CBG 101
You’ve probably heard all the buzz around using hemp extract or CBD oil to treat issues like anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain, but did you know there’s a whole array of other cannabinoids that each have unique properties and benefits? One useful cannabinoid you may not have heard of is Cannabigerol, or CBG.
Like CBD, CBG is a non-psychoactive, non-intoxicating cannabinoid, which is a naturally occurring compound found in the cannabis plant. It’s known as the “mother of all cannabinoids,” because cannabinoids come from the precursor acid form of CBG, which is called Cannabigerolic Acid, or CBGA. CBG works by binding with your cannabinoid receptors (CB1, located in your nervous system and brain, and and CB2, located in your skin and immune system) to help regulate your appetite and sleep, alleviate pain, and make you feel better all around.
Sounds great, right? It doesn’t stop there. Research shows that CBG offers tons of specific benefits to treat a range of conditions. Here are a few ways that CBG may be able to help you find relief:
Uses and Benefits of CBG
- Regulate sleep, mood, and appetite - When CBG interacts with your endocannabinoid system, it by binds with C1 and C2 receptors to increase dopamine levels, which means it can be a promising way to boost your mood, sleep better, and regulate your appetite. Studies have also shown that CBG may have antidepressant qualities due to the fact that it can increase GABA and serotonin levels in the brain.
- Eye health - If you’ve heard that medical marijuana is a good way to treat glaucoma, it’s worth noting that this could be largely due to CBG. This is because CBG is known to reduce intraocular pressure, according to a 2014 study.
- Anti-inflammatory - Thanks to CBG’s anti-inflammatory properties, it can be a promising way to treat a number of painful conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease.
- Brain health - CBG may be able to treat Huntington’s Disease and other neurodegenerative conditions thanks to its neuroprotective properties-- this means it protects the nerve cells in your brains from nerve damage.
- Antibacterial - Research suggests that CBG also has antibacterial properties and may be especially good at killing the bacteria that causes drug-resistant staph infections: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (also known as MRSA). This makes it a possible remedy for these hard to treat infections, among others.
- Treat bladder dysfunctions - In a 2015 study observing the effects of five different cannabinoids on the bladder, CBG proved to be the most effective when it came to treating bladder dysfunctions.
