What is CBG?
Cannabigerol, more commonly known as CBG, is one of the 140 cannabinoids found in the hemp plant naturally, including the Cannabis L. Sativa and Cannabis Indica strains.
Much less known than THC (psychotropic substance of cannabis) and CBD (non-psychotropic cannabinoid with multiple virtues), CBG is often nicknamed “the parent of cannabinoids”, to the extent that he is at the origin of the formation of several of them.
Indeed, in the young plant, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), which is the acid form of CBG, is gradually transformed into different major cannabinoids under the effect of enzymes.
In its natural state, CBG is found in low quantities in most strains of cannabis, which makes its production and extraction more delicate... and products concentrated in CBG are logically more expensive.
It has long been thought that CBG has, more or less, the same effects as CBD, namely an anti-inflammatory, anti-pain and soothing action. The latest studies, however, have isolated new virtues in this rare cannabinoid, notably antibacterial and neuroprotective properties, and an interest in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the digestive system, notably Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Additional studies still need to be carried out to validate these hypotheses.
How do you get CBG?
The production of CBG begins with the selection of cannabis strains naturally rich in cannabigerol.
Once the plant is cultivated, CBG is extracted from cannabis flowers, as is done with CBD. The most common extraction process is based on supercritical CO2. It is an efficient and clean method for isolating CBG while preserving its properties. But CBG can also be extracted with ethanol, where alcohol is used as a solvent to dissolve cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant material, or with oil, where the flowers are infused in plant oils at low temperatures .
After extraction, CBG is purified and can be formulated into different forms, mainly oils, isolated crystals or food products.
I already consume CBD regularly. Why and how to integrate CBG into my daily routine?
The combination of CBD and CBG promotes the so-called “entourage” effect. In short, when the non-psychotropic cannabinoids of the hemp plant are consumed collectively, the soothing, pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects experienced are increased tenfold compared to the consumption of the same dose of a single cannabinoid (in isolate) .
We obviously recommend that you start with moderate doses of CBG to observe how your body reacts, even if you are used to CBD. The mechanisms of action are slightly different, and the affinity for the receptors in your endocannabinoid system is not exactly the same.
The best way to start consuming CBG is to opt for full-spectrum hemp oils. They contain CBD, CBG but also CBN and CBC. They therefore bring you everything good that the hemp plant has.
Note: if you regularly have digestive discomfort, it may be interesting to try a CBG-dominant routine, as this cannabinoid seems better disposed to relieving inflammatory diseases of the digestive system.
