Improve your health, sleep patterns, and appetite. Combat glaucoma, inflammatory bowel disease, and Huntingdon’s disease. Reduce pain, inflammation, and even slow the growth of cancer cells. Also, kill that pesky drug-resistant bacteria and potentially much more!
Sounds amazing!
What is this magic elixir?
Too good to be true or some sort of cannabinoid?
If you answered ‘What is cannibigerol (CBG)?’ you would be correct.
Hold up, wait a minute… Do you mean CBD???
There are other cannabinoids besides CBD. Do you know the difference between CBD and CBG?
If not, then before reading any further, you should check out these awesome guides for hemp beginners by Rolling Acre. Then, come back to this page for the detailed skinny on CBG.
Don’t feel too bad if you’ve never heard of CBG though. It is really difficult to find in mature hemp plants, making up only about 1-2% of cannabinoids in the plant material, which means cultivating CBG is a rare specialty with less spotlight than it’s cannabinoid cousins.
Well, until recently…
You down with CBG? (Yea you know me!)
Now that you are a hemp aficionado, we can break down the lesser-known mother cannabinoid, CBG.
As non-psychoactive cannabinoids, both CBD and CBG offer promising clinical uses, but CBG is finally stepping center-stage with even more potential benefits than good ole’ CBD.
Cannabigerol acid converts into all sorts of cannabinoids, but higher yields of CBG may be found in younger plants before photosynthesis changes everything. Photosynthesis is like puberty for plants. Low supplies of CBG isolates cost more than CBD isolates, delaying research efforts, but early animal studies spot plenty of priceless reasons to keep supplies growing.
Welcome to cannabis chemistry class!
Kidding! …(kinda)…
Although we won’t dive into the molecular biology of hemp, (check it out here if you want), we will use a few scientific terms and rely on research to discover why CBG may boast the most potential benefits and interactions in the hemp family.
Body movin’, we be body movin’ – Small biology breakdown
Your body is built to take in cannabinoids and even produces endocannabinoids itself, like anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), which you would know if you actually read the CBG guide…
Also, endocannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, in the central nervous system (your brain) and the peripheral nervous system (your immune system) are responsible for pain-sensation, mood, memory, and appetite, which could be why cannabinoids flex so many potential benefits in those areas.
I am for REAL!! Budding benefits
…(I’m sorry)…
A bit more science coupled with a bright outlook for future remedies ahead.
CBG binds well to both CB1 and CB2 receptors and activates natural responses to combat daily toxins and agitators causing pain, inflammation, and distress in your body.
Now, it’s time to take a closer look at the CBG research and possibilities:
- Appetite
- Research: “CBG is able to stimulate appetite in pre-satiated rats and does so without detrimental neuromotor side effects.” (2016)
- Possibilities: Loss of appetite can be common with age, disease, or a side effect of treatments like radiation or prescription pills. If you need help sparking hunger, I envy you, and CBG could help you eat.
- Glaucoma
- Research: “Cannabigerol and related cannabinoids may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of glaucoma” with results showing a “fall in intraocular pressure after acute topical application to the eyes of cats.” (2009)
- Possibilities: If you have ever had a sinus headache, imagine that pain but inside your eyes. CBG may likely help relieve eye pressure linked to glaucoma.
- IBD (Colitis)
- Research: “CBG attenuated murine colitis, reduced nitric oxide production in macrophages (effect being modulated by the CB2 receptor) and reduced ROS formation in intestinal epithelial cells.” (2013)
- Possibilities: Gas and stomach pain can alter a person’s daily habits and cause tremendous pain throughout the day. Easing digestive issues with CBG could become a reality with more clinical research. Watch out Pepto!
- Huntington’s Disease and other neurodegenerative diseases
- Research: “CBG was extremely active as neuroprotectant in mice intoxicated with 3-nitropropionate (3NP), improving motor deficits and preserving striatal neurons against 3NP toxicity.” (2014)
- Possibilities: Those poor intoxicated mice… but this study shows that CBG could have neurological benefits for our deteriorating brains. For patients with uncurable diseases, CBG may offer relief to exhausting symptoms.
- Inflammation
- Research: “All together, these results indicated the neuroprotective effects of CBG, that may be a potential treatment against neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.” (2018)
- Possibilities: Chronic pain sucks and most of that pain is caused by inflammation in the body. CBG might help patients curb pain and reduce the use of pain pills (without as much risk for addiction and bad side effects).
- Cancer
- Research: “CBG inhibits the growth of CRC cells mainly via a pro-apoptotic mechanism and hinders the development and the growth of colon carcinogenesis.” (2014)
- Possibilities: Woah! This study should be what breaks the internet (sorry Kim), but there are many more studies to go before CBG can begin to combat the most cagey killer. FU CANCER!
- Anti-bacterial
- Research: “CBG had antibacterial activity against drug-resistant MRSA. It prevented the ability of that bacteria to form biofilms… and it destroyed preformed biofilm” in labs and in mice. (2020)
- Possibilities: After a year of Covid unrest, people are more aware about the spread of viruses and bacteria. New forms of anti-bacterial research from CBG could be very useful in the future as we continue with caution in society.
- And much more:
- Depression and anxiety
- “CBG has significant antidepressant effects in the rodent tail suspension model and is a mildly antihypertensive agent.” (2006)
- Bladder control
- “CBG also reduced acetylcholine-induced contractions in the human bladder.” (2015)
- Inflammatory skin conditions
- CBG research could lead to the creation of ointments applied to the skin for certain conditions, like psoriasis and eczema. I’m sure make-up and beauty companies would also consider adding CBG to the menu if allowed. (2020)
Don’t call it a comeback…
CBG has been around for a long time, but we are finally tapping into it’s wonderful potential.
More research in clinical trials is needed before CBG can go mainstream, but current studies show promise for brighter days coupled with cannabinoid supplements.
Cannabinoid research is an important new field with a variety of possible health benefits, especially the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties associated with CBG. Also, just like your mother, CBG encourages other cannabinoids to perform better. The list of possible benefits may continue to grow with more research in the future, and we are HERE for it!
