Cannabis byproducts have become quite popular sources of alternative medicine in the recent past. Cannabis has 100+ compounds, but only a few of them are popular. But apart from CBD and THC, there is also CBG which is also proving to be a great alternative source of medicine. So, what is CBG, and what are its potential uses and benefits? Is it legal, and where can you purchase it? Keep on reading to find out more about this.
What is CBG?
Cannabigerol (CBG) is a cannabinoid compound found in the cannabis plant. CBG has often been termed the mother of all cannabinoids. This is due to the fact that all the other cannabinoids are usually derived from cannabigerol acid. But unlike other popular cannabis compounds, CBG is found in lower concentrations in cannabis plants. You will find that most plant strays only have 1% CBG with 25-30% THC and 20-25% CBD.
CBG vs CBD
CBD and CBG are quite similar based that they both come from the cannabis hemp plant. Besides that, they also act on the endocannabinoid system to promote overall wellness. Their similarities aren’t limited to these two factors as they are both nonpsychoactive compounds that don’t alter the way the mind functions. Due to their many and potent health benefits, CBG and CBD are used to manage a wide range of medical issues.
But despite this many similarities, it’s possible to tell the difference between CBD and CBG. The former has a relatively low affinity to the body’s cannabinoid receptors. That’s why you find that CBD products tend to interact with the endocannabinoid system indirectly. On the other hand, CBG has a high affinity to the cannabinoid receptors in the body. As a result, it interacts with them directly.
How Does CBG Work?
CBG normally works with the endocannabinoid system in the body to promote wellness. It should be noted that the endocannabinoid system consists of receptors and molecules that are responsible for promoting homeostasis. This is the process of keeping our bodies in an optimal state regardless of the condition in the external environment.
When you take CBG, it interacts with the endocannabinoid system to imitate the endocannabinoids, i.e., the natural compounds found in the body. The human body consists of two cannabinoid receptors: CB1 and CB2. Generally, CB1 receptors are primarily found in the brain and the nervous system. Meanwhile, CB2 receptors are mainly found in the immune system and other parts of the body.
CBG is the endocannabinoid system that works by binding to these two receptors. For instance, when it binds to the CB1 receptors and reaches your grey matter, then it can activate some special neurons in your brain and body, leading to reduced symptoms of stress and depression, etc. Besides that, its analgesic effects help you feel less pain. That’s why some people end up with better sleep patterns to the improved release of hormones that aid sleep.
On the other hand, when it binds to the CB2 receptors, it can improve immune function. As a result, your body will become less susceptible to inflammation and suspicious debases.
How to Use CBG
The most common form of CBG is oil. You can take it sublingually by placing a few drops under the tongue. Besides that, you can mix the oil with your favorite edibles or simply look for CBG vape oil.
- Sublingual intake normally provides faster effects since the compound gets into the bloodstream within a few minutes. The absorption process usually occurs through the veins found under the tongue’s membrane.
- Inhaling is a therapeutic and enjoyable activity involving drawing freshly combusted CBG from a vape pen, bong, or hand-papered.
- Ingesting: this involves taking CBG edibles such as gummies and cookies, etc.
Potential Benefits of CBG
CBG has a wide range of health properties that make it effective in treating numerous health conditions. While this compound doesn’t promise to cure these health issues, it can reduce the symptoms or slow down the progress of certain health problems. When taken in the right doses, here are some of the properties of CBG and their benefits:
- Antibacterial: effective in slowing down bacterial growth
- Anti-inflammatory: effective in reducing inflammation
- Anti-convulsive: effective in reducing convulsions and seizures
- Analgesic: helps to reduce pain
- Anti-insomnia: treats sleeplessness and promotes good sleep patterns
- Antidepressant: reduces the symptoms of depression and raises good moods
- Anti-proliferative: inhibits the rapid growth of cancer cells
- Appetite stimulant: increases appetite
Health Disorders that It Can Treat?
With these numerous properties, what health issues can CBG help to treat? Well, there are several, including:
- Cancer: the anti-proliferative property is ideal for slowing down cancerous cells’ spread or growth to different parts of the body.
