Copaiba Essential Oil - what's the big deal?

We've all heard of a plant called Cannabis. Cannabis produces a compound called Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that is the psychoactive substance (it gets you high), but also Cannabidiol (CBD) which is thought to have some beneficial effects on mental health, pain, addiction and a number of other indications.

There are actually over 113 active cannabinoids that have been identified from Cannabis, and many are being researched for pain, inflammation, mental health and other indications.

The human body also produces endocannabinoids, which have a similar chemical structure to the cannabinoids from Cannabis. The endocannabionoids are neurotransmitters that affect our nervous system. They are active on 2 receptor types CB1 & CB2. The CB1 receptors are present in the central nervous sytem and produce the europhoric effect experienced with Cannabis. The CB2 receptors are present in the immune system, gastrointestinal tract & peripheral nervous system.

We know that 3 types of compounds bind to the CB receptors – CBD, THC & Beta-carophyllene (BCP). There are a few ways that we can acheive this endocannabionoid effect: by blocking enzymes that degrade the endocannabinoids, thereby increasing the stimulation of the CB receptors: CBD works this way as an enzyme blocker. We can stimulate the receptors directly with a foreign compound - TCH does this by acting on CB1 receptors directly. BCP also acts directly on the receptors, but this time on the CB2 receptors, which you may remember are located in the immune system, gastrointestinal tract & peripheral nervous system.

So where does Copaiba come into all of this?

Well Copaiba has the highest concentration of BCP in any plant. So by distilling the essential oil from the resin of copaiba tree, we can create a highly potent form of BCP. We can expect that a potent from of BCP will have stimulate the CB2 receptors. There is significant pharmacological interest in CB2 receptors as a target for pain & inflammation (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4164977/).

So copaiba being a potent source of BCP may have beneficial effects by stimulating the CB2 receptors, and anecdotal evidence is strongly suggesting this to be the case.

More information can be found here: https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/science-safety-physiology-endocannabinoids-explained