Is CBG Better Than CBD? CBG vs CBD Differences & Benefits

Hemp extract contains more than 100 potentially beneficial plant elements called cannabinoids, active components with significant health and wellness potential. CBD is the most widely recognized, but not the only option you may want to consider adding to your daily routine. At CBDistillery®, you'll find tinctures and gummies made with enhanced concentrations of CBG, one of hemp's many "minor" cannabinoids.

 

With so many people reporting impressive results using the CBG-infused products featured in our Synergy Collection, you might naturally wonder if CBG is somehow better than CBD. Knowing their differences and possible benefits could help you determine which of these non-intoxicating plant elements is right for you.

 

What Is CBG?

CBG is the commonly used abbreviation for cannabigerol. Its acidic form, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), is often called the "stem cell," "mother," "or "parent" of several compelling cannabinoids. As hemp crops mature, naturally occurring plant enzymes, heat, and UV radiation convert CBGA to CBG, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBC (cannabichromene), and CBD (cannabidiol) (Toth et al., 2021). By the time mature plants are harvested, their extracts typically contain only trace amounts of CBG, 1% or less.

 

What Is CBD?

CBD is the active form of cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), the most abundant of the many cannabinoids in hemp. As the CBD concentrations of the plant increase, the CBG, CBC, and THC levels decline. By the time most mature hemp crops are harvested, the plant extracts contain ample amounts of CBD, usually about 12-18% (or more) (Harris et al., 2019). Like CBG, CBD is generally well tolerated and has a remarkably low risk of (minor) side effects (Chesney et al., 2020).  

 

How Do CBG and CBD Differ?

CBG and CBD interact with the receptors of the largest regulatory system in your body, your endocannabinoid system (ECS). Since ECS signaling influences nearly every crucial biological function, including sleep cycles, stress responses, and immune system function, many researchers believe plant-sourced cannabinoids support the endocannabinoid system in a way that helps maintain essential balance (homeostasis).

 

Although CBD and CBG could help support nearly every essential function in your body, these active plant elements provide similar benefits in different ways. CBG binds with your ECS receptors (CB1 & CB2). CBD interacts with the same chemical receptors but does not bind. Instead, it produces an indirect effect through multiple pathways (Morales & Reggio, 2019).

 

What Are the Benefits of CBD?

Most of the evidence supporting the use of CBD is based on lab results, a small number of clinical trials, and user testimonials (Lingresti et al., 2016). As researchers continue to investigate the cannabinoid's potentially therapeutic benefits for specific conditions like cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, most of the nearly 2000 CBD users responding to our survey report favorable results using hemp-derive CBD products for the following concerns impacting overall health and wellness.

 

Better Sleep

Too little sleep or poor sleep quality can increase your risk of future health complications, including obesity and heart disease. Although there are many reasons a person might have difficulty falling asleep or wake feeling unrefreshed, 9 out of 10 survey respondents report that CBD helps them sleep better.

 

In a report published in 2019, researchers reported impressively similar results. During the first month of a large case study, nearly 70% of participants reported better sleep (Shannon et al., 2019). Unlike many over-the-counter sleep solutions, CBD will not cause morning grogginess.

 

Relaxation

Stress affects everyone differently. Some people feel increasingly tense or angry. Others suffer from headaches, digestive distress, or difficulty sleeping. Regardless of the cause, the stress hormones accumulating in your system as you go about your day can make it difficult to relax and unwind.

 

Of our many survey respondents, 89% report that CBD helps calm their minds, and most tell us they prefer its effect over meditation, yoga, and alcohol for relaxation. An analysis published in Neurotherapeutics credits CBD's indirect activation of CB1 and serotonin (5-HT1A) receptors for its calming, relaxing effects (Blessing et al., 2015).

 

Relief After Physical Activity

The discomfort you'll likely feel after strenuous physical activity is typically caused by microscopic damage to muscle fibers. In response, your immune system sends specialized white blood cells to help injured tissues heal. Engaging in similar activities before you've recovered can cause lasting harm.  

 

While there's little research specifically focused on CBD's possible benefits for activity-induced pain, stiffness, or inflammation, a review published in Sports Medicine – Open highlights several physiological and biochemical effects potentially beneficial for athletes (McCartney et al., 2020). You may also find it helpful to know that 84% of our survey respondents report relief of discomfort after physical activity.  

 

What Are the Benefits of CBG?

You might initially expect an entirely different list of possible benefits as you're comparing some of the many cannabinoids produced in cannabis plants. However, you'll soon discover that many people also appreciate the effects of CBG for better sleep, relaxation, and discomfort after physical activity. Although any high-quality CBD product could provide the relief you need, you may want to first consider some of the reported benefits unique to CBG before you decide.

 

 

Overall Potency

Like CBD, CBG mimics the effects of two ECS messengers produced in your body, anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). While CBG has not been studied as extensively as its increasingly popular offspring, a growing body of evidence suggests CBG has a distinct advantage in overall potency.

 

Researcher's often credit CBG's superior potency to the cannabinoid's molecular structure, its 3D shape. According to lab results published in Molecules (Perez et al., 2022) and the Journal of Pain Research (Anand et al., 2021), CBG often outperforms CBD in ways that could make the cannabinoid the better choice for pain, stiffness, and inflammation (Kogan et al., 2021) after physical activity.

