Anyone who has taken a CBD product is generally familiar with how this plant-based compound works and why it is so popular. We know that CBD has many unique properties, and many believe that it’s capable of exciting things. However, the cannabis plant is naturally rich in an enormous range of unique compounds, and CBD is only one of them. Sure, CBD is wonderful, but it’s also important to look into other compounds found in hemp and one such compound is CBG (Cannabigerol).
Interestingly, CBG is another hemp compound with its own exciting properties. In fact, CBG shares a lot in common with CBD in that it’s also a cannabinoid. However, CBG is a useful compound all on its own, as you will soon discover.
How CBG and Other Cannabinoids Work with the Endocannabinoid System
We will take an in-depth look into the world of CBG, but first, we have to talk about the endocannabinoid system. That’s because explaining this system gives us a full picture of how CBG operates within the body. We know that CBD and THC are both cannabinoids, and technically, they are phytocannabinoids, which means that they are plant-based in origin. But, did you know that the human body is capable of producing its own cannabinoids?
What makes cannabinoids so unique in regard to plant compounds is that they have a direct relationship to the endocannabinoid system. This bodily system controls homeostasis, and it does this by sending cannabinoid to cannabinoid receptors that are found all throughout the body. Then, when these cannabinoid receptors receive cannabinoids, they seem to regulate bodily processes that contribute to our well-being.
CBD is one cannabinoid that’s used by the endocannabinoid system. But other cannabinoids, CBG included, are also capable of bonding with cannabinoid receptors to produce their own unique effects. That makes examining each cannabinoid very important because it allows us to better understand how this unique class of plant compounds works with the human body.
What Exactly Is CBG?
CBG stands for cannabigerol, and it’s a cannabinoid that naturally exists within the hemp plant. Moreover, it’s classified as a minor cannabinoid, as it exists in the plant at extremely low levels in comparison to others like CBD, THC, and CBC.
What Are CBG’s Capabilities?
Again, CBG has its own unique properties, making it potentially valuable as a unique plant compound. For one thing, researchers studied its effects as a natural antibacterial.
Additionally, studies have shown that CBG may have effects on bladder health, irritable bowel disease, and glaucoma.
It’s also important to point out that CBG seems to have potent anti-inflammatory properties, as do many of the compounds native to the hemp plant. Additionally, it’s possible that CBG’s properties are maximized when in use with the other compounds found in hemp. Interestingly, this is due to the synergistic properties of cannabinoids.
Who Should Seek Out CBG?
CBG is just one of the compounds in hemp that’s rich in unique properties. So, this supplement is for those who find hemp fascinating and desire to explore the full range of cannabinoids. Also, research is underway for CBG effects with regard to various illnesses and conditions. Therefore, it’s also a good idea for people with those illnesses to learn more about CBG.
How Is CBG Made?
CBG originates from the cannabis plant, just like CBD and every other cannabinoid. Therefore, it’s already within the plant material. However, it’s most commonly found in full-spectrum and broad-spectrum hemp extracts. Basically, there are three types of hemp extract found in every commercial CBD product: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum and CBD isolate.
Full-spectrum CBD extract contains every compound as it naturally exists in the hemp plant, including CBD, THC, and CBG, as well as terpenes and flavonoids. Then, there’s a broad-spectrum extract which has every compound except THC. These two extracts give you CBG along with all of the other cannabinoids that you’re familiar with. Finally, CBD isolate contains nothing but CBD, so this product does not have any CBG.
Moreover, hemp farmers are currently exploring ways to breed higher-CBG strains of cannabis so that hemp users can receive more CBG per dose of hemp extract.
Where Can I Find CBG?
Because CBG levels in hemp are so low, it’s very hard to find high amounts of cannabinoid out there. However, it’s possible that you don’t need extremely high amounts anyway, because it seems that there’s a synergistic effect when CBG is taken along with every other compound in the hemp plant. Regardless, the key to acquiring CBG is consuming a full spectrum or broad-spectrum hemp extract, as these naturally contain the same amount of CBG that occurs in nature. As we said, new genetic practices in hemp farming may allow for higher CBG strains in the future.
While there are many cannabinoids that exist in isolate form, CBG is currently not believed to be one of them. Again, this is because of the low amount that exists in the hemp plant. To produce a small amount of CBG isolate, an incredible amount of plant material would need to be used, and this would make the product outrageously expensive.
There’s More to Hemp Than Just CBD…
However, that’s not to say that CBD in and of itself isn’t a truly exciting discovery. Rather, the reality is that CBD is only one cannabinoid, of which there are many in the hemp plant. By understanding each cannabinoid’s unique properties, we can better utilize the hemp plant for its spectacular chemical composition. If you’re interested in CBG, consider seeking out full or broad-spectrum CBD products as these naturally contain the compound along with all of the other hemp cannabinoids that work synergistically.
