Most people have heard of CBD—the cannabinoid found in a variety of products that has a variety of benefits, including aiding in sleep, chronic pain, and even hangovers. A lesser-known fact is that, in addition to CBD CBG Gummies and THC, the hemp plant contains a plethora of other cannabinoids with therapeutic properties. Cannabigerol (CBG) is one such cannabinoid, but what exactly is it and what are its applications?
CBG is an isolated compound that has recently piqued the interest of scientists, consumers, and the cannabinoid industry. While each type of cannabinoid has its own set of health benefits, there are many similarities between them. This begs the question of whether combining different cannabinoids has any advantages and how these compounds interact with one another.
What exactly is CBG?
CBG Gummies, one of over 113 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, was first isolated in 1964. Cannabigerol is known as the “mother of all cannabinoids” due to its role in the conversion of other cannabinoids. Cannabinoids such as CBD and THC are derived from a cannabinoid known as CBGA, or cannabigerolic acid. The cannabinoids are converted into their non-acidic forms via time and heat processes: CBDA becomes CBD, THCA becomes THC, and CBGA becomes CBG.
How does CBG function in the body?
CBD CBG Gummies, have function by interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a multifaceted system comprised of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2 receptors), endocannabinoids, and enzymes. Endocannabinoids, which are naturally occurring compounds in the body, bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors throughout the body to help regulate a variety of physiological functions and maintain bodily homeostasis.
CB1 and CB2 receptors can be found in various parts of the body. CB1 receptors can be found in the brain and central nervous system, whereas CB2 receptors can be found in the immune system (most notably in white blood cells, tonsils, and the spleen). Many endocannabinoids can bind to these receptors, but the most well-known are anandamide (AE) and 2-AG (Arachidonoylglycerol).
Where does it come from, and how is it extracted?
As previously stated, CBG Gummies are found in cannabis plants and are extracted through a process known as decarboxylation. Decarboxylation is a chemical reaction that occurs when a cannabinoid is heated to the point where a carboxyl group is stripped. This improves the ability of the cannabinoid to interact with the body’s receptors. Decarboxylation requires time and a high temperature to be effective. When CBGA is converted into CBG, the resulting cannabinoid can interact with the body’s cannabinoid receptors. According to a 2018 study, CBG, like 2-AG, is partial to both CB1 and CB2 receptors and will bind to both. CBG, on the other hand, is present in very low concentrations (typically less than 1%). Specialist plant breeders have begun to experiment with genetic manipulation and crossbreeding in order to increase CBG yields. Scientists can also extract higher levels of CBG Gummies from budding plants by determining the best time to extract it, which is about 6 weeks into an 8-week flowering cycle.
Why is it not as well-known as CBD (yet)?
Though CBG has a wide range of potential therapeutic applications, it has not gained the same popularity as CBD CBG Gummies for a variety of reasons. The cost of production is one of the major challenges that CBG faces that CBD does not. CBG is one of the most expensive cannabinoids to produce, according to The Environmental Magazine, owing to cultivators’ ability to extract only a small percentage from thousands of hemp plants.
Thousands of pounds of biomass (plant material) are required to produce small amounts of CBG isolate. This is because most hemp contains very little CBG, as opposed to some hemp strains that now contain 20% CBD. This means that if a crop’s CBG content is only 1%, you’ll need to use 20 times the amount of biomass to extract the same amount of CBG.
What are the primary distinctions between CBG and CBD?
Molecular structure variations
CBG Gummies are distinct from CBD in several ways. For starters, the molecular structures of cannabigerol and cannabidiol differ. The number and arrangement of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen atoms that make up a cannabinoid. CBD CBG Gummies have different molecular structures, so they will bind to the body’s cannabinoid receptors in different ways and produce different effects.
Interact in opposing ways with receptors
Furthermore, CBD CBG Gummies activate cannabinoid receptors in different ways. For example, a 2011 study published in Psychopharmacology compared the effects of CBD and CBG on the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor. The study discovered that CBD’s anti-nausea effects are caused by its affinity for the 5-HT1A receptor and by acting as an agonist (activator). CBG, on the other hand, acts as a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist (blocker).
Various effects on appetite
According to research, CBG can act as an appetite stimulant. A rat study published in 2016 CBD CBG Gummies discovered that CBG doses encouraged the animals to eat more than double their normal food intake. However, more research is needed to back up this claim, as a different study published in 2012 found that CBG did not cause a change in eating patterns while CBD CBG Gummies reduced total food intake.
Conclusion
Overall, much more research is needed before we have a complete understanding of how and to what extent CBG Gummies function in the body. However, the studies that are currently available show that CBG can be a useful alternative to traditional medicine and can supplement your current CBD CBG Gummies intake. Individual needs will dictate dosage, but in general, it is best to start slowly and gradually increase the dose as needed.