What Is CBG Flower and the Benefits?
Did you know that there are at least 420 constituents of the cannabis plant? Of these, at least 60 belong to the group "cannabinoids." Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are just two of these compounds.
You've likely heard a lot about the THC or CBD oil, but what about CBG flower? If not, you're not alone, as CBG is one of the many other lesser-known cannabinoids. One reason is that not a lot of previous research involved it, and only a few current ones seem to revolve around it.
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Despite that, it's actually thanks to CBG that hemp and cannabis contain CBD and THC. That makes it such an essential component of the plant.
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What exactly is CBG, though, what roles does it play, and what therapeutic properties does it have?
We've rounded up the most vital facts you need to know about this cannabinoid in this post, so be sure to read on.
What Is CBG?
CBG stands for "cannabigerol." In the non-acidic version of cannabigerolic acid, or CBGa. CBGa is the parent molecule that allows for the synthesis of all other cannabinoids.
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Hence, without CBGa, there would be no CBG. Without CBG, there would be no CBD, much less National CBD Day! Also, without cannabigerol, there would be no THC or other cannabinoids.
So, why then is CBG only a "minor" cannabinoid?
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One possible reason is that cannabis plants contain less than 1% of cannabigerol. This may be due to how CBGa converts into CBG, which then synthesizes into other cannabinoids. So, as the plants grow, much of its CBG content turns into major cannabinoids like CBD and THC.
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Like CBD, though, CBG is also non-psychoactive. Moreover, studies have shown that it readily permeates the blood-brain barrier. In this way, it may be able to deliver some of its therapeutic effects faster than other cannabinoids.
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What Then Is CBG Flower?
CBG flowers, like CBD flowers, can come from industrial hemp or marijuana. However, the CBG-flowering plant itself has undergone special breeding techniques. Such growing methods infuse the buds with higher concentrations of cannabigerol.
CBG flowers may not be as widely available as CBD products, though. One reason is that cannabigerol appears to be more sensitive. In addition, there's a lot more work that goes into producing CBG flowers.
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Researchers are still studying CBG, as well as better ways to breed, harvest, and process it.
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Don't worry, though, as you'll be able to buy CBG flowers that already come pre-rolled. These contain 0.3% or less THC, so you can relax as they won't induce serious "psychoactive" effects.
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The Many Potential (and Science-Backed) CBG Flower Benefits
CBG flower, like high-quality CBD products, may help ease pain, boost mood, and even counter dry skin. Just keep in mind that, unlike cannabidiol, there are fewer cannabigerol studies. Also, remember that many of these potential benefits, although science-backed, involved animal models.
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With that said, let's take a look at some of the possible positive effects of CBG.
Analgesic Effects Stronger Than THC
Previous research found that CBG may have analgesic effects that go beyond that of THC. This suggests that CBG may be more effective in helping relieve pain conditions than THC. Plus, cannabigerol is non-psychoactive, so you don't have to worry about getting "high."
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Moreover, CBG may be your safer bet compared to pharmaceutical pain relievers. While these medications are no doubt useful, they carry such high risks. For starters, 8% to 12% of those who use prescription opioids are at risk of developing an opioid use disorder.
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Even non-opioid pain relievers, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), carry risks. Prolonged use of these medications can cause side effects like toxicity. From there, NSAID toxicity may lead to liver damage, among other complications.
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Cannabigerol's cannabinoid profile, by contrast, shows that it has a good tolerability level. Moreover, researchers say that it has a low toxicity potential.
May Help Lift Your Mood
CBG may also help to stimulate the anandamide production of the body. The term "anandamide" comes from the Sanskrit word "ananda," which means joy, bliss, or delight.
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That's because anandamide is the natural mammalian cannabinoid that makes people feel "blissful." It's also why many folks refer to this brain lipid as the "bliss molecule."
