What is CBG? Cannabigerol vs Cannabidiol explained
To Understand CBG, Let’s Start by Understanding Cannabinoids.
Cannabinoids are natural chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. More than 100 cannabinoids have been discovered to date, and researchers are finding and studying new ones all the time. Cannabinoids work within your body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS) to promote overall health and regulate homeostasis.
Over 22,000 published studies have shown that all cannabinoids benefit your health and wellness with zero harmful effects or toxic dose. The most abundant and well-studied cannabinoids are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). THC is the only chemical in the cannabis plant that has an intoxicating effect (gets you high). CBD has all kinds of benefits for your mood, sleep cycle, immune system, appetite, and overall health.
What is CBG?
CBG stands for Cannabigerol. CBG is another, but less-known cannabinoid that researchers are discovering more about every day.
CBG is a chemical precursor of all other cannabinoids, including THC and CBD. This means that all cannabinoids begin as CBG, and, like a stem cell, you can turn CBG into other cannabinoids with the right conversion process. That’s why CBG is known as ‘The Mother of All Cannabinoids’.
In the hemp plant (part of the cannabis plant family), this conversion naturally happens early in the flowering cycle, when the plants are still immature. Once mature, most strains contain less than 1% CBG. This is why CBG is harder and more expensive to make and buy.
What’s the Difference Between CBG and CBD?
Although they have similar health benefits, on a chemical level, the CBG and CBD molecules are completely different. Both have zero harmful effects, toxic dose, or intoxicating effects. Both help your Endocannabinoid System keep your body in healthy homeostasis. Each have specific strengths that make them particularly useful for certain purposes and desired effects.
Said simply, CBG is a bit more relaxing than CBD.
- If you want to boost your energy and focus, we recommend you take CBD
- If you want relaxation and recovery, especially at night, we recommend a blend of CBG with CBD.
Neither is a stimulant like coffee or Ambien, and both will help make sure your energy and sleep cycle are balanced.
THE LEGEND OF CBG’S SUPERPOWERS:
Cancer
Studies show CBG can inhibit the growth of cancer cells in your body.
CBG is much better at stopping cancer than CBD. Right now, the strongest evidence we have for CBG’s tumor-fighting properties are studies involving colorectal cancer, where researchers say CBG blocking cancer growth in three distinct ways. These same mechanisms indicate that it’s probably also highly effective against breast, prostate, and bladder cancers, as well as melanoma.
Appetite and Digestion
Consistent in its role as an anti-cancer treatment, CBG also helps regulate appetite and soothe digestion. If you’re having problems eating or keeping food down, CBG can help you maintain a healthy weight.
Laboratory studies with mice show that taking CBG increased their desire to eat as well as the number of meals eaten.
CBG was also able to decrease the abdominal pain and indigestion associated with colitis. In mice with inflamed colons, CBG helped to bring the colon back to its regular size and showed decreased production of harmful gases.
The best part is that CBG seems to stimulate appetite and calm indigestion without negative side effects. Most other appetite stimulants are based on hormones and come with side effects like headaches, joint pain, or insomnia. CBG, on the other hand, actually helps with headaches, joint pain, and insomnia.
Neuroprotection
CBG has neuroprotective properties, meaning, it helps protect and heal your brain.
It helps keep the protective sheath around your neurons strong and promotes healthy pathways between neurons. There is even some research indicating it may help with the symptoms of Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases.
Blood Pressure
CBG is a powerful vasodilator (blood vessel relaxer).
It helps control high blood pressure by keeping your blood vessels flexible and wide open. This has led to particular success in people with glaucoma, where CBG has been shown to keep fluid pressure in the eye at safe, low levels.
Bacteria
Another one of the things CBG does better than CBD is fight bacterial and fungal infections.
Studies of cannabinoids in general have singled out CBG as the most promising antibacterial and antifungal cannabinoid. It has shown to be highly effective against staph infections -- even in resilient strains that are resistant to antibiotics. This means it’s also effective against other conditions that are caused by bacterial overgrowth, like Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Bladder Dysfunction
CBG has been shown to be better at combating bladder dysfunction than CBD and other cannabinoids. It does this by helping to inhibit involuntary contractions of your bladder muscles.
THE ENTOURAGE EFFECT
The Entourage Effect is the idea within medical circles that multiple cannabinoids taken together can work together to make each other’s effects more powerful and produce stronger, better results.
This kind of ‘synergistic effect’ is a common concept in chemistry and medicine. When you combine hydrogen and oxygen, for instance, you can make water, which can do a lot more things than individual hydrogen and oxygen molecules.
With cannabinoids, there is evidence that combining them can have a greater effect than taking them separately. This is why full spectrum CBD oil performs better than CBD isolate.
Combining CBG with CBD can help you get the best of both worlds. Since these two molecules are chemically different and have slightly different mechanisms in your body, their effects are complementary.
Pure Mana CBD is proud to be on the cutting edge of cannabinoid production and distribution. Our blends of nano-amplified CBD and CBG oils offer the full spectrum of health benefits. All our products are extracted from 100% organically grown hemp and grown, made, and 3rd party tested in the U.S.A. Click here to learn more about our CBG+CBD oil and its benefits.
