If you struggle with anxiety and haven’t had success with traditional treatments, you may want to consider CBG oil, a natural, non-intoxicating remedy derived from hemp. Following the CBD boom, the possible health benefits of other cannabinoids, like CBG, are starting to get more attention.
Cannabigerol (CBG) is one of more than 120 cannabinoids identified in hemp. A non-psychotropic substance, CBG, is currently under research, with scientists trying to determine its therapeutic value. CBG may have anti-anxiety properties, but a lack of human trials makes it difficult to say with certainty.
In this post, I want to discuss why CBG may work for anxiety and how you could benefit from it. I’ll also explore what makes an excellent CBG oil product and where you can find one.
Discover the Top 3 CBG Oils to Relieve Anxiety:
1. NuLeaf Naturals – Full-Spectrum CBG Oil
This premium full-spectrum CBG oil from NuLeaf Naturals is an excellent option for anxiety. Containing a whole-plant hemp extract rich in cannabinoids and terpenes, NuLeaf’s tincture brings out the entourage effect. The organic virgin hemp seed oil provides some additional therapeutic value.
Using a highly-concentrated proprietary hemp formula, NuLeaf has pulled out all the stops. This product is third-party tested, manufactured in an ISO-certified facility, and conforms with the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices. You simply won’t find a safer or more potent CBG oil.
Available tinctures: 300mg (60mg/ml), 900mg (60mg/ml), 1800mg (60mg/ml)
2. Active CBD Oil Tincture – Water-Soluble CBG Oil
The 150mg Water-Soluble CBG tincture from Active CBD Oil is more effective than you think. Water-solubility enhances bioavailability and the potency of hemp extract, allowing you to get maximum relief from a small dose. Each full 1ml dropper administers 5mg of CBG extract.
Active CBD Oil uses a broad-spectrum hemp extract free from THC, putting any drug test concerns to rest. This unflavored tincture is cultivated with non-GMO hemp and has a natural, earthy taste. You can take it under the tongue or by adding it to food or drink.
3. CBDistillery – Daytime Synergy CBG Oil (1000mg)
Made with a full-spectrum hemp extract, the Daytime Synergy tincture from CBDistillery delivers the best CBG and CBD. The 1000mg total hemp extract is equally divided into 500mg of each cannabinoid, with the 1:1 ratio promoting well-balanced effects.
In addition to full-spectrum hemp, CBDistillery’s tincture consists of natural terpenes and MCT-rich fractionated coconut oil, boosting overall effects and bioavailability. Third-party tested and approved, this CBG oil contains less than 0.3% THC.
What is CBG?
CBG is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that acts upon the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Research indicates CBG is a weak and partial CB1 and CB2 receptor agonist, a moderate 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, and an alpha-2-adrenergic receptor agonist.
CBG promotes homeostasis and balance in the ECS but is seemingly different from CBD and THC. Rather than interacting directly with cannabinoid receptors, CBG mostly limits the breakdown of anandamide, an endocannabinoid and natural neurotransmitter. The increased levels of anandamide help with ECS regulation.
Interestingly, most cannabinoids – including CBD and THC – actually start off as cannabigerolic acid (CBGa) in the hemp plant, which is the acidic form of CBG.
Eventually, CBGa mostly breaks down into the acidic versions of CBD and THC, leaving just a small amount of CBG remaining. But this explains why CBG is often called the “mother of all cannabinoids”.
Does CBG Oil Work for Anxiety?
CBG is not a proven anxiety treatment, but very little literature exists on the topic. Cannabinoid science is still relatively young, with decades of prohibition stifling scientific progress.
While first discovered and isolated in 1964, CBG has taken a backseat until recently. The limited funding available for research has mostly gone on understanding the psychoactive effects of THC and the medicinal potential of CBD.
However, despite a lack of proof that CBG oil works for anxiety, many people are getting positive results. Studies on anandamide suggest CBG may be effective for anxiety, although no research has looked specifically at the compound’s effects.
In 2003, Trends in Molecular Medicine published a paper outlining how preventing anandamide breakdown could be crucial to treating anxiety. As we know, CBG has this effect, hence why it could be a beneficial substance.
Why choose CBG oil?
The legal hemp industry does not want innovation and variety. Numerous CBG products are on the market, including flower, e-liquids, edibles, concentrates, and capsules. So, why should you choose CBG oil for anxiety?
Much comes down to personal preference, but CBG tincture oils do offer some distinct advantages. Firstly, when taken sublingually, CBG oil gets to work within minutes – the rapid effects are ideal and even necessary for soothing acute social anxiety.
Only CBG flower and e-liquids offer faster relief, but these come with adverse health consequences. If smoking or vaping isn’t your thing, sublingual absorption is a safe consumption method that’s only slightly less efficient.
Furthermore, CBG oil allows for more accurate dosing than vape juices and flower. The CBG is distributed evenly throughout the product in tinctures, and you know exactly how many milligrams you take with each full dropper.
CBG oil is also more versatile than other products, especially edibles and capsules. While a CBG tincture can double up as an edible in food and drink, edibles and capsules cannot be taken sublingually.
Types of CBG oil
The different types of hemp extract can be intimidating and confusing for first-timers. Here’s a quick overview of the various forms of CBG oil on sale and any pros and cons.
CBG-isolate oil: These tinctures are all about the CBG and nothing else. The CBG is extracted from the rest of the hemp plant and then mixed with a carrier oil.
CBG-isolate tinctures cost less but are not as therapeutic due to the absence of other cannabis and terpenes. However, with no THC at all, CBG-isolate oil is ideal if you’re worried about drug tests.
Full-spectrum CBG oil: CBG tinctures made with full-spectrum hemp promote the famous ‘entourage effect’. The theory goes that cannabinoids are more beneficial when taken as part of a whole-plant extract than when consumed in isolation.
