There are quite a lot of uses for hemp other than recreational use. You’d be surprised how great of a contributor it is in the medical world. Manufacturers are utilizing its relaxing properties in preparing:
- Natural anesthetics
- Muscle relaxants
- Anxiety relief medicines, and much more.
One of the lesser talked-about cannabinoids is CBG. If you’re into organic wellness, you’ve probably heard this term a few times.
The question is, what does it mean? Firstly, CBG stands for Cannabigerol. So if you want to know more about cannabigerol, then you’re at the right place.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about this cannabinoid and how to use it correctly.
What is CBG?
Cannabigerol (CBG) is one of the Cannabinoids present in Cannabis plants. There are 120 different types of cannabinoids in this plant, out of which CBG has been termed as the mother of all cannabinoids.
Presence of CBG in the Cannabis Plant
It is a form of cannabigerol acid that is present before the decarboxylation process. CBG is the mother of all cannabinoids because CBG acid is the main source of all forms of cannabinoids.
Then why is CBD present in lesser quantities in the cannabis plant? As the cannabis plant grows, the CBG acid transforms into other forms of cannabinoids, hence the lesser concentration.
Among hundreds of cannabinoids, these are the leading ones in terms of occurrence:
- Cannabidiol (CBD)
- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Compared to the 25% of CBD and 30% of THC found in cannabis plants, only 1% of CBG can be derived from the plant. That’s mainly due to quick conversion into different compounds during the plant’s growth. And this is also why it is a rare and precious wellness ingredient.
Discovery and Research
Despite the lack of research on this compound, scientists have termed this cannabinoid as the “Mother of all cannabinoids” because of its countless benefits currently discovered.
This compound was first discovered in 1964. Thought to be a beneficial substance, CBG boasts quite a lot of studies and tests to unleash its advantages and effects on human beings.
Scientists are also researching its properties to help treat different ailments. A board-certified anesthesiologist and medical cannabis expert, Perry Solomon, M.D, says that this cannabinoid is not as common as the other cannabinoids, and you need a generous amount of this compound to study it thoroughly.
However, CBG has attracted a lot of interest, from researchers and customers. Because of this, we may see a rise in cannabis harvesting during the initial growth phase – or probably more plantations – in the coming years.
Harvesting the plant at an early stage will prevent CBGA from converting into other compounds, making the extraction of CBG a lot more efficient.
What is CBG Oil?
CBG oil is the usable form of this compound that features many different wellness and medical products. It is a CBG extract that follows almost the same derivation method as other CBD oils.
CBG has to go through a decarbing process that removes any impurities from the compound and activates the raw materials to extract the oil. As the name suggests, the decarboxylation process changes the CBG acid to CBG, which is purer and active.
While the CBG acid undergoes a chemical change, an added amount of heat can speed up the process. In the next phase, the purer and active CBG has to go through a process quite similar to other CBD oil extractions, for example:
- Winterization process; that breaks down the plant’s material by using CO2 or ethanol solvent
- Freezing process; that converts the CBG oil particles into crystals.
After extraction, the CBG oil becomes highly photo-sensitive. This means, you need to store the CBD oil in a location where sunlight can’t get access. Also, storing CBG oil in high-temperature areas can reduce its potency.
What is CBG Used for?
CBG oil comes with countless benefits without having any psychoactive effects on your body. It is safe to consume and naturally treats many illnesses. Here are a few benefits of adding CBG oil to your lifestyle:
Anti-Inflammatory
Early research suggests that CBG oil, like other cannabinoids, is highly anti-inflammatory. It could reduce inflammation inside your body as well as on your skin. Applying CBG oil-infused skin care products can help reduce inflammation and clogged pores caused by excessive sebum. Not only that but CBG oil could also reduce the flare-up of eczema and psoriasis.
Anti-Bacterial
CBG also comes with anti-bacterial properties, which makes it an important ingredient in the field of medicine. According to a study, CBG has shown great results against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, also known as MRSA superbug.
Apart from working against this bacteria, it also completely inhibits its growth in the body.
Bladder Dysfunctions
Bladder contractions and dysfunctions can be really hard to treat.
According to a study conducted in 2015, scientists used several cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, CBC, CBDV, and THCV to treat bladder contractions on lab rats. Among all the cannabinoids, CBG was one of the most highly effective in reducing bladder inflammation and contractions.
Those are promising preliminary results and further research on the human body will show if CBG can help treat bladder issues.
Pain Relief
CBG can help relieve sores and aches. According to 2018 research, CBG oil reacts with endocannabinoid receptors, also known as CB2 receptors, to alleviate pain in the human body.
It helps your body relax while it slowly regulates the endocannabinoid signaling. CBG oil can be used in the form of a balm or taken orally to reduce the symptoms of pain in any part of your body.
Glaucoma Treatment
Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages your optic nerve. It results in poor vision and intense pressure in your eyes. Cannabinoids are characterized by neuroprotection and vasodilatation properties.
A 2008 study on animals shows the effective results of CBG in treating glaucoma. It successfully increased the aqueous humor outflow and reduced the pressure on their eyes.
Nausea Relief
Cancer and AIDS patients suffer from nausea due to their medicines and other forms of treatment. Some users have cited CBG as one of the few cannabinoids that helped relieve nausea naturally.
More research is being done to find out what properties of CBG oil work towards eliminating nausea in a patient.
Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s disease is an inherited condition that stops the working of different parts of the brain with time. The disease is hard to cure and can become fatal within 20 years.
Scientists have tried using Cannabinoids, including CBG, to test their properties against the disease and found out effective results.
