Many people suffer daily from gastrointestinal pain or issues, including acid reflux, IBS, Crohn’s Disease, and other ailments. These conditions can all be worsened by stress and inflammation.
Now, while most people may be more conversant with CBD (cannabidiol), which may be a natural remedy for pain, aches, and more, it has been reported that CBG (cannabigerol) is gradually gaining prominence for its pain alleviation capabilities. It also has other reported therapeutic benefits, such as anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Read on to learn more about CBG for gastrointestinal pain.
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ToggleWhat is CBG?
CBG (cannabigerol) is a cannabinoid extracted from the hemp plant. It is usually referred to as the “mother of all cannabinoids” since other cannabinoids, including CBD and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), are obtained from CBGA (cannabigerolic acid), which is the acidic form of CBG. No psychoactive effects arise from its consumption, but there may be some psychological effects.
CBG is often found in small amounts compared to other cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. In fact, most strains of the plant only contain about 1% CBG. Because of this, the products derived from it tend to be expensive. However, CBG has been gaining prominence because of the potential health benefits it can offer.
How Does CBG Work
CBG is processed by the body’s endocannabinoid system, which comprises molecules and receptors that keep our body in optimal condition regardless of what’s happening in the external environment.
Our body constitutes two kinds of receptors, namely CB1 receptors and CB2 receptors. The former is predominantly found in the brain, while the latter is mostly in the immune system.
CBG works by binding itself to CB1 and CB2 receptors. It improves the function of anandamide, a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in regulating appetite and sleep, enhancing pleasure and motivation, and relieving pain.
How CBG Compares to CBD
Though CBG and CBD share some similarities, such as both acting on the endocannabinoid system and not being psychoactive, there are a number of ways these cannabinoids are different. For instance, CBD and CBG have a different molecular structure, meaning their bioavailability and how they bind with reactors is also different.
These two cannabinoids also have different ways of activating receptors. While CBG acts as an antagonist at the receptor, CBD acts like an agonist, which is why it has anti-nausea effects.
CBG and CBD also differ in how they may stimulate appetite. A study on rats found that CBD significantly reduces food intake while CBG encourages approximately 2 times the normal food consumption.
Some reported therapeutic benefits of these cannabinoids also differ. For instance, while CBG offers appetite stimulation, antibiotic properties, and anti-cancer properties, CBD offers therapeutic benefits like lowered anxiety and stress, improved sleep, and neuroprotective properties.
Why Use CBG for Gastrointestinal Pain
One of the most essential processes in our body is digestion. This involuntary process enables our body to absorb important nutrients from our meals. Digestion also helps us meet our nutritional and energy requirements to keep our bodies healthy.
However, there are certain issues, such as inflammatory bowel disease, that prevent the digestion process, thereby leading to inflammation and gastrointestinal pain in our digestive system and the abdomen area. Fortunately, CBG for gastrointestinal pain relief has potential. Interest in CBG has been growing rapidly over the past couple of years due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Studies have shown that CBG can reduce inflammation associated with inflammatory bowel disease, which many people suffer from. It does this by creating CB2 receptor activity, which is vital for anti-inflammatory action and inhibiting COX 1/2 enzymes. Reportedly, CBG can also improve health conditions such as bladder dysfunction, Huntington’s disease, glaucoma, bacterial infection, and loss of appetite.
That said, the potential health benefits can be improved by conducting more clinical studies on humans.
Does CBG Cause Any Side Effects
Very little is known about the side effects of CBG. However, a general survey of patients using CBG to treat various conditions found that CBG users may experience side effects like dry mouth, sleepiness, hunger, and dry eyes. Some people said that CBG was more effective compared to conventional drugs.
Research on potential drug risks and other side effects of CBG is expanding. However, at the moment, enough hasn’t been done to determine whether CBG has drug-related risks and other side effects.
Choosing a CBG Product and How to Use It
Finding a good CBG product is much more difficult than finding CBD. Additionally, CBG isn’t regulated by the FDA, so you must conduct extensive research to get a high-quality product.
Here are a few tips for selecting a good CBG:
- Check for third-party testing: companies that create CBG products should have their products tested by a third party before putting them on the market. Before purchasing CBG, check whether the company whose CBG products you are looking to buy are third-party tested. Ensure that you read the lab report.
- Try full-spectrum CBD: Most cannabis flowers and full-spectrum CBD products contain trace amounts of CBG. Plus, unlike CBG, they are much easier to find. However, it is advisable to turn to specially-made CBG products.
There are different types of CBG products to choose from. They include capsules, oils, tinctures, lotions, and gummies. When it comes to using CBG for gastrointestinal pain, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all dosage since everyone’s chemistry is different. As such, it may take you some time to find the dosage that is right for you.
Also, until recently, there wasn’t an efficient way of consuming CBG, given that the cannabis plant produces only 10% of it. However, by leveraging selective breeding, brands are now creating strains of CBG with 90% of cannabigerol. These strains can produce more impactful products.
Can You Take CBG and CBD Together
It is possible to take both CBG and CBD at the same time. In fact, most people find that taking them together produces better therapeutic effects than taking either alone. CBG and CBD can work in tandem to provide a powerful pain-relieving remedy. Moreover, since using CBD and CBG together results in a powerful entourage effect on the body, they may help improve your mood while dealing with pain.
You are probably wondering if using CBG with over-the-counter or prescription medication will produce a similar effect. Just like CBD, CBG can affect how your body metabolizes these medications. As such, it’s advisable to exercise caution and check with your doctor before using prescription medication together with CBG products. In the same vein, you shouldn’t stop taking prescription medication to use CBG unless your doctor gives you the go-ahead to do so.
How Long Does CBG Stay in Your System
The duration CBG stays in your system will depend on factors such as:
- The amount you take – if you take a large quantity, it will stay in your system longer.
- The Frequency of taking it – if you take CBG frequently, it will build up in your system and stay for longer
- Your Metabolism – we all have a unique metabolism, meaning that CBG will be metabolized differently for different people.
Reach Out To Us To Learn More
CBG is increasingly becoming popular due to its health benefits, such as CBG for gastrointestinal pain. Suppose you are suffering from gastrointestinal pain or any other condition outlined above; CBG may help alleviate your pain and improve your general health.
If you are ready to start using CBG, Hemponix can help. We offer a wide range of CBG products, including CBG lotion, CBG gummies, and CBG tinctures. Explore our products.