Cannabis has been used from time immemorial in treating various ailments. In ancient times, the plant was mainly used for relieving headaches and managing wounds. Some people also used it as an aphrodisiac. Today, various scientific findings have established that marijuana might help treat many more medical conditions, including anxiety, insomnia, inflammatory diseases, to mention but a few.
Now, the cannabis plant produces hundreds of pharmacologically useful extracts. These compounds are known as cannabinoids, and cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the most popular ones. CBD is the most widely-studied non-psychoactive compound of cannabis. On the other hand, THC is the most popular psychoactive extract from the plant.
But while cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol are the most common therapeutic extracts obtained from cannabis, they’re not the only substances produced by the plant. Cannabis has several other compounds, including cannabinol (CBN), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabigerol (CBG), etc.
This post shall examine the effects of CBG oil and why you should give the substance a try.
More About CBG Oil
If you’re new to cannabis, it’s not unusual to find yourself wondering, what is CBG oil? Well, CBG oil is simply the oil extracted from cannabigerol.
CBG oil is obtained from cannabigerol the same way other cannabis-based oils are extracted. Although there may be variations in the exact procedures followed, the process typically begins with cannabigerol’s decarboxylation.
Decarboxylation is the process of activating raw cannabis material into its enhanced forms. The process is also called decarbing. It’s important to note that many cannabinoids contain a carboxyl (–COOH) group. Decarbing simply removes the carboxyl molecule, a process that renders the compound more potent and produces carbon dioxide gas as a by-product. Cannabigerol occurs naturally as cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) with a molecular formula of C22H32O4. After decarboxylation, CBGA converts to CBG, with a molecular formula of C21H32O2.
The decarboxylation of cannabinoids usually happens naturally throughout the life cycle of a cannabis plant. However, the process can also be induced by heating, as is the case when extracting CBG oil.
After decarboxylation, raw cannabis products undergo winterization. The process involves dissolving the plant material in ethanol and then placing the mixture in a freezer. This makes it easy to separate CBG oil from other cannabis oils based on its melting and precipitation points.
Potential Health Benefits of CBG Oil
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Treating Pain
Nearly all cannabinoids contain powerful analgesic properties that make them effective against pain. CBG is no exception.
According to a 2018 study, cannabigerol interacts with CB2 receptors. These are the same endocannabinoid receptors that cannabidiol also interacts with.
When consumed, CBG oil can treat pain by activating specific pain-regulating receptors in your endocannabinoid system.
2. Relieving Anxiety
Marijuana’s anxiolytic properties are well-documented. The only difference lies in how the various cannabis extracts exert their anti-anxiety effects.
While CBD increases the body’s signaling of the neurotransmitter serotonin, CBG inhibits gamma-aminobutyric acid reuptake (GABA). GABA is a neurotransmitter that blocks the brain’s ability to process specific signals.
By reducing GABA reuptake, cannabigerol oil can treat anxiety and elevate your mood. The effects of GABA reuptake inhibition have also been shown to produce muscle relaxation, which means that CBG oil might also help post-workout muscle recovery.
3. Alleviating Inflammation
CBG oil also contains anti-inflammatory properties that may come in handy for people battling chronic inflammatory diseases. Cannabigerol generally alleviates inflammation by diminishing some of the body’s inflammatory markers.
A 2013 research conducted on rat specimens established that CBG could reduce inflammation induced by inflammatory bowel disease (IBS). Researchers also noted a significant reduction in other IBS symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea.
CBG’s anti-inflammatory properties might also benefit people with cancer. A 2014 study demonstrated that cannabigerol oil could slow down cancer cells’ proliferation in rats with colon cancer.
4. Treating Nausea
Tetrahydrocannabinol accounts for most of marijuana’s antiemetic properties.
However, numerous findings now show that CBG might also be effective in relieving nausea symptoms. That makes the oil especially suitable for people with cancer and HIV/AIDS.
Well, medical researchers are yet to identify the exact way in which cannabigerol oil relieves nausea. However, CBG’s antiemetic properties might have a lot to do with the compound’s positive interactions with the endocannabinoid system.
5. Relieving Skin Conditions
We’ve already pointed out cannabigerol’s potential for alleviating inflammatory diseases. Therefore, CBG oil might help to treat various inflammatory skin conditions, such as acne.
The oil relieves acne by inhibiting the effects of overactive sebaceous glands. You probably already know that sebaceous glands secrete sebum – the oil that nourishes and moisturizes the skin. But excess sebum production might also cause blockages in skin pores, leading to acne breakouts.
Besides acne, studies have shown that consuming CBG oil might also relieve or reduce the risks of skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. What makes CBG oil a perfect remedy against skin issues is that it is generally milder, even for sensitive skin people.
6. Managing Glaucoma
Glaucoma is another medical condition that CBG oil might treat.
According to a study published in 2008, cannabigerol might reduce intraocular pressure induced by glaucoma.
While easing this pressure alone may not heal glaucoma, it can help make the condition more manageable.
7. Boosting Bladder Functions
Various cannabinoids have shown potential for enhancing bladder functions by regulating bladder contractions.
In a 2015 study, researchers examined the efficacy of five cannabinoids in treating bladder dysfunctions.
At the end of the study, cannabigerol showed the most promise at treating bladder issues.
8. Prevention of Disease
Not only can cannabigerol oil treat various medical conditions. The oil might also prevent those diseases from developing in the first place.
Cannabigerol oil contains antifungal, antibacterial, and even antiviral properties. According to a 2008 study, CBG oil might kill certain disease-causing bacteria. That includes methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that causes drug-resistant staph infections.
CBG oil also contains neuroprotective properties. That makes it an effective remedy against neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington’s disease.
The Bottom Line
Although cannabigerol isn’t as famous as CBD and THC, the substance is just as important as its more famous cousins.
CBG can treat various diseases, ranging from pain and anxiety to inflammatory, neurological, and even bladder conditions. The compound also contains powerful antioxidant properties that may help to keep certain diseases at bay.
And for your peace of mind, it will interest you to know that cannabigerol is non-psychoactive.
But as with all marijuana extracts, the conventional wisdom is to use CBG oil in moderation. Begin with the lowest servings and observe how your body responds to the compound before increasing the doses.
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