What is CBG?
Feb 8th 2021
CBG, also called cannabigerol, is known as ‘The Mother of all Cannabinoids’ as it is the parent to CBD, CBC, and THC. In addition to its potential medical applications, much like CBD, CBG is not considered intoxicating and will not get you high.
Cannabigerol (CBG) is one of the 113 cannabinoids discovered so far – and it seems to have great potential. This is why the active substance is increasingly becoming the focus of research. Among other things, CBG is attributed with anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antibacterial properties.
CBG does have therapeutic effects as it is a neuroprotectant. A study conducted by the International Journal of Molecular Sciences discovered that cbg reduced inflammation and oxidative stress.
Many of the more popular and well-known effects of THC and CBD are derived from their interaction with the endocannabinoid system. CBG, however, mainly works through other mechanisms, which explains why it has such different effects. It is currently being researched as a treatment for a long list of conditions, such as dementia, PTSD, ADHD, Huntington’s disease, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, colitis, and of course, pain.
Which is better, CBG or CBD?
CBG and CBD are both cannabinoids, extracted from the cannabis plant. And they share a lot of similarities. For instance, both cannabinoids appear to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Moreover, both CBD and CBG seem to counteract the psychoactive effects of THC. This means that they could neutralize the ‘high’ caused by THC. They also both possess the entourage effect, which means that they complement each other’s health benefits when used together.
But they also have their differences and unique characteristics. Cannabigerol has a particular advantage over CBD in the way it interacts with your endocannabinoid system (ECS). While CBD is not able to directly interact with its cannabinoid receptors in your brain, CBG directly links with both kinds of ECS receptors, known as CB1 and CB2.
Cannabigerol is also very rare, while CBD is prevalent. And CBG is much harder to extract from the cannabis plant. Its extractions are a cost and time-intensive affair that requires a lot of skill and dedication. Extraction requires specialized equipment that is often very expensive. And, because of its low concentrations, it would take larger amounts of cannabis to retrieve the same amount of CBG as it would CBD from the cannabis plant. Because of this, very few individuals and companies can successfully undertake this task.
The benefits of CBG
CBG presents a rich pharmacological profile that could potentially have a lot of benefits for neurodegenerative conditions like Huntigton’s disease, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, and MS. It may also be of great benefit in inflammatory conditions like colitis, or Crohn’s disease, and also for metabolic conditions like diabetes and obesity. Once again, it’s extremely important to note that CBG research is still in its infancy and is very limited. Scientific evidence of its efficacy and safety in humans is practically non-existent.
The best way to use the following information is when trying to find the right strain for you. If CBG shows potential for the condition you’re treating, it may make sense to prioritize cannabis products with some CBG. However, unless prescribed by a health care professional that specializes in cannabis therapy, you should avoid using CBG-dominant products such as CBG oil in order to avoid potential contraindications and drug interactions.
CBG: A weapon against antibiotic-resistant germs?
It has long been known that Cannabis sativa contains antibacterial cannabinoids. But the potential of the plant to fight antibiotic resistance has only been superficially investigated so far. A recent study from 2020 has therefore looked into this issue. The Canadian scientists conclude that cannabigerol can be effective against infections and stop multi-resistant pathogens. [2]
In the study, the researchers tested five cannabinoids for their antibiotic properties. They found that cannabigerol is particularly effective in killing MRSA pathogens. Laboratory tests showed that CBG can also dissolve hard-to-slide “biofilms” of MRSA.
What Are the Possible Side Effects?
As we already mentioned, we do not have a lot of available research on cannabigerol. So we don’t know a ton about its nature, potential, benefits, or side effects. In fact, the cannabinoid cannabigerol is not known by most. The critical role that CBG plays in the support and formation of other cannabinoids could encourage further research into all this cannabinoid has to offer.
However, the few studies and limited information on cannabigerol that does exist shows that this cannabinoid has very few side effects. In fact, to date, there are no significant side effects cited in any CBG studies. This means that as long as you’re cleared by your doctor, and you use cannabigerol with the recommended doses, it should not cause you any side effects.