What are they?

CBD (cannabidiol) and CBG (cannabigerol) are cannabinoids, naturally occurring compounds found in cannabis plants. You may already know that both CBD and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are the two most popular cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. For now, let’s continue seeing CBG in more detail, since that one is less known. Cannabigerol, or CBG, is one of more than 100 cannabinoids discovered in
hemp and cannabis plants. Young hemp plants create cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). As the plant develops, CBGA breaks down into cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). These two compounds are then converted into CBD and THC. Any leftover CBGA is converted into CBG. It is still a fairly new compound in the world of cannabinoid research. From what has been shown in these studies, this compound has antibacterial, antidepressant, and anticancer properties. Meaning it can help with physical and mental wellness. CBG is also able to provide many of the medicinal properties as THC/ tetrahydrocannabinol, but without the psychoactive effect! CBG works by binding to both receptors (CB1 and CB2 receptors) of the endocannabinoid system, which influence inflammation, pain, and even heat sensitivity. Studies have also shown CBG's ability to fight nausea, increase appetite, regulate sleep, and even combat cancer-causing cells! CBG works really well as a pain reliever! This is because it reduces the pain and inflammation signals being sent to your brain. It’s able to do this by reducing the intensity of hormone-like lipids which are in charge of the inflammatory response and pain.

Why use them together?

Well, even though the compounds are similar, when paired together they can do a lot for your health. When CBD and CBG are paired together, they act synergistically to create a stronger effect compared to when they’re used alone. So they bring each other a lot more balance when they work together. It generates something called the entourage effect; this usually occurs when consuming a full spectrum hemp product. You can indicate which product has this combo when you see it has a “1:1” ratio. This means for every 1mg of CBD, you get 1mg of CBG as well. When put together, CBD and CBG can help with the following: Increase in focus, lowering anxiety and stress, boosting your mood, relieving general discomfort (physically and mentally), supporting appetite, helping with sleep, aiding stomach aches, helping with general pain/inflammation, and more! CBG helps with pain by being a GABA reuptake inhibitor. CBG’s ability to behave as a GABA reuptake inhibitor means that it can assist to maintain the levels of GABA in the brain and spinal cord. This is comparable to how selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) perform in their ability to maintain serotonin in the brain. Because CBG can help to inhibit the reuptake of GABA, a neurotransmitter that has been linked to pain reduction, it is possible for patients to use this cannabinoid in their pursuit of reduced pain.

AHS recommendations

-Kurativ CBD/CBG Tincture – 3300mg. This product has a 10:1 ratio of CBD:CBG and is a full spectrum product. This means this product has the legal limits of THC, 0.3%. This product also contains a bit of CBN, CBC, and CBDVA.

“Blending CBD & CBG helps create overall balance and regulates the body. When combined, these cannabinoids complement each other, and the effects are amplified. This Kurativ oil contains 1mg of CBG for every 10mg of CBD, plus an array of secondary cannabinoids.”

-Kurativ CBD/CBG Gummies – 1000mg. This product contains a 4:1 CBD:CBG ratio, with 0% THC. You can take this product any time of day when you’re feeling symptoms of stress, anxiety, or pain and can help you within 30-45 minutes, and stays in your system for 4-6 hours. We have two kinds: Apple/Peach Rings that are 50mg per piece, and Watermelon that is 25mg per piece.

“Kurativ CBD/CBG Gummies are a fun and delicious way to experience the power of cbd and cbg. Great for on-the-go relief. Available in bears, apple rings, peach rings, and our all-time favorite watermelon wedges. Try them all!”

So, let’s discuss what these compounds are. Starting with plain ol’ CBD. CBD, or cannabidiol, is found in the same plant as THC but is actually non-psychoactive, meaning CBD will not get you high while providing its therapeutic benefits. Because of this, it has become extremely popular in the medical field. CBD is often extracted from CBD-rich strains of cannabis, like hemp. It is typically seen in oils, tinctures, supplements, extracts, food and beverage products, gummies, and seemingly everything. CBD products that have high THC content come from marijuana plants, while the majority of CBD products you see on the market (and the only ones technically allowed by the FDA) are those that have a THC content of 0.3% or less. So, what about CBDA and CBGA? Where does it fit into the crowded cannabinoid market?

Let’s discuss CBGA first. Cannabigerolic acid (also known as CBGA) is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid that is the precursor for THC, CBD, and several other familiar cannabinoids. CBG is cannabigerol, the non- acidic form of cannabigerolic acid. CBGA is converted into CBG when heat is applied (similar to the conversion process of THCA to THC). Enzymes known as synthases are responsible for moving the CBGA
cannabinoid into molecules such as THCA, the raw, unactivated molecule that translates to THC when heat is applied. CBG interacts with the body & endocannabinoid system and demonstrates substantial therapeutic potential. While research into the cannabinoid is still early, CBG shows potential as an anti- inflammatory, mood regulator, cancer fighter, and appetite stimulant. It also has potent antibacterial
properties. Cannabigerol is frequently called the mother cannabinoid because no other cannabinoid will exist without some level of CBG. For more than 50 years, scientists have been mindful of the compound cannabigerol (CBG), it was first uncovered by Israeli scientists. About 30 years later, Japanese scientists then discovered that CBGA was the precursor to CBG. The growth of CBGA occurs when two organic compounds in the plant: geranyl pyrophosphate and olivetolic acid combine. This is an vital building block in the formation of other cannabinoids like CBDA, THCA, CBCA, and CBG. Olivetolic being a compound used to make man-made forms of THC. It’s used in chemistry quite frequently, in this regard.

