The reported therapeutic and beneficial effects of CBD are profound. With CBD becoming an everyday consumer staple, many want to highlight the differences between Copaiba vs. CBD.
Copaiba oil originates from the trunks of trees in the Copaifera family. Similarly to CBD, Copaiba oil and resin have been used therapeutically, dating back to the 16th century. Copaiba oil has several beneficial effects. Existing studies of Copaiba’s history are limited; however, records highlight Copaiba oil has been a long-time favorite in South America, specifically Brazil.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, originates from the Cannabis Sativa plant. Unlike its sister compound, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary active ingredient in marajunana, CBD is not psychoactive. Moreover, CBD is legally produced and sold across the United States, as long as the THC levels remain below 0.3%.
Aside from being popular natural remedies and essential oils, both Copaiba and CBD have another crucial feature in common. Both compounds interact with and affect our in-built endocannabinoid system, or ECS. That said, they do have slight differences in function.
Notably, the most significant similarity between copaiba oil and CBD oil is their biochemical interaction with our body’s Endocannabinoid System. The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is a cell-signaling system identified in the early 1990s by researchers exploring THC, the psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant. While many functions of the ECS remain widely unknown due to its complexity, researchers have connected the ECS to the following processes:
Experts believe the ECS’s leading role is to maintain homeostasis or the stability of your internal environment. Both CBD and Copaiba have unique features enabling them to naturally and biologically interact with our body.
If you’re wanting to try a product with CBD and/or copaiba oil, this Hemp Body Oil: Lavender, Sandalwood & Copaiba is perfect, with organic essential oils for a deeply rejuvenated whole-body experience.
On a molecular level, the main difference distinguishing Copaiba and CBD from each other is how they interact with the ECS’s cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2.
To elaborate, CBD binds both to CB1 receptors in the brain and CB2 receptors throughout the body’s central nervous system. The unique feature of connecting to both receptors, like a key in a lock, benefits the whole body. CB1 receptors have been linked to mental health conditions, such as anxiety. CB2 receptors have been linked to physical health ailments such as inflammation, joint pain, spasms, and swelling.
On the other hand, Copaiba has high levels of a phytocannabinoid called beta-caryophyllene (BCP). Beta-caryophyllene can bind directly to CB2 receptors to affect the ECS, however, not CB1 receptors. As a result, Copaiba produces rapid and powerful effects throughout the body. In contrast, CBD’s influence on the body is not as intense because it doesn’t directly trigger either receptor. Instead, it modifies the receptors’ ability to bind to cannabinoids.
To illustrate, after the enzymes break down the cannabinoids, the endocannabinoids react to bind with receptors. Scientists believe CBD does not directly attach itself to the receptors but rather influences it in some way. Triggering the receptors is what ultimately produces many of the health benefits experienced from the cannabis compound.
Now, one may be asking themselves, ‘why Copaiba? While we have gone over many of the similar functions between the two, Copaiba oil has health benefits not achievable in CBD oil.
Although there is little research specifically into using CBD and Copaiba oil together, it’s projected it is safe to consume both simultaneously. Many sources believe consuming both can be even more beneficial due to how all of the cannabinoids work together synergistically, through a process known as the entourage effect.
The entourage effect is when two or more compounds work together to enhance one another’s effects, promoting more substantial results. Ingestion of Copaiba oil and CBD oil might produce a similar entourage effect as well.
Unlike cannabidiol, the most common way to use Copaiba is as an essential oil. Many folks diffuse Copaiba oil in their homes to enjoy a warm and earthy aroma. One can also use Copaiba as a topical or tincture; however, it is recommended to be mixed with a carrier oil first.
Consuming large doses of Copaiba oil can lead to physical conditions such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and liver damage. Moreover, pregnant women, children, and those with medical conditions should consult a doctor first. Currently, no scientific studies are proving consuming both at the same time is safe or unsafe.
To conclude, Copaiba oil and CBD are profoundly therapeutic natural compounds with organic relationships with the body’s Endocannabinoid System; hence, providing some of the most effective natural remedies.