What is cbg?

CBG, cannabigerol, is a phyto (plant-based) cannabinoid compound. Cannabigerol occurs in a variety of hemp CBG strains, usually in minor concentrations. Non-psychoactive strains of CBD hemp can also feature a range of minor phytocannabinoids, including CBC, CBN, CBDA, etc. 

Each of these compounds has as much character and potency as CBD. The attributes, dosages, and applications of these individual compounds simply haven’t been explored or discussed as much as cannabidiol.

THC is best known for its psychoactive effects, while people often use CBD for its medicinal benefits. Unlike THC, CBD does not cause its consumers to get high. Patients frequently use it in the treatment of pain and inflammation, nausea, seizures, anxiety, PTSD, and depression.

CBG exists in lower concentrations than THC or CBD. For a long time, it has been somewhat overshadowed by these other cannabinoids. However, in recent years, scientific interest in CBG has been growing at a steady rate.

In this article, we will explore CBG in more detail. We will look at what it is, how it works, and exactly how it could be useful.

What Is CBG?

CBG was first discovered in Israel in 1964. Marijuana researchers Yehiel Gaoni and Raphael Mechoulam had just managed to isolate CBG, THC, and CBD from the cannabis plant. They may not have realized how important this was at the time. However, it was this discovery that went on to become the entire basis of our understanding of the plant today.

CBG occurs in lower concentrations than THC and CBD and differs from these compounds in several ways.

Unlike THC, CBG has no psychoactive properties, and therefore will not get you high. It exists in some varieties of industrial hemp as well as other, more potent, marijuana strains.

Despite people often overlooking CBG in favor of THC and CBD, it seems that it could also be potentially beneficial. However, CBG research is still in its infancy. There is no doubt that we still have much to learn about this compound.

However, thanks to scientists like Gaoni and Mechoulam, we now know a lot more about these cannabinoids. Research has shown that CBG and other cannabinoids have a remarkable effect on the human body.

How Does CBG Work?

Like other cannabinoids, CBG works by influencing the endocannabinoid system within our bodies. The endocannabinoid system is a complex collection of receptors (CB1 and CB2 receptors), chemicals called endocannabinoids, and enzymes.

Endocannabinoids are compounds that our bodies produce. They bind with CB1 and CB2 receptors. Their role is to help regulate many of our physiological functions and maintain a state of internal balance.

CB1 receptors are primarily in the nervous system and brain. CB2 receptors are elsewhere in the body, mainly in the cells of the immune system. Many different endocannabinoids can bind with these receptors, but the most well-known are anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).

AEA binds primarily with CB1 receptors, and acts very much like a neurotransmitter, affecting our cognitive function and mood. On the other hand, 2-AG binds with CB1 and CB2 receptors, provoking an anti-inflammatory effect.

The cannabinoids in the cannabis plant also can bind with these receptors due to their similar shape. THC binds with CB1 receptors, altering the way you think and getting you high. CBD does not bind with these receptors easily but does influence the way that they react with other cannabinoids.

Research has shown that CBG binds primarily with CB2 receptors. It has also shown that, in high doses, it could block other compounds from binding with CB1 receptors. However, CBG does not appear to alter the effects of THC.

This complex interaction between the various plant cannabinoids and the body’s endocannabinoid system is known as the ‘entourage effect.’ Scientists are only just starting to comprehend the full implications of this. Although, some have suggested that using these cannabinoids in combination is more beneficial than using any one alone.

Herbal Health CBG UK Solution

This incredible cannabinoid product is easily enjoyed. Just like our classic Broad-Spectrum CBD tinctures, our CBG oil for sale is available in 10ml bottles. These items are powered by pure crystalline CBG isolate.

Our 2.5% blend contains 250mg of CBG suspended in 10ml of liquid. The 5% blend features 500mg of CBG within the same volume of fluid.

The dosage guidelines remain the same for all minor cannabinoids. The FSA recommends a 70mg per day maximum, which can be broken down in as many doses as you please. Each treatment of CBG will count towards your daily total. If you love these formulas and want to stick with straight CBG, have at it! Many consumers find the experience just as valuable as pure CBD. 

If you want to really leverage the entourage effect, try splitting your total 70mgs between CBG isolates, Broad Spectrum CBD, and isolated CBD. The joys of nature have provided complete plants brimming with perfectly balanced life-giving organic compounds. Hemp plant material, which has been relied on for physical and wellness support for millennia, was untampered by selective extractions for a majority of recorded history. Honoring these natural, broad arrays of compounds is an intuitive way to maximize the use of herbal medicinals.

The ability to select a few of your favorite cannabinoids and maximize them is also proving to be physiologically beneficial. Research across the world has shown that unique spectrums of cannabis/hemp compounds can be used as targeted approaches to a variety of symptoms. By respecting this wild, natural, and inclusive preference for variety, while still enhancing the extracts with our scientific precision, we can quickly discover a robust, manageable selection of cannabinoids that will support our unique biological conditions.

CBG Tincture Formula

Our cannabigerol formula is suspended in a natural carrier oil, which maximizes the absorption of this natural compound. For best results, select your desired mg concentration of CBG by using the 1ml dropper attached to the bottle?s cap. Reference the packaging details for additional dosing information.

Once the correct volume of CBG has been selected, use the dropper to place the chosen oil under the tongue. Then hold the product under the tongue, with the lips and jaw in a comfortable position. After approximately seventy-five seconds, swallow the CBG tincture.

This method of administration is known as sublingual application. By holding the oil under the tongue it allows the suspended CBD to interact with the cells of the mucous membrane of the mouth. This membrane draws in a portion of the CBD, depositing it quickly into the bloodstream. The remainder flows through the digestive tract and is absorbed as usual.

