What is the difference between THC and CBD, and when is it worth combining them?

CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is one of the main cannabinoids present in the hemp plant. After psychoactive and better-known tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is the second most represented substance in cannabis. It has a similar chemical structure to THC, but its effects are significantly different.

The most obvious difference is that CBD does not have intoxicating effects, so after use, you will not get high like with THC. Both substances also affect each other's effects, either strengthening or weakening them.



The interaction between THC and CBD

Firstly, it is important to understand how each compound affects the receptors of the endocannabinoid system (ES). The primary receptor responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis is CB1, which is mainly the part of the nervous system. In order to experience classical psychoactive effects, THC needs to connect with this receptor and activate it.

CBD also co-affects the CB1 receptor, but in a different way. It does not activate it but actually makes it difficult for it to be activated by other substances. In a way, CBD creates an obstacle for THC to bind to the CB1 receptor. Thus, the presence of CBD has a significant effect on the psychoactivity of preparations containing THC. For the same reason, the ratio of the two cannabinoids is essential for estimating the effects of cannabis preparations, although other substances, such as terpenes and flavonoids, also play an important role here, according to the latest research. Therefore, it is not just the interaction with THC. CBD also reacts with many other substances, and thanks to them, it can offera number of different effects.








When to combine THC and CBD, and when is it ideal for taking CBD alone

CBD can reduce many of the unwanted side effects of THC, such as short memory lapses or anxiety, which are common at higher doses of THC. It can be agreed that the more CBD interacts with THC, the less of these side effects you can expect.

Although THC and CBD have different pharmacological properties, they can both have similar physiological effects, which likely occur through different mechanisms. For example, both substances may have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. However, these are achieved through different processes. So, taking THC and CBD together can potentially intensify the effect of pain suppression, for instance.




The ratio of active substances is individual

Unfortunately, the current clinical data is not at such a level, which would help us determine the exact ratio suitable for a particular diagnosis or patient. It is okay if one patient finds the ratio of THC to CBD 1:1, while another one with the same diagnosis prefers more THC, for example. Both very likely reach the right ratio only by trial-and-error.

For many reasons, however, the same ratio will not work for good. This is because human physiology changes over time, including the endocannabinoid system and the density of receptors in the brain and body. This changes throughout life in every person. Thus, the optimal ratio and dosage are likely to alter, no matter how we set them.



How to determine the most appropriate dose and ratio

Initially, caution should be taken when determining the dose and ratio. There is an interesting study on this subject that examines the action of THC in mice. Its results show that the same amount of the same substance (in this case, THC) has very different effects on the behavior and composition of cells, depending on the age of the subject that is being tested.

In pharmacy, this is a very common matter – different doses of the drug can have different effects. For substances such as CBD or THC that bind to many different receptors, there is often a golden mean consisting of using a medium-sized dose. Less is sometimes more.

In relatively small doses, CBD mostly hits the receptors to which it is linked by their highest affinity or those that occur at the highest density. On the other hand, in higher doses, these receptors can be saturated, so the rest of the CBD will interact with different receptors. And this is the case when contradictory effects often occur.








How to find the limit of the highest dose at which CBD is effective?

It depends on the disease or condition that is to be treated. If the patient uses cannabis with a higher CBD content to suppress anxiety, a medium-sized dose may have the best effect.Increasing the amount would lead to a reduction.

However, in epilepsy, for example, this principle has not been proven yet. Large doses are used in treatment, and the effect does not appear to decrease as the dose increases. But in most clinical trials, dealing with diseases such as epilepsy, CBD is administered orally (mostly in the form of pills) in large doses – hundreds of milligrams a day.

However, CBD has relatively little bioavailability when administered orally. This means that only a small portion of CBD from the pill gets into the bloodstream, which would hit the relevant receptors of the endocannabinoid system. Therefore, when thinking about the right dose, it is important to take into account how it is administered.




Ways of using CBD

As already mentioned, CBD has relatively little bioavailability when administered in oral pills. Other forms of administration, such as vaporization, tinctures, oils administered under the tongue, or transdermal patches, represent a more direct passage of CBD into the bloodstream. These should allow more CBD to get into the blood. Therefore, people who are interested in CBD should think about trying different forms of administration. The same amount contained in CBD pills may not have the same results as an identical amount administered in other ways.