CBD has taken the wellness industry by storm with an estimated 1 in 7 adults using a CBD product for their health and wellness. It’s precursor, CBDA, recently became available in a stable form delivering more products with CBDA to the market and is gaining popularity at a rapid rate. It is a minor cannabinoid that has a vast amount of benefits and in many ways is superior to the well-known CBD. In this guide we will discuss some commonly asked questions about CBDA isolates and the benefits of adding them into cannabinoid-based product applications.

CBDA isolates are high purity extractions of CBDA, usually with 95% to 99% purity. They are typically sold in a microcrystalline powder, making them easy to infuse into cannabinoid-based applications. CBDA only recently became available in a stable form, due to complications when extracting the acidic cannabinoid. CBDA is the precursor to CBD. This means when CBDA is decarboxylated, or exposed to heat, it converts to CBD. Traditional extraction methods that utilize solvents, such as butane or ethanol, need to use heat in the process for efficient extraction. This leaves trace amounts, if any, of the acidic cannabinoids left in the final extract. At Essentia Scientific, we remedied this problem by using water as the solvent. There is no heat necessary in the extraction process, allowing for the extraction of CBDA at a mass scale.

CBDA isolates have demonstrated many advantages to CBD isolates through research. One of the most notable reasons why CBDA is better than CBD is its astounding bioavailability. Bioavailability is the percentage or fraction of absorption of an administered drug or supplement that reaches the systemic circulation and is able to have an active effect. A study published in the 24^th Annual Symposium of the International Cannabinoid Research Society found CBDA is 19x more bioavailable than CBD. This means when ingesting an equivalent amount of CBDA and CBD, the body can absorb more CBDA. This makes CBDA a more powerful therapeutic in a variety of instances and allows for lower doses of CBDA than CBD for therapeutic benefit. In fact, a patent filed by GW Pharma for the use of CBDA as a therapeutic to help patients, sited CBDA was more effective than CBD due to its higher bioavailability. Additionally, patients could use less CBDA than CBD.

CBDA has also demonstrated a greater affinity to the 5-HT1A or serotonin receptor in numerous studies. The receptor is most commonly recognized for its role in mental health. However, it is responsible for modulating dozens of critical processes in the body, including pain signals, nausea and vomiting, and the cardiovascular system. CBDA’s greater affinity to the receptor makes it a stronger therapeutic for many instances including reducing pain, helping those with anxiety and depression, and combating chemotherapy induced nausea.

Though closely related, CBD is not the same as CBDA. Isolates are the isolated form of a cannabinoid that have no other cannabinoids present. In a CBD isolate, all of the CBDA has already been converted. However, there is great value of taking both CBDA and CBD together. When CBDA and CBD are combined, not only does it bring the added benefits we talked about above, but they also work together to induce the entourage effect. The entourage effect is a phenomenon where compounds taken together work synergistically to boost the overall effect of their singular parts. This means when we combine CBD and CBDA they interact within the body, allowing those who consume to feel more benefits from the product. It can also allow for lower doses to feel the desired effect, making the product better for the consumer all around.

CBDA is a minor cannabinoid that has the potential to be used in major ways. It has many of the same benefits of CBD, though is superior in many ways. CBDA can be a great addition to a health and wellness routine and can amplify the effects of existing cannabinoid-based formulations.