Look for our CBG Dark Chocolate Bars and Tinctures in stores in the weeks to come.
But wait?!? What the heck is CBG?
By now it seems that most of us involved in medical and recreational cannabis understand what THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol) are, their differences as well their effects on the body in general. In recent years, scientists have gone on to study the myriad of other cannabinoids present in cannabis — most notably CBG.
Cannabigerol (CBG) has been shown to act on very specific physiological systems and problems including the fight against cancer. Considered a minor cannabinoid, CBG levels per most strains average less than 1%. To cultivate higher yields of CBG, breeders are experimenting with genetic manipulation and cross-breeding of plants.
CBG’s use is promising:
- CBG has been shown to be effective as a treatment for glaucoma: CBG reduces intraocular pressure.
- In animal experiments involving mice, CBG was found to decreasing inflammation characteristic of inflammatory bowel disease.
- In a 2015 study, CBG was shown to protect neurons in mice with Huntington’s disease, characterized by nerve cell degeneration in the brain.
- CBG demonstrates great promise as a cancer fighter. Specifically, CBG was shown to block receptors that cause cancer cell growth. In one such study, it was shown to inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer cells in mice, thereby slowing colon cancer growth. CBG inhibited tumors and chemically-induced colon carcinogenesis, therefore demonstrating a very exciting possibility for a cure for colorectal cancer.
- Research shows evidence that CBG has antibacterial properties, particularly against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) microbial strains resistant to several classes of drugs. Since the 1950s, topical formulations of cannabis have been effective in skin infections, but researchers at the time were unaware of the plant’s chemical composition.
- In a 2017 study, a form of CBG purified to remove delta-9 THC was a very effective appetite stimulant in rats. This may lead to a novel non-psychotropic therapeutic option for cachexia, the muscle wasting and severe weight loss seen in late stage cancer and other diseases.
- In a study that looked at the effects of five different cannabinoids on bladder contractions, CBG tested best at inhibiting muscle contractions, so it may be a future tool in preventing bladder dysfunction disorders.
CBG results such as these are opening the doors for future CBG research. Because it is non-psychotropic, CBG has a range of potential applications including as an analgesic, therapy for psoriasis, and as an antidepressant.
