Unless you’ve been living under that proverbial rock, you’ve at least heard of CBD and its wide range of health benefits. It’s a potent tool in our quest for better health and wellness, certainly, but it might not be the only hemp-derived phytochemical you want in your arsenal. Enter cannabigerol, usually abbreviated as CBG. A cousin to CBD, CBC, CBN, and other hemp and cannabis derivatives, cannabigerol oil offers a host of potential health benefits.
What Is Cannabigerol Oil?
Cannabigerol is a cannabinoid, much like CBD, CBC, and others. It’s a naturally occurring phytochemical found in hemp, as well as in marijuana. It’s in the same family as THC, but it is non-psychoactive, which means that it interacts with the body without creating a “high”. It is completely non-intoxicating and legal to use.
However, there are a few differences between CBG and other cannabinoids. For one thing, cannabigerol is the progenitor of all other cannabinoids. When CBG-A is heated, it begins to break down. That process yields:
- CBG
- CBD
- THC
- CBC
With that being said, CBG-A does not break down evenly across the spectrum. Only about 1% of the resulting cannabinoids are CBG, with 20 to 25% being CBD. Because of this rarity, few consumer-facing products can be found made with pure cannabigerol.
Oil and tincture products labeled as “full-spectrum” usually include small quantities of all cannabinoids, making these a more readily available option. Still, forward-looking health and wellness innovators are producing CBG-focused supplements, so they are becoming more widely available. Broad-spectrum products include two or more cannabinoids and are usually more focused on specific pairings, such as CBD and CBG, rather than including small amounts of all cannabinoids.
While they might not be available in the same concentration, CBG does interact with the same endocannabinoid receptors in the body as CBG, CBC, and the rest. These are the receptors responsible for transmitting pain signals to the brain, as well as those responsible for inflammation. However, research shows that cannabigerol oil may have many additional implications for your health.
Potential Health Benefits of Cannabigerol Oil
In addition to addressing pain and inflammation, cannabigerol also shows significant promise in treating a wide range of other conditions, including the following:
- IBD – Inflammatory bowel disease affects millions of Americans every year. IBD is a catch-all term for multiple conditions that affect the health of the digestive tract, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. At least one study found that cannabigerol can reduce the inflammation found in IBD patients, thereby alleviating their pain, discomfort, and other symptoms.
- Eye Health – A wide range of conditions can affect our eyes, ranging from normal degeneration over time to glaucoma, a disease in which interocular pressure slowly increases within the eye, potentially leading to blindness. At least one study shows that cannabigerol may be able to reduce the interocular pressure responsible for the loss of vision in glaucoma patients.
- Healthy Appetite – When most people think about appetite in relation to cannabinoids, they likely imagine the “munchies” stemming from THC. However, CBG has shown promise in improving the appetite in laboratory rats, which could have implications for millions of people who struggle with little to no appetite.
- Cancer – The C-word is the boogeyman of our age. And the more we understand about cancer, the more frightening it becomes. Thankfully, there are many ways to reduce your risks of developing cancer, including a healthy diet, regular exercise, and regular exams (both prostate and breast cancer exams are critical). Interestingly, it seems that you might be able to add taking a CBG tincture or cannabigerol oil to the mix. At least one study has found that CBG may be able to reduce the growth of tumors in laboratory rats.
- Huntington’s Disease – Huntington’s disease is a genetic disease that affects the brain’s neurons. As they degenerate, the disease leads to the loss of movement control, intellectual capabilities, and emotional control. One study found that CBG may be able to alter the course of the disease, leading to more positive outcomes for patients. It may also be able to treat other neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s.
- Bladder Health – Bladder dysfunction affects millions of people and causes symptoms that range from pain and inflammation to incontinence. Cannabigerol oil may be able to reduce these symptoms for many patients because it affects how the bladder contracts.
A Note on CBD
Many cannabinoids are more effective when taken with other cannabinoids. CBG and CBD not only share many similarities but augment each other's actions in the body. By combining CBD and CBG, you can experience amplified benefits. Plus, both CBD and CBG are non-psychoactive, so you’re able to benefit from their effects without any worries about intoxication.
Taking CBG
The most popular way to take CBG is as a sublingual oil. All that’s necessary is to place one-half to one dropper full under the tongue and then hold it there for about 30 seconds before swallowing. In addition to using a cannabigerol oil, you could also use a CBG tincture, which does not have to be held under the tongue. Simply release the dropper into your mouth and swallow. You can also mix it into your preferred beverage if you’d rather.
At The Raw Botanics Co., we’re dedicated to creating effective solutions that help you live a happy, healthy life. Our RESTORE CBD + CBG tincture includes not just bioavailable CBD and CBG, but also ashwagandha, cordyceps and turkey tail mushrooms, and turmeric. However, you might prefer our RESTORE CBD + CBG softgels, which include the same blend, but in an easy-to-swallow softgel.
Discover Raw Botanics Products
Whether you decide that a cannabigerol oil is right for you, that a CBG tincture is your preferred option, or that softgels offer the ease of use you want, taking a CBG supplement may have profound effects on your health, lifestyle, and future. We invite you to learn more about our ingredients and the role they play in your health.