 

Calming Mild or Temporary Anxiety

The communication between your ECS messengers and receptors also helps regulate the way your system responds to crisis. The uncomfortable sensations most people recognize as anxiety are triggered by an instantaneous response that helps prepare your body to "fight or flee" (Maldonado et al., 2020). CBG's interaction with ECS receptors could help restore essential balance (Messina et al, 2022).  

 

Based on the results of our 2022 Anxiety Releaf Study, most participants using our regular strength CBG + CBD Oil tincture report positive effects for mild or temporary anxiety. Nine out of ten were pleased enough with their results to recommend the product to others (already have, definitely will, or might), and many found our CBG-infused tincture more effective than any other treatment they've tried in the past year (slightly to significantly).   

 

An Enhanced Entourage Effect

The oil extracted from hemp's stalks, stems, and flowers contains numerous cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other phytonutrients. The combined impact of the plant's cannabinoids and terpenes produces a potency-maximizing impact unique to cannabis commonly known as an "entourage effect."

 

The trace amounts of CBG in hemp extract contribute to the overall potency of full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD products. However, current evidence suggests enriching the cannabinoid profile of hemp extract to achieve a 1:1 CBD to CBG ratio enhances the total contribution of each cannabinoid (Mammana et al., 2019).  

 

Is CBG Better Than CBD?

CBG isn't necessarily better than CBD, but the cannabinoid does offer unique properties that could help fine-tune your overall experience. Instead of choosing between them, consider how you might benefit from adding their combined health and wellness potential to your daily routine.

 

CBDistillery® Daytime Synergy CBG + CBD Oil Tinctures and Gummies offer the many potential benefits of our full spectrum hemp extract and just enough cannabigerol to achieve a 1:1 ratio. On our product pages, you'll find numerous 5-star reviews from CBDistillery® customers using our CBG-infused CBD products for better sleep, relaxation, pain and stiffness after physical activity, and more.

 

In addition to the benefits reported for mild or temporary anxiety, our 2022 Anxiety Releaf Study participants also reported positive effects for mental clarity, increased focus, reduced tension, and improved appetite while using our regular strength 500mg CBG + 500mg CBD Oil Tincture. An impressive 82.9% reported at least some level of improvement on their quality of life.

 

Which CBDistillery® CBD Product Is Right for You?

CBD and CBG have an impressive list of potential benefits, but they interact with your ECS receptors and several other molecular targets in different ways. If you're still not sure which option is right for you, visit CBDistillery® to take our CBD Product Quiz or set up a personal consultation with an expert. All CBDistillery® CBD, CBG, CBN, CBDA, and THC+CBD products are third-party tested, and backed by a risk-free satisfaction guarantee.

 

 

References

 

Anand U, Oldfield C, et al. (2021) Dose-Related Inhibition of Capsaicin Responses by Cannabinoids CBG, CBD, THC and their Combination in Cultured Sensory Neurons. 14, J Pain Res 3603-14. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S336773

 

Chesney E, Oliver D, et al. (2020) Adverse Effects of Cannabidiol: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Neuropsychopharmacol. 45, 1799-806. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-020-0667-2

 

Harrison J, VanDolah BA, et al. (2019) Clinician's Guide to Cannabidiol and Hemp Oils. 94(9) Mayo Clinic Proceedings 1840-1851. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025619619300072

 

Kogan N, Lavi Y, et al. (2021) Novel CBG Derivatives Can Reduce Inflammation, Pain and Obesity. 26(18) Molecules 5601. https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/18/5601

 

Lingresti A, De Petrocellis L, et al. (2016) From Phytocannabinoid Receptors and Endocannabinoids: Pleiotropic Physiological and Pathological Roles Through Complex Pharmacology. 96(4) Physiol Rev 1593-659. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27630175/

 

Maldonado R, Cabanero D, et al. (2020) The Endocannabinoid System in Modulating Fear, Anxiety, and Stress. 22(3) Dialogues Clin Neurosci 229-39. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.3/rmaldonado

 

Mammana S, Cavalli E, et al. Could the Combination of Two Non-Psychotropic Cannabinoids Counteract Neuroinflammation? Effectiveness of Cannabidiol Associated with Cannabigerol. 55(11) Medicina 747. https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/55/11/747/htm

 

McCartney D, Benson M, et al. (2020) Cannabidiol and Sports Performance: A Narrative Review of Relevant Evidence and Recommendations for Future Research. 6(1) Sports Med Open 27. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7338332/

 

Messina G, Rovelli F, et al. (2022) A Review of the Psychobiological Differences Among Tetrahydrocannabinol, Cannabinol, Cannabidiol and Cannabigerol. 1(1) IJHMR 36-40 PDF Download.

 

Morales P, Reggio P. (2019) CBD: A New Hope? 10(5) ACS Med. Chem. Lett. 694-95. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.9b00127

 

Perez E, Fernandez J, et al. (2022) In Vitro and Clinical Evaluation of Cannabigerol (CBG) Produced via Yeast Biosynthesis: A Cannabinoid with a Broad Range of Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Health-Boosting Properties. 27(2) Molecules 491. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8778347/

 

Shannon S, Lewis N, et al. (2019) Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. Perm J 23: 18-041. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326553/

 

Toth J, Smart L, et al. (2021) Limited Effect of Environmental Stress on Cannabinoid Profiles in High-Cannabidiol Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) 13(10) GCB-Bioenergy 1666-74. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/17571707