Cannabigerol: The Mother Of All Cannabinoids
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Cannabigerol: The Mother Of All Cannabinoids

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Guest post by Jamie Rollins RN, BSN, CYT 

Cannabigerol, commonly known as CBG, is also known as “the mother of all cannabinoids” because all the other cannabinoids are derived from this molecule.

As with all cannabinoids, we get Cannabigerol from cannabis flower or hemp flower, and can be delivered via flower (as in pre-rolls or using a vape, bong, pipe or concentrates), oil, balm, salve, edibles, tinctures, and/or capsules.

CBG has been getting more attention these days, and rightly so. It’s reported to have no psychoactive effects, but is showing promise in fighting cancer, treating intraocular pressure (which accompanies the diagnosis of glaucoma), and antibacterial properties which have been shown to be powerful against the gram + nosocomial infection MRSA, which is antibiotic resistant and notoriously difficult to treat.

There is also research being done looking at CBG’s neuroprotective & antidepressant capacities, and overall we’re looking at CBG’s enormous potential as a therapeutic agent in multiple disease processes.

The reason CBG is referred to as the mother of all cannabinoids is because when the acid (or raw fresh plant) form of this molecule – CBGa – is exposed to heat, UV light, or time, it becomes THCa & CBDa which then become THC and CBD.

Researchers determined that the plant makes CBGa as an insecticide for itself. They also found that when CBG was isolated from Lebaneses hashish back in 1964 by Gaoni & Mechoulam, that it was the “missing link in the plant syntheses of cannabinoid constituents.”

Some of the disease processes that CBG is being tested for include:

EYES

  • Endocannabinoid receptors are prevalent in eye structures, and interestingly, CBG is thought to be particularly effective in treating glaucoma because it reduces intraocular pressure. It is a powerful vasodilator and has neuroprotective effects as well. The challenge, as then infamous neurologist and cannabis reseracher Dr. Ethan Russo stated, was finding a lipid-soluble way to administer CBG directly to the eye for the greatest degree of efficacy.

INFLAMMATION

  • In animal experiments involving mice, CBG was found to be effective in decreasing the inflammation characteristic of inflammatory bowel disease.
  • Also evidence pointing toward analgesic and anti-erythemic effects (i.e. pain relief and histamine response).

NERVOUS SYSTEM

  • In a recent 2015 study, CBG was shown to protect neurons in mice with Huntington’s disease, which is characterized by nerve cell degeneration in the brain.

CANCER

  • CBG is showing 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, demonstrating a very exciting possibility for a cure for colorectal cancer. CBG has also been shown to be cytotoxic (deadly) to cancer cells.

ANTIMICROBIAL

  • European research shows evidence that CBG is an effective antibacterial agent, particularly against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) microbial strains resistant to several classes of drugs. CBG was shown to be effective in gram positive bacteria, which are often hospital-acquired infections resistant to most antibiotics.

BLADDER

  • 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.

If you are interested in adding CBG to your wellness regime – which may already include CBD, THC, and other cannabinoids – you can typically find it isolated in a tincture or in CBG-heavy flower. Many of the anecdotal reports of using CBG in my group of cannabis clients, friends, and fellow nurses has shown a consensus that CBG can be very powerful for digestive or “belly” issues.

During a webinar on the topic, Dr. Ethan Russo stated that “a good starting dose is around 10mg but people have had results at 5mg and sometimes, then again, some people need 20mg.” What we at NurseGrown gathered from his statement is that dosing CBG is similar to how people dose other cannabinoids; start low go slow until you find the level that is right for you.


References:

Photos by CRYSTALWEED cannabis and GRAS GRÜN on Unsplash

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult a health provider before taking herbal supplements. This information is intended to provide general information and education and is not to be construed as medical advice or instruction. You must be 18 years of age to purchase products. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires this notice. NurseGrown Organics, LLC is fully insured.