The cannabinoid industry has taken up huge attention by the wellness and medical communities lately, with rising product usages like CBD oil. However, even as CBD has become quite recognized, a lesser-known cousin called CBG is also receiving more interest. Less known than CBD but equally potential in its health benefits. This article explains and contrasts the two substances: CBD and CBG, both their functioning within the human body, and potential benefits individually.
What is CBG?
CBG refers to Cannabigerol, one of the over 100 cannabinoid types occurring on the cannabis plant. However, it can only be found in minimal proportions compared to its rather famous cousin, CBD. It is often termed as the “mother of all cannabinoids,” because it is from which CBD and THC are produced, undergoing transformation into the various cannabinoids that a cannabis plant produces in an early stage in its growth cycle once it reaches maturity. Although it presents in much smaller quantities compared to most cannabis strains, CBG has proven its own therapeutic potential. It is nonpsychoactive, meaning it doesn’t induce a “high” as with THC, thus a much better choice for individuals wanting to avoid that intoxicated effect while still experiencing relief.
What is CBD?
Another chemical which doesn’t cause psych activity within the marijuana plant is CBD. In the past year or two, it’s like CBD has gone ballistic for people interested, simply due to the possibly therapeutic uses ascribed to this chemical. CBD won’t give anyone the high, but might still alter how one’s body endocannabinoid system modifies the homeostasis within the body.
CBD is one of the most popular medicinal products used for anxiety and chronic pain, to sleep disorders and even epilepsy. It can also be found in oils, tinctures, edibles, creams, and even beauty products. Unlike CBG, which is relatively scarce in cannabis, CBD is usually abundant, so extraction is usually easier and cheaper.
Differences of CBG and CBD
CBG and CBD belong to the same cannabinoid family. However, they come with very different characteristics. The functioning is different within the body of the two products. To clarify, this is some basic differences between CBG and CBD:
1. Chemical Structure
Both CBG and CBD are similar chemically because they are all cannabinoids, but the composition differs slightly at the molecular level. CBG is considered a precursor to CBD. What this means is that CBG is chemically changed into CBD and other cannabinoids by the cannabis plant throughout the growth cycle. Their structure may explain why it has a different reaction with the body.
2. Abundance in Cannabis Plants
The availability of one within a cannabis plant is the most striking difference between CBG and CBD. It generally appears in much lower concentrations in mature plants, often under 1% in most cannabis strains, making it harder to extract in larger amounts. Compared to CBG, CBD is more readily available due to the higher concentrations in which it is produced within cannabis.
3.Effects of Interaction with the Endocannabinoid System
CBG: The interaction of the agent with cannabinoid receptors will come forth more directly, especially considering the activity of CB1 and CB2 within the ECS. Some other researches on possible influence in other receptors indicate potential relevance to other receptors in other parts of the body where changes seem to result in mood disturbance, pain, and possible irritation.
CBD: CBD interacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors, but primarily acts by modulation rather than by direct binding. It affects serotonin and vanilloid receptors; this action can contribute to its effects, which may include analgesia and anxiolysis.
Potential Health Benefits of CBG
This emerging field of study shows encouraging evidence from conducted research, suggesting that CBG may offer numerous health benefits. Among the most studied potential benefits are as follows:
1. Anti-inflammatory Properties
2. Neuroprotective Effects
CBG has also been under research for its neuroprotective properties. Different studies have established that CBG is a helpful compound for neurodegenerative disorders, especially Huntington’s disease. The compound helps to stimulate BDNF production, which is important for a healthy brain.
3. Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties
CBG has shown promising antibacterial activity against the type of bacteria that develops resistance toward antibiotics, especially MRSA. It might also hold antifungal potential and will thus be useful for development of treatments for infections.
4. Appetite Stimulation
Some studies even claim that CBG may be able to stimulate appetite. This is particularly useful for cancer and HIV patients who frequently experience anorexia as the main issue. This is because the CBG may interact with the CB1 receptor to increase appetite.
Potential Health Benefits of CBD
Researchers have attributed many health benefits to CBD and continue to study it further. Some of the most prominent are the following:
1. Reducing pains and inflammation
CBD is widely recognized for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic benefits. Some use it to relieve pain and inflammation, particularly in conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis. CBD achieves its working on pain with the assistance of ECS. It simply makes the signal of pain modification within the brain.
2. Anxiety and Stress Reduction
It can use wide spreading among other applications. CBD can aid sleep because research has indicated a relation with serotonin receptors which have interaction in the brains responsible for the regulation of moods to induce sleep; there has also been an implication it’s helpful to people suffering with PTSD.
3. Improvement Sleep
CBD has also proven to be a potential natural sleep aid. It could improve sleep quality by reducing anxiety, inducing relaxation, and alleviating pain or discomfort that might disrupt rest.
4. Seizure Control
It has also proven useful to control some forms of epilepsy, though use among children was until now more anecdotal. There is also a drug based on CBD known as Epidiolex that gained the approval of the FDA to use in very rare forms of epilepsy, namely Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Conclusion: CBG vs. CBD – Which One to Select?
Ultimately, both CBG and CBD come with unique properties and potential health benefits, and it all is a matter of individual preferences and needs. Although the former is much more in demand and extensively studied than the latter, the CBG is gaining momentum as a pretty powerful cannabinoid with individual therapeutic benefits. If a health benefit is insufficient or too narrow, some people combine both cannabinoids, as they complement each other.
It is, therefore, imperative to seek advice from a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement or cannabinoid regimen, especially if one has underlying health conditions or is on prescription medications.
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