CBG, CBD, THC, all the cannabinoids you can name, have affinities for fats. By placing any of these compounds into a carrier oil, their bioavailability automatically increases. Lipids interact with various membranes along the digestive tract, allowing fat-loving molecules (in this case, CBG) to quickly permeate through the cellular walls, entering into the bloodstream at an increased rate.

Once in the blood, the cannabigerol, and additional ingested cannabinoid compounds, will circulate until they approach their selected cellular targets. Several cellular mechanisms and supporting signallers play a role in the interaction between cannabinoids and our cannabinoid receptors. One of these is a lipid raft formation in cell walls, which makes it possible for the integration of specific fat-loving cannabinoid components. The additional consumption of healthy fats in the form of these oil carriers is likely to allow for a higher affinity for CBG and CBD activity at their final cellular targets.

Non-Psychoactive CBG ~ Lab Test Approval

Our cannabigerol isolate is 100% non-psychoactive. The only compound in cannabis shown to alter consciousness reliably is THC. Even our Broad Spectrum extracts have been refined to eliminate THC, so it stands to reason that our CBG isolates have been whittled down to the highest expression of their pure crystalline form.

We leverage third-party lab testing on every batch of our Herbal Health products. These results indicate the purity, potency, and dose consistency of every batch. The oil in our CBG tincture is guaranteed to contain an evenly distributed concentration of cannabigerol in direct agreement with product labeling.

With this straightforward and refined potency balance, our customers can easily experiment with their CBD and CBG dosages, knowing that each future order will contain products with uniform amounts of their cannabinoid ingredients.

THC free products are allowed to be sold freely without restriction. Miniscule 0.03% THC concentrations (per dry weight of the product) are permitted in full-spectrum extracts. These products will never create a noticeable high, but they may cause false positives for marijuana drug tests. Non-intoxicating hemp can still contain these trace amounts of THC, even though you could never consume enough of it to get high.

In response to the presence of this natural, beneficial, yet regulated component of our non-intoxicating hemp varieties of cannabis sativa, we have opted to refine all of our tinctures to remove any possibility of THC consumption. We do, however, respect other distributors who attempt to provide an authentic hemp experience by leaving their compliant full-spectrum products intact.

What Is CBG Used For?

We still don’t fully understand the health benefits of CBG. However, initial research suggests that it may be a useful tool in the treatment of a wide range of physical and psychological conditions. Let’s take a look at the existing research on CBG, and how it could affect your health.

The Anti-inflammatory Effects of CBG

CBG appears to have anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, it could potentially help in the treatment of many different chronic diseases.

One study on CBG for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) produced some interesting results. The researchers found that CBG reduced inflammatory markers in mice with induced IBD and relieved colitis. Based on these findings, the study’s authors suggest that CBG should be tested further in human subjects as a treatment for IBD.

If scientists can confirm the anti-inflammatory properties of CBG, it may have broad applications far beyond the treatment of colitis. Chronic inflammation is most often associated with painful conditions such as arthritis. However, it is also linked to many serious disorders, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, depression, and cancer.

It is, therefore, highly desirable to find new ways of reducing inflammation to prevent and treat these potentially fatal conditions. Although more research is required, cannabinoids, including CBG, could offer one such hope.

The Neuroprotective Effects of CBG

Aside from anti-inflammatory effects, CBG may also act as an antioxidant and protect the nervous system from damage. It does this in a similar way to the endocannabinoid 2-AG.

Another animal study on the neuroprotective effects of CBG produced some interesting results. It found that CBG could help to improve motor deficits and preserve neurons in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington’s disease.

The Antimicrobial Effects of CBG

CBG, along with some other cannabinoids, has demonstrated antibacterial effects. When researchers tested it against various strains of Staphylococcus aureus bacterium in a laboratory, CBG was found to have significant antimicrobial properties. This finding could be especially crucial in the future, as antibiotic resistance is now becoming more and more commonplace.

CBG as an Appetite Stimulant

CBG also shows great promise as an appetite stimulant, as scientists discovered in a 2016 study on CBG for appetite. They gave rats either CBG or placebo and observed their feeding habits. The rats who ingested CBG increased their number of meals and doubled their overall food intake. However, the amount eaten at meals, and the duration of meals was unaffected.

The researchers did not observe any adverse effects in rats treated with CBG. This potentially could make this cannabinoid a promising therapy for conditions such as anorexia and cachexia.

CBG for Bladder Problems

A 2015 study on cannabinoids for bladder dysfunction found that they are capable of reducing acetylcholine-induced bladder contractions in mice. Among all of the cannabinoids tested, CBG was one of the most effective, along with Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV). CBG has also been shown to reduce these contractions in human subjects.

Other Uses for CBG

CBG is just beginning to emerge from under the shadow of THC and CBD. Now research is shedding more light on its potential health benefits. It has been suggested that as well as influencing the CB1 and CB2 receptors, CBG may affect α2-adrenoceptors and 5-HT1A serotonin receptors in the nervous system.

It is also possible that CBG could block the reuptake of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline by cells. If this proves to be accurate, then CBG could also be useful in combating the symptoms of depression.

It is true that CBG is not the most well-known of all the cannabinoids. Although, it appears to have a dramatic influence over many of the body’s vital systems. There is still so much more to learn about this cannabinoid and how it affects us. However, the initial research is extremely promising.

More research needs to be carried out to understand the endocannabinoid system fully.

This will help us understand the role that cannabis plays in human health and disease. However, we are getting closer and closer all the time. Hopefully, in the near future, we will have a fuller understanding of how these cannabinoids impact our health and well-being.