Using hemp-based products can sometimes be confusing because there are so many cannabinoids out there. Which one is the best for your unique situation?
Actually, this is a trick question. Cannabinoids are most beneficial when used in combination, rather than in isolation.
One such combination that’s highly effective is CBD and CBG.
In this article, we’ll be exploring how CBD and CBG work together and how you can use them: from the benefits to the side effects to how much you should take.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Yes, you can take CBD and CBG together.
- In fact, taking CBD and CBG together renders more benefits than taking either cannabinoid by itself.
- CBD is calming and is effective for anxiety and inflammation, while CBG is energizing and is better at addressing pain.
- Taken together, these cannabinoids balance each other out and render comprehensive, full-body full-mind benefits.
Unlock the entourage effect with our CBG:CBD gummies. 25mg CBG & 25mg CBD per piece. American-made and 3rd-party lab tested.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of more than 100 naturally-occurring cannabinoids in the hemp plant. It’s extracted from the cannabinoid CBDA, which itself is extracted from CBGA.
CBD and other cannabinoids work by interacting with your endocannabinoid system (ECS), a naturally occurring transmitter system inside your body responsible for regulating sleep, mood, inflammatory response, and more. CBD doesn’t directly impact the receptors in your ECS; rather, it impacts the ECS in other ways.
For example, it may prevent your naturally-produced endocannabinoids from breaking down.
In this way, research suggests that CBD may be beneficial for everything from anxiety to inflammation to sleep.
As a result of its versatility, CBD is one of the most popular cannabinoids out there.
What is CBG?
Cannabigerol, or CBG, is also one of hemp’s many naturally-occurring cannabinoids. It’s extracted directly from CBGA, from which pretty much every other cannabinoid is made.
Like CBD, CBG interacts with your endocannabinoid system. Unlike CBD, it exerts a direct influence over the CB1 and CB2 receptors in your ECS.
Research suggests that CBG may be beneficial for pain, energy and focus, and general mood management.
Can You Take CBD and CBG Together?
Related Article: How CBD & THC Work Together
From a safety perspective, yes, you can absolutely take CBD and CBG together. CBD and CBG naturally occur together in the hemp plant, and ingesting the two at the same time doesn’t cause any negative effects.
But in our opinion, the more important question is, should you take CBD and CBG together?
In short, yes.
CBD vs. CBG: The Main Differences
In order to understand why using CBD and CBG together is so powerful, it’s important to know how they’re different — what they can do, and how they occur in the hemp plant.
Benefits
Both CBD and CBG have benefits for the body and mind. The main difference is in the “profile” of the effects, if you will — the general feeling each cannabinoid gives off.
CBD is mentally relaxing and calming in nature, whereas CBG’s mental effects are more energizing and focusing.
CBD can:
- Promote general mental calming and relaxation (great for stress and anxiety)
- Promote restful sleep
- Support a healthy inflammatory response
- Boost brain health
CBG can:
- Support a normal and healthy pain response
- Support energy, focus, and general mental clarity
- Support mental homeostasis, or balance (similar to CBD, but in a more energetic way)
- Support a healthy inflammatory response
- Help you maintain a normal metabolic process
CBG has also been studied for use with patients of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Huntington’s Disease, and Glaucoma, among others.
As you can see, there is an overlap in the benefits that each cannabinoid provides. Still, they maintain distinct effect profiles and render these benefits differently.
Abundance
The other main difference between CBD and CBG is how abundant they are in the hemp plant — this difference mainly matters when it comes to shopping for products.
Whereas most strains of hemp are comprised of 20-25% CBD, CBG is typically only present in amounts of 1% or less.
This means CBG isn’t as economical to extract, making it more expensive, on average, than CBD.
How CBD and CBG Work Together
As we’re covered before, CBD and CBG impact the body differently. So when taken in combination, they provide full-body, full-mind therapeutic benefits.
Here’s how this works.
The Entourage Effect
The entourage effect is a term that was originally used to describe the way CBD balances out the psychoactive effects of THC when they’re taken together, therefore amplifying THC’s benefits.
However, this term also describes the amplified benefits that any cannabinoid gives when used in combination with other cannabinoids — in this case, how CBD and CBG complement each other.
Though both CBD and CBG cannabinoids interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, they do so differently.
CBD doesn’t interact heavily with the CB1 or CB2 receptors (the main receptors in the ECS), but it helps modulate the production and efficacy of our body’s naturally produced endocannabinoids.