Full-spectrum CBD oil is usually a little more expensive and contains traces of THC (up to 0.3%). It won’t make you high, but you could potentially fail a drug test with these products.
Broad-spectrum CBG oil: This type of CBG oil does not contain any THC but is otherwise no different from full-spectrum products. Broad-spectrum CBG tinctures recreate the entourage effect as closely as possible while keeping you in the clear with drug tests.
Delta-8 oil with CBG: Delta-8 is effectively a legal, hemp-derived form of THC, but it will get you stoned. Some delta-8 oil products contain CBG extract to complement the intoxicating effects. These tinctures deliver a mellow high, but delta-8 does show up on drug tests.
How to Take CBG Oil For Anxiety
We’ve already touched briefly on the different ways of taking CBG oil for anxiety, but here’s a closer look at how to get the most from each consumption method.
Sublingual absorption
Sublingual absorption works by administering CBG oil under the tongue, where the sublingual glands quickly absorb the cannabinoids into your system. Decide on your dosage, apply a few drops or a full dropper under your tongue, and hold for 30 to 60 seconds before swallowing.
CBG hits hard and fast when taken sublingually, hence why I recommend it for social anxiety, which often arises without warning. The quick and potent relief helps to swiftly settle your mind, making those tricky social situations that much easier. Sublingually absorbed CBG is effective for about three hours.
In food and drink
Mixing CBD oil with your food or adding it to your beverage is a convenient and discreet way of getting anxiety relief. If you don’t like hemp’s strong, earthy taste, this is a handy trick to cover up the taste. CBG oil’s effects also last longer when taken in this manner.
However, CBG taken orally doesn’t provide immediate benefits. You may have to wait up to an hour before feeling anything – although this can be sped up somewhat by consuming on an empty stomach.
Therefore, I don’t advise this method when you need speedy anxiety relief. Instead, the long-lasting effects are more suitable for relieving chronic and persistent anxiety. If anxiety affects you around the clock, taking your tincture orally may be more cost-effective.
What to Look For When Buying CBG Oil for Anxiety
Over the past few years, more brands have started selling CBG oil. Increased competition means better quality products, but unfortunately, there are a few not-so-good companies in the industry.
When buying CBG oil for anxiety, first ensure that you’re purchasing a legit product, and then check whether it’s suitable for your needs. Don’t worry – this is easier than it sounds!
Third-party tested products
Independent approval is the only way of knowing if a CBG oil product is genuine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets strict safety and quality standards in most industries. But this isn’t the case with hemp-derived products, which are currently unregulated.
However, third-party testing has helped bring this Wild West industry under control. Companies making legal, pure, and potent CBG oil can prove it by letting independent laboratories test their products.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and the transparency of third-party testing inevitably exposes low-quality brands. Genuine brands get to display a certificate of analysis alongside their CBG oil products, while scammers have nothing to show.
CBG oil with CBD extract
For anxiety relief, I like CBG products that also contain CBD. Research suggests that CBD helps with anxiety, with more studies available than we have for CBG at the moment.
In addition, CBD is non-psychoactive – the only difference you might notice is more relaxation compared to a pure CBG product.
The amount of CBG and CBD in a tincture oil should be stated on the product packaging. The label typically states how much of each cannabinoid is in the entire tincture and how much is administered with each serving.
Tinctures with MCT oil
Try finding CBG oil tinctures made with medium-chained triglyceride (MCT) oil. All CBG oil products consist of hemp extract and carrier oil – the best CBG tinctures contain an MCT-rich carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil.
MCTs are fatty acids that enhance the bioavailability of CBG molecules. When you take CBG oil or any other CBG product, only a low percentage of your dosage ever reaches the bloodstream.
By increasing bioavailability, MCTs make your CBG dosage more potent. You can either enjoy the stronger effects or reduce your dosage slightly to get more servings from your tincture.
Is CBG legal?
Hemp-derived CBG is legal at the federal level and in all US states. Marijuana-derived CBG remains prohibited at the federal level and in all states where marijuana is illegal. CBG from marijuana is still tightly restricted as a Schedule 1 drug in the Controlled Substances Act.
Federal law describes “hemp” as the Cannabis Sativa L. plant with less than 0.3% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on a dry weight basis. CBG became legal after the 2018 Agriculture Improvement Act (Farm Bill) was signed into law, legalizing hemp and its cannabinoids.
At the international level, CBG is not scheduled by the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances.
Can I Travel With CBG Oil?
Yes, you can freely travel with CBG oil within the United States – but make sure your tincture has less than 0.3% THC. However, if your CBG oil contains delta-8, check the law in your destination state, as some areas have recently banned the substance.
Traveling abroad with CBG oil is not so clear-cut. Hemp is legal in many countries but not everywhere. Moreover, countries where hemp and its components remain banned often enforce strict penalties for possession.
Always study the law in your destination country before traveling with CBG oil. If in any doubt, leave it at home.
Where to Buy CBG Oil for Anxiety
When shopping for CBG oil or other hemp-based products, you can choose between purchasing from an online vendor or going to your local store. While shopping at a shop near you may seem convenient, I strongly suggest buying CBG online.
Compared to CBD products, CBG oil is still quite rare – you might not even find it at your local health and wellness shop. Also, gas stations, head shops, and similar brick-and-mortar stores often don’t check what they sell.
In contrast, online hemp vendors take extra care when choosing what products to stock. For these stores, selling high-quality CBG is critical to their success, whereas other shops just sell CBG as a side hustle.
CBG isn’t as easily extracted from hemp as CBD, so CBG oil products tend to be more expensive. CBG oil is cheaper online than in physical stores!
