In High Doses, Here are CBG Side Effects to Watch

Hoping to avoid CBG side effects? You’re not alone! Cannabis plants contain over 100 cannabinoids, many of which we use as supplements. Today, CBD and THC are the most explored. But they also contain CBG or Cannabigerol, a cannabinoid with great significance. So let’s look at this compound, and how it works in your body. That way, you can avoid unwanted side effects!

What are Cannabinoids?

Remember, cannabinoids are chemical compounds that interact with your brain’s CB1 and CB2 receptors in your brain. THC has a psychoactive effect, but CBD and CBG seem to offer medicinal effects without that high.

Why is that the case? Our bodies have an endocannabinoid system (ECS); its job is to balance internal systems. When working well, your body produces enough endocannabinoids to help it to run smoothly. But outside effects can throw your system out of balance. And that’s where cannabinoids may help.

What does CBG Do?

CBG interacts with your ECS and may impact your internal systems. Its potential effects include relieving pain, slowing bacteria growth and reducing seizures.

Also, CBG may reduce inflammation, help with sleep, inhibit cancer cell growth and promote bone growth or neuron growth. (All these effects need more research.) Some people say CBG  increases appetite and boosts mood. Today, scientists are exploring CBG for glaucoma, bowel disease, chronic pain, epilepsy, osteoporosis, insomnia, depression, and low appetite.  It may even help with psoriasis and bladder problems, but only time will tell if this is true.

Extracting CBG

We produce CBG by heating cannabigerolic acid. (It’s found in hemp plants with high CBD contents). The acid, also known as CBGA, births many cannabinoids, which is why we call it the cannabis stem cell.

Heating this acid takes it through decarboxylation, turning CBGA to CBG. At that point, you can extract it for use. But this is costly, since CBG concentrations are low in most cannabis plants.  Still, as a solo extract or a full-spectrum hemp extract, you can introduce CBG to your body by smoking, eating, dabbing, or vaping. Try it under your tongue as a tincture, or even as part of a topical hemp extract!

CBG Side Effects

If you stick to proper doses, you won’t experience CBG side effects. You’ll only notice problems when you reach dosages that are higher than 300 mg per kilogram of body weight. (For a normal person, that means thousands of milligrams. And typical CBG doses are about 25 mg.)

Still, CBG side effects may include feeling sleepy. Of course, many people take CBG for help sleeping, so this may be welcome. But high CBG doses can also make you groggy. So, try taking CBG just before you bed, to get proper rest and wake up refreshed.

High CBG can lead to diarrhea. This risk increases with CBG edibles, since they directly interact with your digestive system. Like other cannabinoids, taking CBG can give you dry mouth. That’s because your salivary glands absorb the CBG, which can affects their ability to produce saliva. This feeling should pass once CBG passes through your system. But drinking water can help alleviate symptoms.

Taking CBG can also affect your appetite. Some people get hungry, while others lose interest in food. And every person’s experience will differ.

Avoiding CBG Side Effects

The best way to prevent any side effects from the consumption of CBG is to restrict dosages to tally with instructions given on the label of the product. Take the dosage that is recommended and see the effect it has on you. As we have said, in therapeutic doses , CBG rarely has any side effects, but if it does so, it is best to consult a doctor, and tell him or her, that you have been consuming CBG.

Forms of Cannabigerol

CBG can be available in the form of gummies or capsules, tinctures or as flower, and these products deliver the CBG to your body in a safe and effective manner. Again there are variations in the product that you can get from the market and these can contain full spectrum products, broad spectrum products or isolates. Full spectrum products will contain all the compounds that are available in the hemp plant including terpenes that are responsible for taste and smell and can can have an effect on consumption. There is a presence of THC in these compounds but it is generally kept below 0.3%, and CBG itself reduces any effect of the THC. Broad spectrum CBG will have no THC and make for a good and safe alternative to full spectrum CBG. CBG isolate is CBG that is 99% pure.

CBG in the form of oil can be mixed into food, swallowed or dropped under the tongue. If it is full spectrum CBG oil, it will boost the endocannabinoid system in the body. This oil must never be smoked or vaped. If you are looking for consistency it is best to take CBG in the form of capsules that come with definite sizes, each size having fixed amounts of CBG from 25 mg to 100 mg. Regulating the size and dosage of the capsules allows you to keep a firm control on the amount of CBG consumed, so that you are saved from any large doses that can cause side effects. Gummies have the sweetness of fruit snacks and consuming them is literally like eating sweets. They can be made with gelatine to make them more edible and easy to eat. CBG flowers come in rolls that have the same amount of material. CBG isolates are pure CBG and can be added to food and drink or smoked.

Choosing Your CBG Delivery Method

The way you consume CBG can have an effect on dosages and can determine whether you will suffer any side effects. Eating of gummies can become addictive and lead to the high dosages that have the side effects of CBG. Similarly, even smoking or vaping them can become a habit, just like smoking cigarettes or tobacco, and also lead to higher dosages than what the body can tolerate. Cooking with cannabis is a great way to consume it in limited quantities though its effect can take an hour or more, but this effect can last for six hours. Smoking is the one method of ingesting CBG that has the most immediate effect, and can take just seconds to show its effects.

So if you want to prevent the side effects of high dosages of CBG, make sure you choose a way of taking it in a way that you have control over. The safest way is to take it in capsules that have definite CBG content.