- Glaucoma: this compound has neuroprotective properties and can help to lower intraocular pressure. This can help to significantly reduce the symptoms of glaucoma.
- Depression: it’s an effective antidepressant that uplifts your moods when you’re down.
- Low-appetite: this can come in handy, especially in the case of chemotherapy treatments and other medical conditions that interfere with appetite.
- Psoriasis: its anti-inflammatory properties help to reduce psoriasis flare-ups.
- Epilepsy: CBG has strong anticonvulsant properties that reduce the frequency and severity of epileptic episodes.
- Anti-inflammatory bowel disease and anti-inflammatory disorders.
- Chronic pain: it’s an analgesic that’s effective for pain management.
CBG Dosage
Finding the right CBG dosage isn’t a straightforward process. It simply comes to trial and error since there are a lot of factors that affect the dosage. It’s generally advisable that you start with a lower product intake and then gradually work your way up until you find the dosage that suits you. However, when considering the product dosage, here are a few factors to look out for:
- The severity of your medical condition: mild medical issues will need a small-moderate dosage. On the other hand, chronic conditions will require higher CBG dosage.
- Liver metabolism is all about your genes and how fast your liver can effectively metabolize the CBG compound. Different people have different liver metabolism rates, which affects how long the effects of such a compound can remain in the body.
- Form of CBG: You can find CBG in many forms, depending on the preferred intake mode. For instance, if you are taking CBD sublingually, you will need a slightly lesser dose since its effects can kickstart within 15 minutes. Meanwhile, you will need a higher dose for CBG ingestion, as in the case of gummies. This is because the effects can take up to one hour to kickstart.
Are There Any Side Effects?
CBG has a good safety profile. When taken in the recommended therapeutic doses, then this cannabis compound doesn’t have any side effects. Understand that “therapeutic doses” matter since after you exceed this amount, then it would mean you are overdosing and will experience negative side effects. Possible side effects include:
- A decrease in blood pressure
- An increase in heart rate
- Dry mouth
- Change in appetite
- Diarrhea
How to Choose A CBG Product
There are many CBG Oil products on the market, and therefore choosing one can be quite difficult. Besides that, CBG is also widely unregulated, just like its counterpart CBD. So, it’s up to you to do a comprehensive research process to determine the best product that will suit your needs. To get you started, here are a couple of effective pointers to help you:
Consider Full-Spectrum CBD
It should be noted that full-spectrum CBD contains multiple cannabinoids, even though in small amounts. Besides that, it’s quite easy to find full-spectrum CBD products rather than pure CBG oil products. The many compounds found in full-spectrum CBD will work synergistically to promote wellness. So, this is one of the most effective solutions.
Verify 3rd-Party Lab Tests
Since the FDA doesn’t regulate the CBG industry, you should only consider purchasing from brands that conduct independent 3rd-party lab tests. Ensure that you read and understand the lab reports. Besides that, analyze what’s on the product label and the lab reports.
Is CBG Legal?
CBG is legal federally, just like CBD products. You can produce, use, or purchase it since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill made hemp and its byproducts legal for use in the US. However, its profile should contain less than 0.3% THC content.
Where to Buy
Unlike THC-based and CBD products, CBG products are not very popular. This means that making purchases can be quite tricky, and you might face difficulties. It should be noted that there are very few companies that make this product and so you need to do comprehensive research regarding where to make your purchases. Generally, the best place to buy CBG products is directly from the manufacturer’s website or an approved hemp-based pharmacy.
The Bottom Line
CBG is one of the most effective and beneficial compounds found in cannabis hemp plants. It’s nonpsychoactive with significantly low THC content. You can use it to treat and manage conditions such as neurodegeneration, cancer, and colitis. Besides that, it’s generally effective in fighting pain and inflammation. The huge number of benefits outweigh the significance of extremely low chances of side effects. So, if you are looking for a product that fully supports wellness, then this is a good alternative source of medicine that you can add to your regimen.
