Many who suffer from the problem may get a single or multiple migraine headaches per month, varying in severity. Even so, each one will influence quality of living. Nowadays, migraine sufferers are usually disappointed with pharmaceutical drugs, but medical cannabis is a feasible alternative. Dealing with migraines with cannabis is not brand-new, but the medical understanding of it is getting even more accurate. Recent research released online in the Journal of Pain discovered that, inhaled cannabis decreases self-reported migraine intensity by 47.3% and headache severity by 49.6%.
With a growing interest in cannabis for therapeutic benefit and even more attention on the minor cannabinoids, well-controlled studies are needed. Fairly recently, there appears to be a spike in fascination for a cannabinoid known as cannabigerol (CBG). What is this cannabinoid, and will it assist with migraine headaches as well?
What Is CBG?
CBG is 1 of the 100 additional naturally occurring cannabinoids inside the cannabis flower. It is one of a small number of cannabinoids that start their existence as a precursor acidic-bound cannabinoid.
CBG begins as cannabigerol acid (CBGa), when inside the organic or living plant. Through direct exposure to air, increased temps, and UV sun rays, acidic cannabinoids change into activated types. Additional acid-bound cannabinoids, like THCa and CBDa, turn into THC and CBD.
Based upon the conditions, CBGa might transform directly into THC or even CBG, but THC is the majority of the typical end-result. As a result, CBG is an uncommon and sought after compound that is fairly uncommon.
All cannabinoids are remarkably comparable inside their molecular structure, but the microscopic differences tend to modify their therapeutic effect. For instance, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBG is non intoxicating. Which means that it does not result in a ‘high’ or modified state of mind. In this way, it will be very comparable to the experience of cannabidiol (CBD).
Where Does CBD Originate?
Where can patients find CBG? Cannabis farmers are usually operating to create fresh chemovars with a focus on these supplementary cannabinoids, like CBG, but these are not yet easily accessible on the market. Furthermore, because CBGa is the ‘mother of nearly all cannabinoids‘, it readily goes through chemical modification to become THCa or CBDa. This presents a problem to catch CBG within a dried and cured plant. CBG-rich flower consists of much less than 1% CBG.
Manufacturers may also extract the cannabinoids from the herb and are usually marketing concentrates with higher ranges of CBG. Full-spectrum, live resin, and additional specialized extractions cater to the even more heat-sensitive compounds, like CBG. A fast check of third-party laboratory outcomes will confirm the available concentration of CBG.
What are the Medical Attributes of CBG?
Patients are already curious about the healing possibility of secondary cannabinoids for treating migraine headaches and beyond. Much analysis these days will be nevertheless concentrated on THC and CBD. But even with the major cannabinoids, there is so much more to understand. To date, there are only a handful of studies into supplementary cannabinoids like CBG, but these stay in the initial stages of analysis.
Therefore, scientists have studied CBG for the following clinical applications:
Glaucoma Sufferers Might also Benefit from CBG?
In 1990, in the Journal of Ocular Pharmacology, Brenda K. Colasanti discovered, “A comparison of the ocular and central effects of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabigerol.”
Examining these cannabinoids upon the eyes of pet cats, Colasanti established both THC plus CBG produced a substantial fall in measured ocular pressure. Nevertheless, CBG had less undesirable responses than THC. Because of the observed decrease in pressure, without adverse response, Colasanti determined CBG and associated cannabinoids may be useful for the therapy of glaucoma. Upcoming analysis will test these results.
Possible Medicinal Uses for CBG: Cancer & Huntington’s
A more recent analysis, published in the pages of Carcinogenesis (2014), looked at the anti-tumoral characteristics of CBG on colorectal cancer cell lines. It showed proof that CBG obstructs carcinogenic action. In the 2nd stage of the research, researchers utilized mouse models for colon cancer. The scientists detailed how CBG promoted cancer cell apoptosis and decreased the cellular development of colorectal cancer in the rodent body.
In a 2015 research study, entitled, “Neuroprotective Properties of Cannabigerol in Huntington’s Disease: Studies in R6/2 Mice and 3-nitropropionate-lesioned Mice,” experts analyzed CBG with trial and error models of Huntington’s disease. Their test demonstrated how CBG therapy enhanced antioxidant defenses and “lower, but significant, recovery” in a particular motor skills check.
The authors concluded that, “our results open new research avenues for the use of CBG, alone or in combination with other phytocannabinoids or therapies, for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as HD.”
Proof of CBG for Treating Migraines?
But what about CBG for treating migraines? It turns out, no research has discovered CBG for the treatment of headaches or migraines. Although cannabis, generally, is already under the early phases of analysis for dealing with migraine headaches, there is no research of CBG for this application. This, despite the overwhelmingly optimistic reports documented by migraine patients.
Cannabis and its 100s of compounds, hold a great deal of promise for the treatment of migraine headaches. Initially, cannabis adjusts the trigeminovascular system. This system is a major focus of novel migraine remedies. The trigeminovascular system “consists of small pseudounipolar sensory neurons that originate from trigeminal ganglion and upper cervical dorsal nerve roots.”
According to “Phytomedicines in the Treatment of Migraine,” several case studies and patient surveys support the use of cannabis for the reduction of migraine activity. Even more research is required to figure out specifically how cannabinoids deal with migraine headaches.
Without solid proof behind CBG for treating migraines, one can only produce imperfect assumptions. As a non-intoxicating cannabinoid, CBG will appear even more obtainable and suitable for prevalent use in migraine treatment, specifically in comparison to coping with the side effects of THC.
Furthermore, early evidence tells us CBG is useful for the reduction of ocular pressure. One symptom of glaucoma is serious headaches around the eyes.
Newer research also demonstrates the strength of CBG for swelling and neuroprotection. Theories about migraines state, “migraines are an integrated defensive, neuroprotective response to brain oxidative stress.” Possibly cannabinoids could deal with migraine headaches by improving neuroprotection before the brain kicks into high gear.
A Solution to Migraines with Cannabis
Science is a long way from proving exactly why cannabis functions so well for the treatment of migraine headaches -but that hasn’t stopped individuals from experimenting. Frequently, cannabis will be more inexpensive, obtainable, and advantageous than prescribed drugs, therefore it’s now a first-line of protection for numerous individuals.
Although case studies and affected individual surveys continue to support cannabis for treating migraines, there is a desperate need to have well-controlled scientific trials to find out which cannabinoids are most efficient. Both CBD and THC hold promise, plus there are furthermore over 100 additional minor cannabinoids, like CBG, to look into!