CBG: An Intro To The Most Calming Cannabinoid Available
Over the last few years, everyone’s been talking about cannabidiol (CBD). In a matter of months, CBD swiftly and surely took the wellness world by storm, thanks to its calming and anti-inflammatory properties.
Until now CBD has been center stage, but the truth is, it’s not the only compound of interest — not even close.
In fact, there are over 150 compounds in the hemp plant; and one of them, called cannabigerol (CBG), is one you should know about.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about CBG, it’s exciting benefits, and Juna’s new EASE line of advanced CBG products.
So, what is CBG anyway?
Like CBD, CBG is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid compound found in certain strains of hemp. CBG has earned a reputation as the “mother” of all cannabinoids because it acts as a precursor to the three main cannabinoid lines, which eventually produce THC, CBD, and CBC. It’s also sometimes called the “stem cell” cannabinoid or the “parent” cannabinoid.
If you’re wondering why you haven’t heard of CBG before, it’s probably because while a premature hemp plant will have high levels of CBG and low levels of other cannabinoids, as the plant matures, CBG will start to turn into other cannabinoids until the CBG content is less than 1% of the total composition of the plant. Because of this, CBG is considered a “very rare” or “minor” cannabinoid.
In recent years, researchers have started investigating the health benefits of CBG and other minor cannabinoids. And what they’ve found — at least in the case of CBG — is that when it comes to benefits, they’re really not “minor” at all.
What are the benefits of CBG?
CBG interacts with many of the same receptors as CBD, and therefore, they have many overlapping properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-anxiety, and anti-bacterial properties.
For example, animal studies have shown that CBG can reduce inflammation associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Other research on animals has suggested that CBG may be beneficial for inflammation in the brain and neurodegenerative conditions. Notably, one 2015 study in particular showed that CBG was an “extremely effective neuroprotectant in mice.” Researchers are extremely excited about CBG’s potential as an anticancer agent, as studies have shown that it could inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer cells in mice.
Research has also shown that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) — one of the most dangerous bacteria we’re facing because it’s resistant to several types of antibiotics — is killed by CBG and is something to pay attention to. As Dr. Ethan Russo, a neurologist and lead cannabinoid researcher told Project CBD: I think [CBG] has great potential...it seems to be a powerful antibiotic that can work on bacteria that are normally resistant to antibiotics, especially Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which has caused some hospital-acquired infections.”
Clearly, there are a lot of reasons to study CBG. But it’s benefits don’t end with bacteria or inflammation, either.
CBG, Stress and Tension
Beyond the benefits above, CBG may be the cannabinoid that shows the most promise for stress and anxiety, which lets be honest, we’re all struggling with in 2020.
One 2010 study in particular showed that CBG “is a highly potent agonist for α2 adrenoceptor and a blocker of serotonin 5-HT1A receptor.” You’ve probably heard 5-HT1A before, it’s the receptor that is targeted by a major class of depression medications, called SSRIs.
CBG may also get its calming properties from it’s interaction with cannabinoid receptors that play a role in both anxiety and pain. As Dr. Russo also explained, “...CBG binds to the cannabinoid receptors but with an affinity that is way lower than THC, so a person can take a large amount of it and not be intoxicated.” And a lower affinity doesn’t necessarily mean less effective because, as he continued to explain, CBG “...displays a very strong anti-anxiety effect and also has muscle relaxing effects, maybe even more than THC.”
Wow, right? With the COVID-19 pandemic, an election, natural disasters and general unease, CBG sounds like exactly what we all need during this period of intense overwhelm.
PRO TIP: If you want to try CBG for chronic stress and tension, try taking Juna's EASE ingestible every morning with your cup of coffee, tea, or hot water with lemon; or, if you’re looking for a remedy for acute stress and anxiety, save it for days when you feel overwhelmed and need to disrupt the cycle of anxiety, and its physical and emotional side effects.
CBG, Pain, and PMS
Stress and tension aren’t always the result of external factors in the world. In fact, sometimes they can be the simple result of a particularly tough workout (which, for the record, many athletes are turning to CBG for a speedy recovery from workouts with great success!) and sometimes they come from deep within, from our monthly hormonal fluctuations, which can leave many of us feeling down, stressed, and in pain.
Many of us were on the hormone roller coaster before COVID; and now, many of us are experiencing intensified PMS thanks to all the aforementioned overwhelm, stress, and tension — and the lack of distractions and social interaction. This is further multiplied if you suffer from endometriosis or PCOS, which can cause debilitating pain and PMS symptoms that go far beyond just a little moodiness or cravings for chocolate and bread.
While there’s no research on exactly how CBG can help with hormone-related health conditions, knowing that CBG is being studied for pain and anxiety, the potential is certainly there. At Juna, we knew we had to get CBG in the hands of women struggling with PMS and conditions like endometriosis as quickly as possible, so we sent samples of our new EASE ingestible to customers that are currently using our CBD products for endometriosis to see how effective CBG is in comparison. We’re anxiously awaiting the feedback so we can share it all with you!
PRO TIP: If you want to try CBG for PMS or cramps, try taking our EASE CBG ingestible twice daily in the 5 days leading up to your period, or, on the days when your symptoms are the most intense.
What’s the best way to experience CBG?
Just like CBD, not all CBG products are created equal. Our Juna EASE collection is specifically formulated to release tension and stress and contains a transformative blend of CBG:CBD with active botanicals to immediately provide a deep sense of calm and relief. The effectiveness of Juna stems from our exceptionally-rich, full-spectrum, single-origin, sun-grown hemp oil. Unlike most CBG products, which use a CBG isolate, we source our CBG products from an organic farm in Vermont from whole plants that are naturally high in CBG. Our farmers use utilize regenerative permaculture techniques for the richest soil quality and the flower we start with contains more than 80 identified botanical actives, including cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients.
Each EASE ingestible contains 20 mg of CBD and 20 mg of CBG as well as turmeric, bergamot, lemon balm, and vanilla. Turmeric is one of the strongest natural anti-inflammatories in the natural world, and is being studied as a potential treatment for all types of inflammatory disorders, including depression. Commonly used in aromatherapy to lessen stress and improve mood, bergamot oil is also known for its pain-relieving properties, which makes it the perfect addition to our CBG products. Lemon balm is a go-to herb for increasing both calmness and alertness when under any type of mental stress. And finally, vanilla is there for taste and to provide the last piece of the calming, tension-relieving puzzle.
Whether it be before a particularly stressful Zoom meeting, after a HIIT workout, or on Day 2 of your period when the cramps hit, CBG is proving to be one of the most — if not the most — beneficial cannabinoids. And in the coming years, as more studies are done, we’ll know even more about how CBG can benefit our health.