CBG Oil: Is It Really The New CBD? - Healthline

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Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — Written by Sian Ferguson on February 28, 2020

CBG vs. CBD
Potential benefits
Side effects
Interactions
Choosing a product
Takeaway

Cannabigerol (CBG) is a cannabinoid, meaning it’s one of the many chemicals found in cannabis plants. The most well-known cannabinoids are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but there’s recently been more interest in the potential benefits of CBG.

CBG is considered to be the precursor to other cannabinoids. This is because CBG-A, the acidic form of CBG, breaks down to form CBG, CBD, THC, and CBC (cannabichromene, another cannabinoid) when heated.

How does it compare to CBD?

CBD and CBG are both nonintoxicating cannabinoids, meaning they won’t make you high. They also both interact with the same receptors in the body, according to a 2018 study, and appear to have anti-inflammatory effects.

However, CBG does seem to have some different functions and health benefits than CBD.

The main difference between CBD and CBG comes down to the level of research available. There’s been a decent amount of research on CBD, but not so much on CBG.

That said, with CBG becoming more popular, there will likely be more studies on it soon.

What are the potential benefits?

While the research on CBG is limited, studies do exist suggest that it offers several benefits.

CBG may be able to improve the following health conditions:

Inflammatory bowel disease. CBG seems to reduce the inflammation associated with inflammatory bowel disease, according to a 2013 study conducted on mice.
Glaucoma. Medical cannabis seems to effectively treat glaucoma, and CBG might be partly responsible for its efficacy. A study published in 2008 suggests that CBG might be effective in treating glaucoma because it reduces intraocular pressure.
Bladder dysfunctions. Some cannabinoids seem to affect the contractions of the bladder. A 2015 study looked at how five different cannabinoids affect the bladder, and it concluded that CBG shows the most promise at treating bladder dysfunctions.
Huntington’s disease. CBG might have neuroprotective properties, according to a 2015 study that looked at mice with a neurodegenerative condition called Huntington’s disease. The study concluded that CBG might show promise in treating other neurodegenerative conditions.
Bacterial infections. A 2008 study suggests that CBG can kill bacteria, particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which causes drug-resistant staph infections. These infections can be hard to treat and fairly dangerous.
Cancer. A 2014 study looked at colon cancer in rats and concluded that CBG might reduce the growth of cancer cells and other tumors.
Appetite loss. A 2016 study on rats suggested that CBG could stimulate the appetite. Appetite-stimulating chemicals could be used to help those with conditions such as HIV or cancer.

While these studies are promising, it’s important to remember that they don’t confirm the benefits of CBG. Much more research is needed to fully understand how CBG works in the body.

Does it cause any side effects?

Very little is known about the side effects of CBG oil or other forms of CBG. So far, it seems to be well tolerated by rats, but there’s not enough research to say much about the potential side effects it might have on humans.

Does it interact with any medications?

Not much is known about how CBG might interact with over-the-counter or prescription medications, as well as vitamins or supplements.

If you take any kind of medication, it’s best to check with your healthcare provider before trying CBG oil. It’s especially important if you take a medication that contains a grapefruit warning.

Medications that often have this warning include:

antibiotics and antimicrobials
anticancer medications
antihistamines
antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)
blood pressure medications
blood thinners
cholesterol medications
corticosteroids
erectile dysfunction medications
gastrointestinal (GI) medications, such as to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or nausea
heart rhythm medications
immunosuppressants
mood medications, such as to treat anxiety, depression, or mood disorders
pain medications
prostate medications

CBD may affect how your body metabolizes these medications. It isn’t clear if CBG has the same effect, but given how similar it is to CBD, it’s best to err on the side of caution and double-check.

Don’t stop taking any medications to use CBG oil unless your healthcare provider tells you to do so.

Choosing a CBG product

Finding a good CBG oil can be difficult, as it’s much harder to find than CBD. Plus, neither CBD nor CBG is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so you have to do a bit more legwork to ensure you’re getting a high-quality product.

Here’s are a few pointers to help get you started.

Try full-spectrum CBD

Full-spectrum CBD products contain a small amount of many cannabinoids. They’re also much easier to find than CBG-only products.

Plus, it’s believed that cannabinoids work best when they’re all taken together.

Check out our recommendations for full-spectrum CBD oils.

Check for third-party testing

Companies that produce CBG products should have their products tested by an independent lab. Before you buy CBG, find out whether the company’s products are third-party tested, and be sure to read the lab report, which should be available on their website or via email.

The bottom line

CBG is becoming increasingly popular, but the research around it is still pretty limited. While it may offer several potential benefits, not much is known about its side effects or how it might interact with certain medications.

If you’re curious about trying CBG, it might be easier to find high-quality full-spectrum CBD oils, which should contain some CBG. Just make sure to check in with your healthcare provider first if you take any medications or have an underlying health condition.

Is CBD legal? The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC legal at the federal level. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3% THC still fall under the legal definition of marijuana, making them illegal at the federal level. Some states have legalized CBD, so be sure to check state laws, especially when traveling. Also, keep in mind that the FDA has not approved nonprescription CBD products, and some products may be inaccurately labeled.

Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. She’s passionate about empowering readers to take care of their mental and physical health through science-based, empathetically delivered information.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Appendino G, et al. (2008). Antibacterial cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa: A structure-activity study. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/np8002673
Borrelli F, et al. (2013). Beneficial effect of the non-psychotropic plant cannabinoid cannabigerol on experimental inflammatory bowel disease. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2013.01.017
Borrelli F, et al. (2014). Colon carcinogenesis is inhibited by the TRPM8 antagonist cannabigerol, a cannabis-derived non-psychotropic cannabinoid. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/carcin/bgu205
Brierley DI, et al. (2016). Cannabigerol is a novel, well-tolerated appetite stimulant in pre-satiated rats. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-016-4397-4
Pagano E, et al. (2015). Effect of non-psychotropic plant-derived cannabinoids on bladder contractility: Focus on cannabigerol.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26197538-effect-of-non-psychotropic-plant-derived-cannabinoids-on-bladder-contractility-focus-on-cannabigerol/
Nadolska K, et al. (2008). Possibilities of applying cannabinoids' in the treatment of glaucoma.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19112869-possibilities-of-applying-cannabinoids-in-the-treatment-of-glaucoma/
Navarro G, et al. (2018). Cannabigerol action at cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors and at CB1–CB2 heteroreceptor complexes. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.00632
Valdeolivas S, et al. (2015). Neuroprotective properties of cannabigerol in Huntington's disease: Studies in R6/2 mice and 3-nitropropionate-lesioned mice. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-014-0304-z

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Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — Written by Sian Ferguson on February 28, 2020

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