations.

2. Entourage Effect

As mentioned earlier, CBDA is abundantly present in raw hemp seed oil. According to anecdotal evidence, when you use CBD with other cannabinoids like CBDA, or other natural components in marijuana and hemp plants, the overall outcome becomes better. It increases CBD’s potential therapeutic benefits. This synergistic phenomenon is what is known as the Entourage effect.

3. CBDA Won’t Get You High

Just like CBD, CBDA lacks psychoactive properties. This is another way in which CBD and CBDA are similar. Naturally, CBDA can have minute traces of THC, just like in CBD’s case. Like in the case of CBD products, always confirm the products THC’s percentage to ensure you’re in compliance with the laws and regulations regarding marijuana and hemp usage. Luckily, CBDA is non-psychoactive and produces no effects when used on its own. It is very different from THC. Thus, when taking CBDA, you don’t have to worry about feeling high or impaired in any way.

4. Antiinflammation

In a 2008 publication in the journal Drug Metabolism and Disposition done by Japanese researchers, researchers found out that both CBDA and THCA could inhibit inflammation. Laboratory research in cell cultures also found that “unheated” CBD (CBDA) seems to work in some impressively similar way to typical NSAIDs (Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs).

5. Eases Nausea and Vomiting

Have an unsettled and queasy stomach? Some unheated CBD could ease your discomfort. In 2013, the British Journal of Pharmacology published a study regarding nausea and assessed the ability of CBDA to minimize vomiting and nausea in animals. They also discovered that CBDA was more potent and effective than “heated” or “activated” CBD in reducing vomiting caused by toxins and motion.

6. CBD For Cancer

Another area where CBDA is showing promising results is in cancer research, specifically breast cancer. Another study conducted in 2017 by the same Japanese researchers and published in the Journal of Natural Medicine discovered that CBDA, i.e. “inactivated,” “raw,” or “unheated” CBD has the potential to suppress the development of highly aggressive breast cancer cells.

NOTE: many health conditions that respond well to CBD may also answer the same way to CBDA. Though “unheated CBD” (CBDA) is broken down and used by the body differently than its “heated” counterpart. With that, unheated CBD or CBDA seem to have the following benefits:

• Antioxidant properties
• Pain relief
• Anti-cancer properties

Cons of CBDA

1. CBDA Undergoes Decarboxylation Easily

Once cannabidiolic acid is exposed to light, heat, and other conditions that cause decarboxylation, it is converted to CBD and ceases to be CBDA, which is quite unfortunate. The fact that when CBDA decarboxylates, it turns into CBD can be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on how you see it. You may want to have CBDA, but it could suddenly turn into CBD when exposed to some heat, so handle it carefully.

2. Finding CBDA Can Feel Like A Wild Goose Chase

CBDA is not as popular as other cannabinoids and can therefore be harder to find on its own. Unfortunately, CBDA is overlooked in the current cannabis industry even though CBDA is “the mother of all cannabinoids.” Of course, just because CBDA is rare doesn’t mean that you can’t find it anywhere. It merely means that you will not see many CBDA products in supplement stores. It’s not as accessible as CBD. But, remember that you can always get CBDA from pure hemp seed oil. You can use this tip to your advantage when finding CBDA becomes a challenge.

3. There’s Little Research on Unheated CBD

Little is known about CBDA because there’s not enough research so far on it. Although the discovering of CBDA happened a while back, many researchers neglected to study it. However, some individuals are still working to find out more about CBDA, its potential uses, and what types of benefits it can actually offer. Many of CBDA’s qualities remain unknown. Researchers yet lack the technology and funding to conduct proper research on it. That does not mean scientists will not research more about CBDA in the future or that the few ongoing studies about CBDA will not yield any solutions. It merely means that, at the moment, not much info is available on CBDA.

How to Take Unheated CBD: Can I Smoke CBDA?

Heat converts CBDA to CBD. So, when you consume CBDA through smoking, it will automatically convert to CBD. That means that you cannot ingest CBDA through smoking as heat from the lit joint converts it to CBD. The best way to experience CBDA directly is by experimenting with specific tinctures, drinkable oils, creams, and other marijuana topicals. Alternatively, you can blend unheated CBDA in smoothies or juice and enjoy a nutrient-rich leafy green drink.

Whichever way you choose to consume CBD products, CBD heated vs unheated, consult with your doctor first before trying it. Doubly so if you are already taking any kind of medication regularly. Also, discuss the interaction of CBDA with other medications you might be taking.

Where To find CBDA Rich Products

Hopefully, you have learned something useful about CBD heated vs unheated and the role of CBDA in the synthesis of CBD. Now you know of one more CBD product that could be just the thing you need to fully benefit from.