CBG, on the other hand, binds directly to both the CB1 and CB2 receptors, similar to THC.
This combination of interactions with the ECS renders outsized benefits.
How The Entourage Effect Applies to CBD & CBG
Combined, CBD and CBG elevate and help preserve the function of the ECS, which is responsible for helping regulate:
- Sleep
- Learning and memory
- Emotional processing
- Pain control
- Inflammatory response
- Immune response
- Body temperature control
- Appetite
Through its supporting role for the ECS, CBD helps your body regulate almost everything listed above to a small degree.
To a greater degree, research suggests CBD promotes mental relaxation and inflammatory response regulation.
CBG, on the other hand, primarily impacts mood and pain response. Research suggests CBG has analgesic, or pain-relieving, properties. Additionally, a survey of CBG users found that many people find it effective for anxiety and depression.
So when used together, CBD and CBG cover all the bases — they can render benefits for pain, inflammation, stress, and anxiety without causing you to feel overly tired or energized.
The Benefits of Taking CBD and CBG Together
We discussed how CBD and CBG generally work together. But which conditions is this combination most effective for — where upsides are increased while downsides are reduced?
Here are, in our experience, the best use cases.
CBD and CBG for Pain & Inflammation
Research suggests CBD may manage inflammation (i.e. the cause of pain). Likewise, scientific evidence also suggests that CBG is effective for those with pain (i.e. the outcome of inflammation).
Together, CBD and CBG can promote bodily relaxation in the face of both pain and inflammation, instead of only addressing one of the problems. In this situation, the CBD and CBG combo is more useful than either cannabinoid by itself.
To get a sense of how versatile this combination really is, our customers commonly use our CBD and CBG products for:
- Arthritis
- Tendonitis
- Neuropathic Pain
- Post-workout recovery
- General mobility support
CBD and CBG for Sleep
Typically, CBD is more effective than CBG for sleep. This is because it has a relaxing, slightly sedative effect profile.
However, if your sleep troubles are caused by pain and inflammation, you may find that combining CBD with CBG is more effective because CBG has stronger physically relaxing effects than CBD does.
And the good news is that CBD partially blunts CBG’s energizing effects, so you won’t have to worry about the CBG keeping you up. This is a prime example of CBD and CBG amplifying each other’s benefits while reducing the side effects.
CBD and CBG for Mood (Stress, Anxiety, Focus)
As we’ve mentioned, CBD and CBG both promote mental relaxation and clarity. But each cannabinoid also has a downside, in this respect.
CBD is great for relaxation and calming. However, some people find that it makes them feel tired — not ideal when you have things to do.
CBG, on the other hand, promotes mental clarity, energy, and focus. As a result, some find it useful for things like ADHD, but others find that it makes them feel more hyped than they’d like.
But by taking CBD and CBG together, you get the best of both worlds. You get relaxation and calm from CBD, and CBG blunts the sedative effect. You get energy and focus from CBG, and CBD blunts any overly energizing effects.
Therefore, the CBD and CBG combo is often infinitely more effective for stress, anxiety, general relaxation, and focus than any cannabinoid in isolation.
CBD and CBG Together: Side Effects
Although the CBD and CBG combo renders many benefits, neither cannabinoid is without its downsides.
Commonly reported side effects of CBD are:
- Dry mouth
- Diarrhea
- Reduced appetite
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
Common side effects of CBG are:
- Dry mouth
- Drowsiness
- Increased appetite
- Dry eyes
However, as you’ve learned, taking CBD and CBG together may eliminate some of these side effects. And assuming you start with a low dose and carefully work your way up, you shouldn’t feel too many side effects anyway.
CBD and CBG Together: Dosage
Related: CBD Dosage Chart & Guide
The amount of CBD and CBG you should take depends on:
- Why you’re taking it
- Your body weight
For obvious reasons, certain situations call for certain doses. And by using body weight, you can ensure you’re taking enough CBD and CBG for it to have an effect.
Here’s which dosage strength we recommend starting with for each situation:
- Sleep — low
- Pain & inflammation — medium
- Stress & anxiety — medium
With your strength in mind, use one of these formulas to calculate your dosage:
Low Strength Dosage Formula: (0.1) x (your body weight in lbs.) = your dosage of CBD and CBG in mg. *
Medium Strength Dosage Formula: (0.3) x (your body weight in lbs.) = your dosage of CBD and CBG in mg. *
So for example, if you’re taking CBD and CBG for sleep, you’d use the first formula. If you weigh 150 lbs, but this formula, you’d start by taking 15mg of your CBD and CBG combo each night.