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CBG's stimulating effects may then help the body produce more anandamide. Higher levels of this cannabinoid, in turn, may increase your feelings of well-being. You may experience improvements in your mood, but not to the extent of feeling high.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Researchers found that cannabigerol has anti-inflammatory effects, much like CBD. Alongside its swelling-reducing activity, it may also minimize oxidative stress. It may do more than that: it may restore the antioxidant defense of various cells in the body.
In this way, CBG may have effects similar to CBD's immunity-boosting properties.
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Also, cannabigerol may be helpful in treating inflammatory diseases. For instance, some people who have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) use CBG as a treatment. Researchers themselves support the notion of the use of CBG to treat patients with IBD.
Appears to Be Especially Potent Against a Certain "Superbug"
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of super hard-to-kill bacterium. It causes incredibly difficult-to-treat infections in various areas of the body. This is also why it classifies as a "superbug."
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Many cases of MRSA infections are mild, showing up as abscesses, boils, or sores. However, it can result in more severe conditions, with it being difficult to treat. While not very common, MRSA can infect the lungs, urinary tract, or the bloodstream.
The great news is that CBG showed greater efficiency in killing common MRSA microbes. This is in comparison with four other cannabis compounds that researchers screened.
May Help Treat or Ease Signs of Skin Conditions
Have you heard of how cannabidiol may help treat acne? It seems to do so by helping retain moisture in the skin's sebum. This, plus CBD's antibacterial effects, may help keep acne growth and breakouts at bay.
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CBG also appears to have similar acne-fighting effects, according to scientists. In addition, cannabigerol seems to help with dry skin conditions. Since dry skin is more prone to acne, then the mix of CBG and CBD may be able to work wonders on the skin.
Antioxidant Properties
Aside from the anti-inflammatory actions of CBG, it has also shown antioxidant properties. This is especially true in studies that looked at its effects on the nerves and nerve cells.
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Researchers found that CBG seems to reduce neuronal death (loss of neurons). They also say that it reduced inflammation while also decreasing oxidative stress.
May Be Useful in Bone Marrow-Related Treatments
Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are "self-renewing" multi-function cells. They are the primary source of cells for bone tissue regeneration. They also "repopulate" tissues that have sustained damages or losses.
MSC-based transplantation therapies hold promise for easing the signs of conditions like obesity. They also seem to be useful in treating diabetes, nerve, and inflammatory diseases.
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The thing is, medical experts have yet to find a way to culture MSCs successfully. It seems that making these cells mature is very hard, so culturing them often leads to failure.
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The great news is that cannabinoids have shown to boost this maturation process. A study has found that CBG and CBGa, as well as CBD, CBDa, and THCV, increase the number of these cells. However, only CBG and CBD promote their maturation.
In this way, CBG and CBD may help pave the way for successful MSC transplants.
May Help Inhibit the Growth of Cancer Cells
One of the many potential benefits of CBD is that it may help ease the side effects of cancer treatment. For instance, cancer patients say that CBD oil helps them prevent regurgitating. It also appears to keep symptoms of chemotherapy-induced nausea at bay.
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A 2006 study, however, found that cannabinoids seem to inhibit cancer cell growth. They alone won't cure cancer, but they may still be useful in treating some types of the disease.
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In the study, CBD showed the greatest potency in inhibiting cell cancer growth. CBG and cannabichromene (another cannabinoid) were the second most potent.
May Be Useful in Treating Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an umbrella term for eye conditions that result from optic nerve damage. In many cases, such damage arises from significantly elevated pressure in the eye. Over time, this pressure can impair the vision, eventually resulting in blindness.
Cannabigerol may help treat glaucoma, as it seems to reduce intraocular pressure.
Give Cannabigerol a Well-Deserved Try
There you have it, your ultimate guide on CBG flower, what it is, and its potential health benefits. While it may not be as famous as CBD, remember: all cannabinoids come from this "parent" molecule. As such, cannabigerol use may provide a good way to boost the results of your current CBD regimen.
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Interested in trying out the potential therapeutic CBG flower effects? If so, then our team here at Nothing But Hemp is ready to help and deliver your needs. Drop us a line if you need same-day delivery of your CBG or CBD products.