CBG: What is it and what are its effects?
If you're more interested in health and mental well-being, you're no stranger toCBD and its supposed medicinal properties. However, CBD is not the only cannabinoid involved in strengthening your health. With the ever-evolving science and legislation related to cannabis research, the availability of other of the more than one hundred cannabinoids found in the plant is also increasing. So what exactly is CBG and what is it used for?
What is CBG?
Cannabigerol, abbreviated as CBG, is one of the possible types of cannabinoids extracted from the cannabis plant. The most well-known cannabinoids include cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), however, recently there has been increasing attention on the potential beneficial effects of CBG.
Cannabis contains more than 100 cannabinoids. Although almost every cannabis plant contains some amount of CBG, only young cannabis plants contain appreciable amounts of CBG. Most cannabis varieties contain only 1 % CBG compared to 20 to 25 % CBD or 25 to 30 % THC. CBG is not psychoactive and has some similar properties to CBD and THC due to its interaction with cannabinoid receptors. The popularity of CBG is steadily growing, mainly due to its many potentially beneficial effects.
Medicinal effects of CBG
Although CBG is only found in minute quantities in mature cannabis sticks, it has many benefits for the human body. CBG can help with the following health problems:
Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease is the cause of chronic inflammation in the intestines. According to the results of a study published in 2013, CBG can help treat IBD due to its anti-inflammatory abilities. The use of CBG in this disease was studied in rats and the results of the study showed that CBG reduces the effect of inflammation. Based on these results, researchers anticipate that CBG could be used in human clinical trials as a treatment for this disease.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disease that can lead to damage to the optic nerve. Medicinal cannabis has been used in the treatment of glaucoma for many years. A study published in 2008 states that CBG can be effective in the treatment of glaucoma because it improves the drainage of fluid from the eyes while reducing intraocular pressure.
Huntington's disease
Huntington's disease results in the breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. A 2015 study in which mice were examined showed thatCBG can exert neuroprotective effects. In fact ,CBG was found toprotect nerve cells in the brain from damage. For this reason, CBG could be a promising agent in the treatment of other neurodegenerative diseases.
Fights cancer cells
Cannabigerol is beneficial in the fight against cancer due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. A 2014 study looked at colon cancer research in rats and concluded thatCBG can reduce the growth of cancer cells.
Supports appetite
A 2016 study on rats showed thatCBG can stimulate appetite. The rats that were given CBG in the study increased their food intake by double. Thus, CBG may help in stimulating appetite in patients with chronic illness or those who have lost their appetite due to cancer.
The difference between CBD and CBG
BothCBG and CBD are cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. At first glance, it may seem that CBG is just a variant of CBD because neither substance is toxic and both have similar anti-inflammatory properties. However ,CBG has some different properties compared to CBD and may help treat different ailments.
CBG is able to bind to the same receptors as THC and therefore has the potential to help with nervous system related problems, including the aforementioned conditions such as glaucoma and appetite suppression. However, unlike THC, CBG is not psychotropic.
CBD, on the other hand ,may be more effective in treating immune-related problems and mood disorders.
Is CBG legal?
CBG is not a psychoactive substance. Moreover, it can be extracted from hemp, so the vast majority of CBG products do not contain THC.
TheEuropean Commission has included CBG in its Cosing database of cosmetic ingredients as a safe ingredient suitable for skin care. European manufacturers of skincare and cosmetic products can therefore use CBG in their products subject to the approval of the market regulator.
Remember that CBD and CBG may not be legal in all countries. Therefore, it is important to check the laws of each country, especially when travelling.
Side effects of CBG
There is very little information on the side effects ofCBG products. Based on the first large-scale research conducted on patients using CBG to treat problems such as depression, insomnia, chronic pain and anxiety, respondents reported dry mouth, drowsiness, hunger and dry eyes as side effects . Research into the potential side effects and risks of CBG, as well as other cannabinoids, is growing, but notenough research has been done to reliably determine the side effects of CBG.
Products with CBG
Themost common form of CBG available on the market is oil. Although finding a good quality one can be challenging. CBG oil contains the active ingredient CBG. CBG oil is non-toxic, meaning it will not act as a narcotic. It is often blended with CBD or other cannabinoids so that the user can enjoy the fullness of the cannabinoid profile of cannabis. Itis a potent and fast-acting dietary supplement that helps with many different health conditions, from skin problems to digestive issues to mood disorders. It has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.
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