With the rising costs of conventional medicine, more people are turning to natural and organic alternative therapies. It’s one reason why products with potentially healing properties, including CBD oils, are gaining widespread popularity. As the use of CBD products soars, researchers are also examining other cannabinoid compounds found in Cannabis Sativa strains. Their hope is to determine the compounds’ efficacy in addressing symptoms of various medical conditions and to explore any beneficial effects they have on the human body. To date, most of the research done on Cannabis Sativa strains and hemp plants has focused on two main chemical compounds: THC and CBD. However, there are many other cannabinoid compounds. In this post, we’ll focus on two lesser-known cannabinoid compounds, CBDA and CBG. Both are found in many Cannabis Sativa strains. And they have piqued the interests of researchers for their potential beneficial health effects, as you will learn in the article below. So let’s take a deeper look at CBDA vs CBG.
Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) is a cannabinoid that is found in abundance in cannabis plant flowers. This cannabinoid is, essentially, the precursor or parent form of (cannabidiol) CBD. In fact, CBD only develops when CBDA loses a carboxyl molecule through decarboxylation. Decarboxylation is a chemical process that can either occur naturally, over time or by induction through exposure to heat or UV light. After decarboxylation, cannabinoids appear to gain more affinity for the cell receptors in your body, allowing them to produce more powerful effects.
We typically find CBDA in high concentrations in raw unprocessed cannabis flowers. Now, CBDA usually converts to CBD during decarboxylation. But the process of turning CBDA to CBD can either be fast or slow. So, when stored properly in a place without heat and direct sunlight, the flowers tend to retain CBDA compounds; if those flowers or buds are exposed to heat, however (as through cooking or smoking) the decarboxylation process is fast-tracked, instantly turning CBDA into CBD.
CBDA is a highly unstable compound, which is perhaps the reason why most of the research on cannabinoid benefits focuses on the more stable CBD. However, existing and ongoing CBDA research shows that it may be highly effective in managing certain conditions and ailments as we’ll review below.
Studies suggest that this cannabinoid may stop cancer cells from metastasizing in the body. In studies done on breast cancer patients, CBDA slowed the growth of existing cancerous cells and greatly reduced the spread of these cells to healthy parts of the body. Given that metastasis (spread) of cancerous cells is the major cause of death in cancer patients, this cannabinoid may have a significant impact, but further research is still needed in this modality.
People who suffer from ailments that cause painful joint inflammation, such as arthritis, may be able to use this cannabinoid to suppress swelling and reduce the pain that comes with inflammation.
Ongoing studies suggest that CBDA may be highly effective in negating the toxins that cause nausea and vomiting by inhibiting serotonin in the digestive system. This is good news for people who vomit or become nauseated because of motion sickness or after undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy.
Studies suggest that this cannabinoid interacts with mood receptors in your body just like CBD, and may thus trigger antidepressant-like reactions.
Though there is not much difference in the molecular structures of CBDA and CBD, studies suggest that once consumed, you may feel the effects of CBD quicker as compared to those of CBDA. This is because CBD is in a purer form, and is thus able to more quickly interact with receptors in your endocannabinoid system (ECS).
CBDA can only be consumed in its raw form. When exposed to any form of heat, it almost always undergoes decarboxylation and turns into CBD. If you are hoping to consume CBDA for its beneficial health effects, you can source it from the leaves, flowers, and stems of cannabis plants. To avoid turning CBDA into CBD, you can take it by making a salad, garnish or turn the leaves into raw juice. Alternatively, you can also use CBDA by infusing raw cannabis leaves or hemp flowers into topical creams or balms or by acquiring raw hemp oil. At Tanasi, our academic research has shown that CBDA when combined with CBD, can help enhance the absorption of CBD and thus increase the potency and duration of its effects.
It is legal to consume CBDA in the United States as long as it has been sourced from an industrial hemp strain of cannabis that has less than 0.3% THC concentrations. Using or carrying CBDA sourced from cannabis or hemp containing more than 0.3% THC is illegal.
CBDA is unregulated in the US and as such, it is usually sold as a supplement. To get premium CBDA, you should only source raw hemp oil from a certified, reputable, and trusted manufacturers like Tanasi, who stringently tests their products for purity and potency.
Now that we have a better understanding of what CBDA is, let’s take a deeper look at CBG so that we can more accurately compare CBDA vs CBG.
As mentioned earlier, cannabis plants and industrial hemp contain a wide range of cannabinoids. In fact, studies show that there may be more than 66 different cannabinoids.
One of the lesser-known cannabinoids is Cannabigerol (CBG). Though scientists discovered this cannabinoid compound a long time ago, we still don’t have a lot of research on its properties, likely because it occurs in very low quantities. In fact, high amounts of CBG can only be found in the most potent strains of cannabis plants.
Unlike other cannabinoid compounds such as THC, CBG does not produce any psychoactive effects in the body once it is consumed. This means that you do not feel intoxicated or ‘high’ after consuming this cannabinoid.
Just like other cannabinoids, CBG affects your body by interacting with receptors found in the endocannabinoid system. Current research suggests that this cannabinoid may be highly beneficial in combating certain ailments as well as improving general body health.
So, what are some of the potential benefits of CBG to the human body?
Glaucoma is a disease that affects your vision by constricting blood vessels in your eyes. Studies show that CBG may help prevent glaucoma by relieving pressure on the nerves and blood vessels in the eyes.
Ongoing research suggests that CBG may be highly effective in stopping the growth of cancerous tumors in the colon, as well as the spread of cancerous cells in the intestines. This indicates that CBG may be helpful in controlling colorectal cancer if human studies produce similar results.
Studies also suggest that CBG users tend to have a higher appetite compared to people who do not take this cannabinoid. This is great news for people who suffer from eating disorders since research shows that CBG may help address the symptoms of disorders such as cachexia and anorexia.
Studies suggest that consuming this cannabinoid may help kill dangerous bacteria such as MRSA, which can cause hard to treat and sometimes fatal infections.
Research suggests that people who suffer from bowel inflammations may get relief after consuming CBG. Ongoing studies also indicate the strong likelihood that CBG will be effective in controlling swelling in other areas of the body, meaning it could address joint inflammation caused by arthritis.
As mentioned earlier, CBG occurs in very trace amounts in cannabis plants. It is therefore rare, though not impossible, to find pure CBG products. So, if you want to enjoy the beneficial effects of this cannabinoid, it’s easier to buy a full-spectrum CBD oil, since it will contain CBG as well as other beneficial cannabinoids.
Keep in mind that CBG is also not FDA regulated. To ensure that you purchase quality CBG, look for full-spectrum CBD oil that has been sourced from premium hemp flowers and stringently tested to confirm its potency and quality.
Though all our research on these cannabinoid compounds is still preliminary, ongoing studies indicate they may offer a wide range of health benefits, as we’ve seen as we’ve compared CBDA vs CBG. As we learn more about cannabinoids and their potential to maintain holistic health, we at Tanasi will stay on top of any new developments and keep updating you with reliable, important information.
How the world views cannabis is rapidly changing. Each day, more and more cannabis products…
Cannabidiol is a potent component in the hemp plant, and it is used in various…
CBD candy is just a sweet treat that's made with cannabidiol. The candy is produced…
What is CBD Isolate? CBD isolate is a pure extract of cannabidiol (CBD). It doesn’t…
What are CBD drops, and how can you use them? Throughout the years cannabidiol, or…
What's the best CBD oil for sale right now? Well, the answer depends on your…