You've Heard of CBD... But Have You Heard About Copaiba?

By Ashley Miers

Copaiba, a sister to the increasingly popular CBD oil, works on the endocannabinoid system and - like CBD - has powerful anxiolytic (anxiety relieving) effects. While CBD oil is derived from hemp, however, copaiba originates from the South American copaiba tree in the jungles of Brazil.

This oil has been utilized for centuries by natives, and in addition to its anxiety-relieving effects, it can also be used to promote healthy skin, and to support the cardiovascular, immune, nervous and digestive systems.

Copaiba does not contain psychoactive cannabinoids, but it does contain the highest concentration amongst essential oils of β-caryophyllene (BCP), an irregular cannabinoid and sesquiterpene that selectively binds to CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is a signaling and regulation system comprised of enzymes, receptor sites throughout the body, and endogenous endocannabinoids (meaning cannabinoids produced within and by the body). CB2 receptors are found largely in the immune system, and thus cannabinoids can help to regulate immune and inflammatory responses.

Interestingly, research indicates that the ancestral human diet used to provide cannabinoids as a basic nutrient, but today, modern food is devoid of cannabinoids… So most of us are actually lacking in these powerful substances almost akin to a nutritional deficiency.

I personally didn’t take the whole CBD movement very seriously (or didn’t feel it was really relevant to me) until I became aware of this information. Now, I feel CBD is worth exploring in more depth for a variety of conditions, and for some people, may provide a promising alternative to conventional pharmaceuticals.