Now let’s move on to CBDA. CBDA is a non-psychoactive compound that serves as a precursor to CBD. More specifically, CBDA is decarboxylated to create CBD, meaning it is heated. This can happen immediately if smoked or vaped, or slowly if the plant material is left to dry in the sun or even at room temperature. All cannabinoids in cannabis and hemp come from cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), the mother
of all cannabinoids. Plant enzymes then translate the CBGa into a combination of the three major cannabinoid predecessor compounds: tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabichromenic acid (CBCA), and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA). The combination will vary on the distinctive cannabis strain they are derived from. Cannabidiolic acid can, hence, be thought of as raw CBD. CBDA is most frequently
found in the live or raw hemp plants bred for high CBD levels. Cannabidiolic acid is regularly consumed as CBD, but it can also be valuable in its raw form. CBDA oil can be consumed or absorbed via tinctures, raw cannabis juice, topical creams, and raw CBDA oil. To date, CBDA has drawn much less public attention and is seen less on the market. However, the raw juicing cannabis craze is getting CBDA into the spotlight. People are speculating about the differences between CBD and CBDA and if CBDA is better than CBD.

They are both non-psychoactive, demonstrating that users won’t get high or stoned. This is because CBD and CBDA both do not fully interact with our endocannabinoid receptors. CBD and CBDA are thought to cause their well-known effects by activating our 5-HT1A serotonin receptors. You’ve likely heard of serotonin, as it is a crucial neurotransmitter in our brains that is closely related in regulating our mood,
sleep, anxiety, and even nausea. CBD is noted to help with things like anxiety, depression, inflammation, and even a rare form of childhood epilepsy. You see CBD in such a wide selection of health supplements because of its usefulness and because it has been examined much more than CBDA. Meanwhile, CBDA is in the very early stages of research but shows just as much, if not more, promise than CBD. For example,
one study found that CBDA produces antidepressant effects on rats at doses 10 to 100 times lower than CBD. This is due to CBDA’s relationship with serotonin receptors. For this same reason, CBDA is further researched as an anti-nausea drug, with one study finding CBDA more effective at reducing nausea than CBD. Well, until we have tangible evidence from human testing, it’s too early to say! However, early research implies that raw CBD oil can be just as, if not more, effective at treating things like depression, nausea, and inflammation. It may also have unique properties that CBD does not, making it an option for various treatments. CBDA shows promise as an anticonvulsant and may even have antibacterial, antioxidant, and cancer-preventing potential (particularly breast cancer). So, while there is enough early
indication to suggest that CBDA has its own distinctive qualities that could set it apart from CBD in certain areas.

As you can see, CBDA and CBGA does indeed have its own unique potential in the expanding cannabinoid industry. While research into much of CBDA’s and CBGA’s potential is still in the early stages, enough evidence gives scientists and eager supplement users great assurance. For those of you who are just going into the CBD/health supplement, CBDA and CBGA may indeed offer another good option to add to your health and wellness routine. Though always consult a doctor or a specialist before starting any new treatments. AHS has specialist and a nurse on staff who are available to answer any questions you may have.

When a cannabis plant is in the early stages of its life cycle, it produces cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). As the plant begins to reach maturity, it will begin to break down the CBGA and convert it to tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA). From there, the acid forms of each compound will convert to the compounds we are familiar with. CBDA converts to CBD and THCA converts to THC. Because of the way the plant coverts CBGA during its lifecycle, it is difficult to extract CBG from hemp in meaningful levels, with most hemp plants having less than 1% CBG at harvest. For comparison, hemp will have CBD concentrations 10% to 16%.However, young cannabis plants tend to be higher in CBG than mature plants, because CBG breaks down into other cannabinoidsas the plant ages.

CBD and CBG are non-psychoactive compounds, meaning they will not produce the “high” feeling associated with THC. Just like CBD, the potential benefits of CBG are vast due to its interaction with the endocannabinoid system (ECS).The ECS refers to receptors found throughout the body, and these receptors help regulate physiological processes such as pain, mood, sleep, digestion, and more.

Cannabinoids like CBD, THC, and CBG bind to these receptors, interacting with these different areas of human health and bring homeostasis (balance) to the body. Studies have found that CBG can potentially help with glaucoma, depression, insomnia, anxiety, colon cancer, IBS, inflammation, and much more. Some of the benefits of CBG overlap with CBD but when combined they produce an entourage effect.

The entourage effect happens when CBD is ingested with other compounds from the cannabis plant like CBG, rather than in isolation. The theory is that by using the whole hemp plant rather than a singular aspect, there is a boost in the health benefits and overall therapeutic effect of cannabinoids.

The Kurativ 3300mg CBD:CBG Tincture Oil has a ratio of 10:1 and can be taken sublingually along with the Kurativ 1000mg CBD:CBG Gummies with a ratio of 4:1 to help with a plethora of medical conditions.

Always consult your primary care physician before starting a new treatment.

Our team of specialists are always available to provide you with education and assist you with any questions you may have regarding CBD and CBG.