CBG worked as a neuroprotective compound and stopped continuous damage of the nerve cells. It helped the brain stay in a healthy condition preventing any toxicity. Those are again very encouraging results that will need confirmation by other repeated studies.
Appetite Stimulant
CBG could act as an appetite stimulant and increases hunger in people who frequently consume it. It can be ideal for people suffering from low appetite along with chemo-induced appetite loss among cancer and HIV patients.
In 2016, scientists found out that CBG increases the appetite of rats in an experiment. Those rats ate double the amount of recommended food compared to the rats who did not consume CBG. People struggling to gain weight can also try CBG oil in small doses.
Bowel Diseases
Inflamed bowels can cause ulcers in the digestive tract or Crohn’s disease. CBG shows promising results to effectively fight these bowel diseases by restricting the production of nitric oxide in colons. According to research conducted in 2013, mice with inflamed digestive tracts were tested.
They were given a few doses of CBG oil, which showed amazing results for their recovery. It stopped the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in their digestive tract, one of the major reasons for inflamed bowels. CBG could prove to be an effective medicine to cure patients with IBD in the future.
Difference Between CBD and CBG
CBD and CBG are both derived from Cannabis Sativa plants. Both cannabinoids share several similarities which can confuse the consumers. The most common similarity is that they both react with the endocannabinoid system in the body.
They both balance this system to provide relaxation and healing. Another most common similarity is that both compounds are non-psychoactive. It means they will not mess up with your mental condition like other forms of cannabinoids.
Both the compounds provide wonderful anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties, making them ideal for people with stressful lives. They are also not addictive, which makes them ideal for medical and wellness purposes.
Coming to the differences, there are a few major characteristics of CBG that sets it apart from CBD. These include:
Yield
The biggest difference between CBD and CBG is the quantity. Each Cannabis Sativa plant can produce 25% of CBD, while only 1% of CBG can be extracted from cannabis.
Extraction
CBD can be extracted from CBG, but CBG cannot be extracted from CBD. It makes CBG one of the most sought-after compounds in the wellness and medical industry.
Since CBGA naturally converts to CBD and THC while the plant grows, preserving CBG for extraction can be difficult. CBD can be extracted during different stages of a plant’s life; CBG can only be extracted when it is early.
Special harvesting is required to make sure CBGA is sourced before it breaks down into different cannabinoids. As a result, CBG is scarce, especially in wellness products, while CBD can easily be found in medicines, wellness, and lifestyle products.
Price
The scarcity and difficult extraction process of CBG makes it more expensive than any other cannabinoid available in the market.
Effectiveness
Another difference between CBD and CBG is the attachment to the endocannabinoid system in the human body. CBG binds directly with the CB1 and CB2 receptors and provides more efficient results, while CBD indirectly influences receptors.
The direct connection with our endocannabinoid system makes CBG a lot more effective than CBD. According to scientists and doctors, CBG has massive potential in treating numerous severe ailments naturally.
Molecular Structure
Since they have a different molecular structure, meaning different hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen combinations, both products have different safe dose recommendations. They are also uniquely soluble in water, which can be studied through their molecular structure.
How to Use CBG?
There are several ways to consume CBG for different purposes. Whether you want to try out CBG for health purposes or just to practice wellness, there are different kinds of CBG products available. CBG is a versatile compound that can be used in various ways.
Here are the most common ways of using CBG:
Tincture Oil
A tincture oil is the pure CBG oil extracted from the plant. It can be used in several ways as it has a high amount of Cannabigerol. As a result, they work faster than any other form of CBG product available in the market. High-quality tincture oil like Bloom Farms CBD Tincture Oil + CBG only takes 15 to 30 minutes to start working its magic.
Softgels
You can consume a safe amount of CBG oil in the form of soft gels. These gel-coated medicines are filled with CBG oil that you can take with water. NuLeaf Naturals Full Spectrum CBG Softgels are one of the best CBG soft gels available to heal your pain within an hour.
Capsules:
Another great way to consume CBG orally is in the form of hard-shell capsules. These capsules are filled with CBG powder that you can take during any time of the day.
Snack Bars:
If you regularly consume CBG oil, then CBD-infused snack bars are a great option to go for. However, if you don’t want to specifically invest in CBG-infused snack bars, then spike your regular snack bars with a few drops of CBG oil for countless benefits.
Salves
For topical application, CBG based balms and salves are ideal. They can be directly applied to your skin, just like any other ointment.
It also helps in relieving sore muscles. You can also opt for a lotion like this Dosist CBD Topical Lotion to instantly heal any tension.
Chewing Gums
CBG-infused chewing gums are available in the market for people who have a hard time dealing with anxiety. The act of chewing gum is known for relieving anxiety.
Gummies
You can also orally consume CBG in the form of gummy candies. They are fun to chew on and taste absolutely amazing. These Gummies are ideal for beginners who have just started with the use of CBG oil.
Bath Products
Lastly, you can add CBG oil to your bath routine for ultimate relaxation. CBG infused bath products will help you get rid of joint pains, skin problems, and sore muscles. It is a way to add CBG oil to your life with a touch of luxury.
Conclusion
Cannabigerol is a well-known yet under-appreciated member of the 120 identified cannabinoids. It has endless benefits and varying uses, especially in the medical and wellness field. Now that you’ve read our article, you know all about CBG, its effects, and its uses.
This rare gem in the wellness market will surely change your life for the better. We recommend safely using CBD-infused products to combat inflammation and pain in a completely organic way. You can count on cannabigerol to get the job done, maybe slowly but surely.
After all, there is a reason why this compound is called the “mother of all cannabinoids”!
