Can CBG Cause Headaches?

Are you a CBG newbie and would like to know if it causes headaches after ingesting? This article highlights everything about CBD and if it can cause headaches.

CBG is available in hemp in a lower percentage than other cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. It amounts to less than one percent of industrial hemp. Its capacity levels make the products made of CBG to be slightly more expensive than those from CBD and THC. Although CBG is found in low volumes, it plays an important role as it helps form other cannabinoids. THCA and CBDA will convert to their respective cannabinoid when exposed to heat and ultraviolet light. However, that's not the same for the CBGA as it converts to THCA, a low level of CBG under the same conditions. CBG has many medicinal effects; some are scientifically proven, while some are not. Let's look at the effects of CBG to see if it can cause headaches.

How Does CBG Work?

When you take CBG, it is absorbed in the system and processed through the endocannabinoid system. The Endocannabinoid system comprises receptors and molecules responsible for keeping the body and all the processes balanced, thus achieving homeostasis. Once CBG is in the endocannabinoid system, it acts like endocannabinoids because they have the same chemical structure. Endocannabinoids are natural cannabinoids made by animals' bodies, while plants produce phytocannabinoids. CBG works through the following mechanism while it's in the body;

The Cannabinoid Receptors

The body has two primary cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system (the CB1 and CB2). CB1 receptors are mainly found in the central nervous system and the brain, while CB2 receptors are primarily in the peripheral nervous system reaching out to all body parts. CBG works by binding itself to the CB1 and CB2 receptors. Research shows that after binding with the endocannabinoid receptors, it strengthens the anandamide – an endocannabinoid produced in the body. Anandamide is responsible for controlling sleep, pleasure, motivation, and appetite and relieving pain perception. Like THC, CBG does not have psychoactive effects; hence it lacks intoxicating effects.

Potential Benefits of CBG

Like THC and CBD, CBG has been used to fight chronic pain. The best thing is that it doesn't have intoxicating effects like THC; its side effects are less severe than the former. According to Andre, Hausman & Guerriero (2016), CBG features potent therapeutic products that help mitigate many health conditions. However, most studies done on this involved animal subjects. Human subjects in the test to prove these therapeutic benefits are minimal; hence more studies need to be conducted in this sector. The promising animal study reveals that CBG features the following therapeutic benefits.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

This condition is caused by chronic inflammation of the bowel and related parts. It is an incurable disease affecting millions of people around the globe.

A certain animal study was conducted in 2013 to determine the healing effects of CBG on inflammatory bowel syndrome. In the study, researchers induced inflammations with the same traits as the mouse colons' inflammatory bowel syndrome. They then administered specific CBG doses and waited for the effects to show up.

After a period, CBG was found to reduce the degree of inflammation and limit nitric oxide production. Orrego-González  et al. (2020) explained that CBG also reduces the formation of Reactive Oxygen Species in the colon, thus reducing the effects of the inflammation. These researchers later concluded that CBG could be used for clinical experimentation in patients suffering from the incurable inflammatory bowled syndrome.

Glaucoma

Cairns, Baldridge & Kelly (2016) concluded that CBG could mitigate the effects of glaucoma due to its therapeutic benefits. During the study, cats with glaucoma were dosed with CBG, and the results revealed a reduction in eye pressure and increased aqueous humor flow. Aqueous humor flow is a fluid produced by the body to keep the eye pressure balanced and supply potent nutrition to all eye parts. Learn more about is cbg good for gut health

Fighting Bacterial Infections

According to Aqawi et al. (2021), CBG features potent anti-bacterial properties that allow it to be the bane of bacterial infections. It efficiently deals with Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium that causes a person to be drug resistant. Learn more about which is stronger cbn or cbg

Migraines and Headache

CBG features potent neuroprotective abilities, thus making it a potential treatment for headaches and migraine. Headaches and migraine occur due to vascular dilation. Since CBG features strong vasodilating effects, it is fit to say that it cures headaches. Therefore, no studies show CBG can cause headaches.

What are the Side Effects of CBG

The dosage of CBD is not standard, and although it doesn't have intoxicating effects, it does come with mild side effects. Dosing too much CBD can cause the following side effects.

• Dizziness
• Changes in appetite
• Upset stomach
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Headaches
• Dry mouth
• Drowsiness

If you experience any or a combination of these side effects after overdoing CBG, ensure you always purchase your portion from a reputable brand. CBG is scarce and new in the hemp industry; some manufacturers will exploit this loophole and sell contaminated products. No regulations are surrounding produced products; hence the quality of the CBG product you get depends on the quality of the brand and transparency.

As mentioned, headache is one of the minor side effects of taking too much CBG. However, no studies show how it occurs. It is always better to be safe than sorry. If you experience a headache after overdosing on CBG, do the following.

• Always take the recommended dosage
• Avoid taking CBG with other medication or seek professional medical advice to be advised otherwise.
• Purchase CBG from reputable brands as they guarantee transparency.

The Bottom Line

CBG cause headache but to lower extents. The side effects of CBG are numerous, but they only kick in after overdosing. If you are new to CBG, always take low doses as you work your way up. This allows your body to get used to a foreign substance and learn how to coexist. If you experience any or a combination of these side effects after overdoing CBG, ensure you w always purchase your portion from a reputable brand. CBG is scarce and new in the hemp industry; some manufacturers will exploit this loophole and sell contaminated products. No regulations are surrounding produced products; hence the quality of the CBG product you get depends on the quality of the brand and transparency.

References

Andre, C. M., Hausman, J. F., & Guerriero, G. (2016). Cannabis sativa: the plant of the thousand and one molecules. Frontiers in plant science, 7, 19.

Aqawi, M., Sionov, R. V., Gallily, R., Friedman, M., & Steinberg, D. (2021). Anti-bacterial properties of cannabigerol toward Streptococcus mutans. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, 656471.

Cairns, E. A., Baldridge, W. H., & Kelly, M. E. (2016). The endocannabinoid system as a therapeutic target in glaucoma. Neural Plasticity, 2016.

Orrego-González, E., Londoño-Tobón, L., Ardila-González, J., Polania-Tovar, D., Valencia-Cárdenas, A., & Meerbeke, V. V. (2020). Cannabinoid effects on experimental colorectal cancer models reduce aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and tumor volume: A systematic review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2020.