What is CBG and CBGA | Cannabigerol | How can it help you?

 What is CBG?

Most people have heard of and even tried CBD, but may not yet know of its powerful and potent mother, CBG.

CBG stands for cannabigerol. CBG, like all cannabinoids, begins as the acidic or 'raw' form CBGA, cannabigerolic acid. CBGA is the precursor that converts to CBG or, one of the other 120 major and minor cannabinoids found in cannabis and hemp plants, therefore it is often referred to as the 'stem-cell' or ‘mother' cannabinoid.

CBG is legal and Non-Psychoactive. 

Cannabigerol sourced from hemp plants, like those grown at Sandhill Hemp, is legal in the USA as it contains less than 0.3% THC. This amount is so small that it does not produce any of the psychoactive effects that lead to the 'high' sensation, that some are concerned about.

Sandhill Hemp products are made from our CBG dominant hemp strain, and our products are rich in both CBGA and CBG as well as a myriad of other cannabinoids.

While most cannabinoid research has been done on THC and CBD, scientists are now turning their investigations to CBGA and CBG as a potential treatment for several conditions that CBD has been ineffective at treating. CBG is a great alternative to THC as it it binds to receptors like THC without the high.

Some potential therapeutic benefits are highlighted in the ongoing research linked in this article.

Your Incredible Endocannabinoid System 

Did you know that the human body is designed to interface with cannabinoids by way of our endocannabinoid system (ECS)?

The word 'cannabinoid' comes from 'cannabis' the plant. 'Endo' is short for 'endogenous' which means produced naturally by your body. 'Endocannabinoid' means cannabis-like substances that naturally occur in our body. The endocannabanoid system was discovered after, and named after the cannabis plant.

The ECS is made up of three parts:

• Endocannabinoids
• Receptors in the nervous system and around your body that endocannabinoids and cannabinoids bond with
• Enzymes that help break down endocannabinoids and cannabinoids

The ECS is a natural and vital part of our bodies, which makes our relationship to the cannabis plant a very special one. No other plant offers the concentration and diversity of cannabinoids like the Cannabis plant, and humans along with other mammals have a whole system designed to interface with these plant compounds. More on that later.

While we do make some of our own natural endocannabainoids under the right conditions, with all the stressors that continue to assault human health, the ECS is taxed and needs support more than ever.

CBG has unique potential over other cannabinoids as it binds with both main receptors, CB1 and CB2, but doesn’t activate them. This makes it functionally different from CBD, which doesn’t bind directly to either of these receptors — nor like THC, which binds and activates.The ECS is complex, and experts are still discovering exactly how it works, and its potential functions. However, medical science backs cannabis and its role in our health, and the reason for the far-reaching effects have to do with the size and scope of the endocannabinoid system itself.

Research has linked the ECS to the following processes:

• appetite and digestion
• metabolism
• pain support
• immune support
• mood
• learning and memory
• motor control
• sleep
• cardiovascular system function
• muscle formation
• bone remodeling and growth
• liver function
• reproductive system function
• stress
• skin and nerve function

These functions all contribute to homeostasis, which refers to the stability of your internal environment. For example, when stress, such as lack of sleep or an injury, throws off your body’s homeostasis, your ECS kicks in to help your body return to balance. Experts believe that maintaining homeostasis is the primary role of the ECS.

Fun Facts!

Cannabis was listed in Chinese Emperor Shen Nung's pharmacopoeia for more than 100 ailments dating back to 2737 BC.

Since first being discovered in the cannabis plant, cannabinoids have now been found in a handful of other plants. The most abundant collection of cannabinoids however, is still found only in the cannabis plant. Again, pointing to a synergetic relationship between us the plant.

Benefits and Research 

Up until recently it has been difficult to study CBG and CBGA. As we learned, CBGA converts rather quickly into other cannabinoids. The only way to study it was to harvest the plant prematurely with very low yields of CBG. Luckily now, we have dedicated strains that allow the hemp plant to fully mature with high concentrations of CBG, these are the plants we grow at Sandhill Hemp. This has initiated new research with some promising and exciting findings.

Here are just a few of the conditions that researchers are currently studying with relation to CBG:

• Bowel disease
• Glaucoma
• Bladder dysfunctions
• Huntington's disease
• Bacterial infections
  
• Appetite loss
• Pain management

Just the beginning

Below are just a few of the highlighted studies. Many of these studies were done on mice, continued clinical research will provide more significant insights into whether these results can be translated into treatment for humans but it is exciting to see the intial findings!

Antioxidant

A 2013 preclinical study found that CBG reduced oxidative stress in intestinal cells.

A 2017 study  Researchers gave CBG to mice that had been induced with colitis. CBG positively impacted several key metrics associated with colitis.

Another 2018 study confirmed CBG’s antioxidant effects. The authors suggest that the compound could act as a neuroprotectant, defending nerve cells from harmful oxidative stress.

Diabetes

A 2018 study found that CBG and CBGA and CBD and CBDA reduce the activity of aldose reductase. Aldose reductase is an enzyme that is associated with many diabetic complications.

Furthermore, a 2019 study found that CBGA, CBG and CBD could help with the metabolism of lipids (fats). This finding could potentially benefit patients with metabolic disorders like diabetes and dyslipidemia in the future.

CBG and the Brain

A survey on 127 CBG-predominant cannabis patients, shows very positive results with benign side effects and negligible withdrawal symptoms.

According to a 2018 study CBG may protect against both neurodegeneration and oxidative stress, possibly helping to prevent cell loss.

A 2015 study on animal models of Huntington’s disease, CBG was found to be “extremely active as a neuroprotectant.” Treatment with CBG improved movement and recovery in mice with Huntington’s and protected neurons from degeneration. 

With the cannibis industry expected to reach $50 billion in 2025, you can be sure there is a lot of hype surrounding hemp! Buyers must do their homework in finding and purchasing quality products. Check out our other blogs to discover why Sandhill Hemp has you covered! Our small, family owned and operated farm takes pride in our direct to consumer model. From our hands to yours, we are involved in, and oversee every step from seed to bottle to ensure you the highest quality, cutting out the middle man, giving you the best price and purity!