CBD is in fashion right now, with sales predicted to top $26 billion by 2026. Nowadays, thousands of people are taking CBD, so they can experience the health benefits of cannabis, without the psychoactive side effects.
Yet CBD is only one of the hundred-plus cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. We all know about THC, but CBG is also rapidly rising to the fore in the realm of healthful supplements.
Find out more about CBG vs CBD below, so you can get the best benefits of the cannabinoid that suits your needs.
What Is CBD?
CBD is an acronym for cannabidiol, which occurs abundantly in Type II and Type III hemp and cannabis plants. Scientists first discovered it in 1930, but it only rose to fame during the 1970s due to the reported anticonvulsant benefits of CBD.
It’s non-intoxicating and offers many of the benefits of THC, although it’s also known for soothing instead of stimulating brain processes.
Anecdotal evidence also suggests that CBD may have neuroprotective, antioxidative, and analgesic properties, too. Thanks to the wide range of CBD products available today, you can experiment with how to use CBD, so it works best for you.
Most cannabinoids complement each other when used together due to something known as the entourage effect. CBG offers a safe way to experience these boosted benefits without resorting to taking THC.
What Is CBG?
CBG stands for cannabigerol, it’s also known as the ‘mother cannabinoid’ since most cannabinoids start as CBG. As the cannabis plant matures, CBG changes into THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), CBCA (cannabichromenic acid), and CBDA (cannabidiolic acid).
That means, there’s very little CBG left in a plant by the time it’s ready for harvest. Like CBD, CBG is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid and offers a few extra benefits.
You can use both cannabinoids together or compare the benefits of CBD vs CBG to see which better suits your needs.
Benefits of CBG vs CBD
All cannabinoids act with the human endocannabinoid system, to help regulate various important body processes. We don’t fully understand how this works, but the way this interaction takes place depends on the molecular structure of the cannabinoid.
CBD works mainly to enhance the receptivity of CB1 and CB2 receptors, in the ECS. This makes them more receptive to both internal cannabinoids as well as those derived from nutrition.
Due to its different molecular structure, CBG binds with the CB1 and CB2 receptors to help enhance the benefits gained by taking CBD. These include:
- Pain relief
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Soothing anxiety
So, while CBD and CBG differ in several respects, they have the same results. Using them together may enhance the benefits of each, although this depends on a wide range of personal factors.
Breaking Down the Differences
In summary, the main differences between CBD and CBG are their molecular structure, how they work with the ECS, and their abundance in mature cannabis plants.
Now that you know the basics about CBG vs CBD, you’re better able to decide which one suits your needs best.
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