Cannabichromene, commonly abbreviated as CBC. It is one of the over 120 pharmacologically beneficial compounds (phytocannabinoids) found in cannabis. The compound goes by numerous other names, including Cannabichrome, Cannanbichromene, Cannabinochromene, and Pentylcannabichromene.  
Cannabichromene bears a similar molecular structure as other natural phytocannabinoids. The two most popular ones – tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). However, the compound hasn’t been widely researched. Most research programs examining CBC’s pharmacological properties studied the mixture in conjunction with CBD and THC.  
Like most cannabinoids, cannabichromene is available in numerous product formulations. The most common one is CBC oil. CBC oil refers to the compound obtained by extracting cannabichromene from cannabis plant materials and then mixing the product with suitable essential oil to enhance its bioavailability. Common essential oils include coconut oil, olive oil, or sunflower oil.  
If you’re actively seeking alternative remedies for various ailments, you might want to look in the direction of cannabichromene oil. Read on as we unpack everything there is to know about CBC oil, including potential health benefits and side effects. 

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Where Does CBC Come From? 

Before we delve deeper into CBC oil benefits and review some of its potential side effects, it’s best to begin by understanding where this compound comes from.  
As already mentioned, cannabichromene occurs naturally in the cannabis plant. The compound mainly exists as cannabichromenic acid. 
First, geranyl pyrophosphate and olivetolic acid combine to form cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). CBGA is the parent cannabinoid for other phytocannabinoids, including THC and CBD.  
Next, cannabigerolic acid is cyclized by an enzyme known as CBCA synthase to form cannabichromenic acid. As the plant grows, cannabichromenic acid converts to its more potent form of cannabichromene via a process known as decarboxylation. You can also induce decarboxylation artificially by heating cannabis plant materials to a temperature over 200 degrees Fahrenheit.  

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Health Benefits of CBC 

CBC and Pain 

All cannabis phytocannabinoids (including cannabichromene) have demonstrated a remarkable potential for pain relief.  
Like other cannabinoids, CBC acts on pain by impacting the endocannabinoid system. The compound explicitly targets receptors that regulate pain signals, such as the TRPV1 and TRPA1 receptors.  
According to a recent finding, cannabichromene could mediate the pain and inflammation related to collagen-induced osteoarthritis.   

CBC and Inflammation 

Inflammation occurs typically side by side with pain. Fortunately, it’s another medical concern that you can manage using cannabichromene.  
In one animal study, researchers observed that CBC could alleviate inflammation if combined with CBD and THC.  
Cannabichromene’s anti-inflammatory properties may especially come in handy for cancer patients. A recent study found that CBC suppressed tumors in mice. Researchers concluded that these effects could be due to the compound’s positive interactions with anandamide. Note that anandamide has been shown to combat breast cancer in vivo and in vitro.  

CBC And Anxiety 

As we’ve already highlighted, one of the ways cannabichromene exerts its therapeutic benefits is by interacting with anandamide.  
Now, high anandamide levels are linked with a healthy mind. Since anxiety is a mental condition, it’s logical to infer that CBC may help combat it.  
Also, like all cannabinoids, cannabichromene could fight anxiety by increasing the body’s sensitivity to serotonin, the quintessential happiness hormone. Studies investigating cannabichromene’s anxiolytic properties focused on the compound with other cannabinoids. Still, the results were remarkably inspiring. 

CBC And Acne 

Acne is an inflammatory response induced by hyperactive sebaceous glands.  
When sebaceous glands go into overdrive, they secrete abnormally high amounts of sebum, the waxy substance that moisturizes the skin. The excess sebum ends up blocking your pores, resulting in acne breakouts.  
One study examined the anti-acne properties of CBD and various other cannabinoids, including cannabichromene. Researchers noted that CBC was nearly an effective inhibitor of acne as other popular cannabinoids. 

CBC and Neurodegeneration 

According to a 2013 study involving mice specimen, cannabichromene demonstrated an ability to block neural degeneration. CBC specifically produced positive effects on neural stem progenitor cells (NSPCs).  
NSPCs play a fundamental role in inhibiting the degeneration of brain neurons. Researchers noted a significant increase in NSPCs viability in the experiment when exposed to CBC.  
Therefore, it’s safe to infer that cannabichromene may help relieve or manage various mental and psychiatric problems. Examples include depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, and bipolar disorder.  

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Does CBC Have Side Effects? 

There’s little research pointing out any severe side effects from cannabichromene. But that shouldn’t be a license to overdose the compound.  
Just like its other cousins, overdosing CBC could leave you nursing a host of adverse effects. Common ones include drowsiness and dry mouth. Therefore, it’s important to moderate your intake of CBC even more so if you’re still new to the product.  
However, the saving grace is that cannabichromene won’t get you high. The vast majority of marijuana’s psychedelic effects are attributed to THC. So, you can go ahead and consume CBC without having to worry about getting stoned in the process. 

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The Bottom Line 

Most of the studies examining the potential therapeutic properties of cannabichromene also included other popular cannabinoids like CBD and THC.  
However, it’s logical to credit CBC with some of the findings from these experiments. That’s mainly because the compound affects the body in nearly the same manner as any other phytocannabinoid. 
Reference Links: 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20942863/ 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2967639/  
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jphp.12082/abstract/ 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20332000/   
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27094344/