Note that these are starting dosages. As you go, experiment with taking a little bit more or less depending on how you feel. Repeat this process until you achieve the effects you’re looking for.
*Assumes you’re taking equal amounts of CBD and CBG (a 1:1 ratio).
How to Take CBD and CBG Together: Best Products
Now that you’ve figured out the right dose of CBD and CBG to take, it’s time to decide how you’re going to take it!
There is no “best” way — it’s up to preference. Here are your options:
Oils/Tinctures
Tinctures combine CBD and CBG with a carrier oil, such as MCT oil, for absorption.
The main upsides of tinctures are:
- They allow for very precise dosing (via the metered dropper)
- They have a quick onset time of 10-15 minutes since they’re taken under the tongue, rather than digested
The main downside of tinctures is the taste — the earthy flavor of cannabinoid extracts can take some getting used to.
Edibles
Gummies are the most common type of edible. The upsides of gummies are:
- They taste delicious
- They deliver a consistent amount of CBD and CBG per piece
The only downside of gummies is that, since they’re digested, it may take as long as 1 hour to begin feeling the effects.
Capsules
CBD and CBG oil can be put into a digestible capsule that you swallow. The upsides of capsules are:
- They make dosing easy and consistent
- they are tasteless
The downside of capsules is that, like gummies, it can take up to 1 hour to feel the effects.
Topicals
Topicals are CBD products that are applied directly to the skin. Examples of topicals include roll-ons, creams, and salves.
The upsides of topicals are:
- They allow for targeted relaxation — you only apply them to the areas of the body that you need to relax or soothe
- They work in just 5-10 minutes
- They won’t show up on a drug test (this can be a concern with orally-ingested full-spectrum CBD + CBG products, which contain THC)
The downside of topicals is that, since the CBD and CBG aren’t entering your body, you won’t get the benefits of this combo outside of the area that you applied the topical to — you also won’t experience the mental benefits.
In our experience, topicals are the best if you’re dealing with pain and inflammation in the joints or muscles.
Opt for Full-Spectrum Products
One last note: Full-spectrum CBD and CBG products will render a stronger effect than products made with CBD and CBG isolate.
Full-spectrum CBD and CBG products also contain cannabinoids like CBN, CBC, and THC, in addition to terpenes (beneficial, naturally occurring compounds in hemp).
Just as CBD enhances CBG (and vice versa), additional cannabinoids and terpenes make this combination even more beneficial — an extension of the entourage effect.
However, be advised that products made with full-spectrum CBD will cause you to fail a drug test because they contain THC.
If this is a concern, opt for a broad-spectrum CBD and CBG product.
Conclusion: CBD and CBG Together – Worth It or Not?
So, is it worth buying and using a product that contains CBD and CBG together?
We think so.
For most uses, CBD and CBG together are more effective than CBD or CBG alone. And since these cannabinoids are combined in the hemp plant naturally, they’re essentially meant to be taken this way!
Scientists haven’t investigated the CBD-and-CBG entourage effect in depth, so there are still some unknowns about how these cannabinoids work together.
But based on anecdotal evidence, it seems this combo has a lot of untapped potential — and it could very well improve your quality of life.
CBD and CBG Together: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions customers frequently ask us about using CBD and CBG together.
What are the benefits of taking CBD and CBG together?
When taken together, CBD and CBG can promote deep mental and physical relaxation while blunting the adverse effects of each cannabinoid. This combination is most often used for pain, inflammation, and anxiety.
How does CBD and CBG make you feel?
Most people report that taking CBD and CBG together can make them feel mental clarity and relaxation without any sedating or overly energizing effects.
Can you take CBD and CBG together for sleep?
The CBD and CBG combination is beneficial for sleep if the reason you struggle to sleep is pain or inflammation. However, in most situations, CBD by itself is more effective for sleep.
What is the ratio of CBG to CBD?
Generally, the best ratio of CBG to CBD is 1:1. Products that contain equal amounts of each cannabinoid typically render the most balanced effects.
What happens when you mix CBD and CBG?
Mixing CBG and CBD creates balanced, full-body relaxation. This combination can address pain, inflammation, anxiety, and stress, and it’s neither too energizing nor too sedative.
