Have you heard of CBG? If not, that’s no surprise since cannabis plants contain extremely low CBG concentrations. Most cannabis only produces 1% CBG by weight, and that’s compared to up to 20% CBD and 25%–30% THC by weight.
Despite its relative rarity in cannabis, CBG is gaining attention for its benefits. And part of the reason for this is because, like CBD, CBG is non-psychotoxic. That means it won’t get you high.
CBG isolates are the best way to take advantage of this cannabinoid’s effects. And the cool thing is that you can make your own CBG isolates at home.
Want to know how? Then you better keep reading because this one’s for you!
The Benefits of CBG
Like all cannabinoids, CBG works on the body’s endocannabinoid system. This system of receptors and the molecules that bind to those receptors is responsible for multiple processes, including homeostasis.
Here are the top benefits you can take advantage of with CBG isolate.
CBG May Benefit Inflammatory Bowel Disease
The majority of what we know about CBG comes from animal research. For example, a 2013 pre-clinical study found that CBG may be beneficial for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Specifically, CBG helped reduce IBD-related inflammation. The cannabinoid also reduced intestinal reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROSs are known to cause cell damage, which can compromise normal bodily functions.
CBG May Help Treat Glaucoma
In another animal study, researchers found that CBG could reduce intraocular pressure (IOP). And IOP is the leading risk factor for glaucoma.
CBG also improved fluid flow from the aqueous humor. This fluid normally provides the eye with nutrients. In glaucoma, the flow of this fluid gets compromised, leading to a breakdown of components within the eye.
CBG Has Antibacterial Properties
Many cannabinoids have antibacterial properties. CBG is no exception. In a 2020 study, researchers showed how CBG could reduce treatment-resistant Staph infections.
CBG May Be Neuroprotective
Scientists aren’t exactly sure why, but CBG seems to protect the brain. Studies on CBG and animal models of Huntington’s disease showed that the cannabinoid prevented brain cells from dying due to the disease.
CBG May Inhibit Some Cancer Cell Growth
A 2014 animal study looked at the benefits of CBG for rat models of colon cancer. Surprisingly, the researchers found that CBG could inhibit colorectal cancer cell growth.
The researchers also found that CBG could reduce future cancer cell growth, too. This is because CBG interacts with receptors that are responsible for promoting the proliferation of new colorectal cancer cells.
How to Make CBG Isolate at Home
Because CBG is present in such low concentrations in cannabis, it takes a lot of work to isolate it. After all, isolates contain 99%–100% pure CBG. That’s why, if you try to buy CBG in a dispensary, it comes with a pretty high price tag.
Luckily, you don’t have to empty your wallet to harness the benefits of CBG. All you have to do is make your own isolate. Here’s how to do just that.
Pick a Strain
You’ll want a high-CBG strain to make your isolate. Ask your local budtender to point you in the direction of younger strains. Or you can request a strain specifically cultivated for high CBG content, including:
- White CBG
- Super Glue CBG
- Jack Frost CBG
Younger cannabis and hemp plants contain more CBG. This is because CBGa turns into CBD and THC as cannabis plants mature. The more THC and CBD, the less CBG.
Decarboxylate Your Cannabis
Decarboxylation is the process where cannabinoid acids turn into the cannabinoids we all know and love. We talked a little bit about CBGa above. Here’s another thing to know about this acid: it turns into CBG when heated.
To decarboxylate your cannabis, turn your oven to 230°F. Break apart your cannabis and fold into a small foil pouch. This pouch will control the smell and keep your weed from burning.
Decarboxylate your cannabis in the oven for 40 minutes. You’ll know you’ve done it right when the flowers turn from green to a light golden brown.
Extract the CBG
You could eat decarboxylated weed directly or throw it on top of dishes as a garnish. But to make isolated CBG, you need to extract this cannabinoid from the rest of the plant materials.
An extraction requires more advanced tools like centrifuges. You’ll also need to use a solvent like ethanol. Stay away from more difficult-to-use solvents like butane and propane.
Winterize the Plant Materials
The next step is called winterization. As its name suggests, you’re simply cooling down the ethanol extract to below-zero temperatures.
The plant fats will separate from the rest of the solution. Once you pour off the layer of fat that freezes at the top, you’re one step closer to a pure CBG isolate.
Distill Isolated CBG
Distillation is the process of heating a solution under pressure. If you want to do it right, you’ll need a wiped film distillation apparatus. Distillation equipment is expensive, though.
Instead, you could simply heat your winterized solution below 126°F, which is CBG’s boiling point. All remaining terpenes, cannabinoids, and other compounds with lower boiling points will evaporate away.
A homemade CBG isolate will never be as pure as one created in a lab. But your DIY isolate will be less expensive than if you were to buy it at a dispensary.
Harness the Benefits of CBG Today!
Once you’ve created your CBG isolate, you can take advantage of its benefits in many ways. Drop it under your tongue, mix it into your coffee, or use it in any vape products that work with cannabinoid isolates.
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