cannabis anatomy: phytocannabinoids
Phytocannabinoids. What are they and what do they do? That is what we are going to explore today. This is the third article in our series that explores the anatomy of the cannabis plant. Hopefully by now, you are starting to gain a deeper understanding of the plant and its features. If you haven’t read our previous articles yet, feel free to hop over and do so. If not, then its perfectly okay to start here too!
Phytocannabinoids are the most studied group of chemicals found in the cannabis plant in terms of their effect on human health. Over 120 phytocannabinoid chemicals have been identified to date. Pretty impressive! You may have heard of the most widely known phytocannabinoids: THC and CBD. However, there are in fact, dozens of others that contribute to the overall health, wellness and medicinal effects of full-spectrum CBD oil and medical cannabis. This is not commonly known though as we know more about THC and CBD.
Cannabinoids are lipophilic. What on earth is that you may be wondering? It’s not as complicated as it sounds. It basically means that they are fat-loving and water-hating. As a result of this, it makes them difficult to absorb when taken orally, rather than by inhalation or through the skin in a patch. However, there are high-tech ways to make CBD products easier to absorb by mouth too. This area of making CBD more absorbable and more bioavailable is a whole new science in itself and we should be able to share more information on this in the future!
If you’re curious as to if other plants besides cannabis make phytocannabinoids, then the answer is yes. This is not unique to the cannabis plant as Liverwort, of the variety that grows wild in New Zealand, also produces them! Liverwort has been used for many years as a topical medicine that helps heal cuts and burns. It was also traditionally used as a treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis, nerve pain (neuropathic pain) and seizures. There are also other plants that do the same! It is really interesting that completely different plants are making similar chemicals that humans have used for thousands of years as medicines. Perhaps more plants will be recognised for their medicinal properties and will be brought into the mainstream just like the cannabis plant. This is definitely possible if more people take the time to learn about them, just like you.
