Nerve pain keeps millions of people up at night and makes day-to-day life difficult. It negatively affects our sleep, work, health, and relationships. Common treatments like antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or opioid-based medicines often make the person addicted. These medicines have strong chemicals in them, which damage the body in more than one way over time. Fibromyalgia, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, bone spurs, spondylosis, and neuropathy are some of the leading causes of severe nerve pain in all age groups. Commonly known as neuropathic pain, this condition causes a burning, tingling, or static shock kind of sensation.
Hence, many have started adopting more natural and chemical-free alternatives like CBN gummies or CBG oil. CBG is particularly getting quite some traction due to its strong pain-blocking and inflammation-curbing properties. Still, many wonder if CBG is good for nerve pain for real or just another flashy trend. Let’s explore this topic in detail so that you can make an informed decision for both yourself and your loved ones.
What is CBG?
CBG (cannabigerol) is a nonpsychoactive, non-intoxicating, and therapeutic compound found in cannabis plants. It comes from a family of compounds collectively known as cannabinoids.
There are more than 110 of them in cannabis plants. CBG is a precursor to two major cannabinoids – CBD & THC. It’s known as the “mother of cannabinoids” due to its higher concentration in young plants, which then break down and convert to other cannabinoids as the plant matures.
In a fully grown cannabis plant, hardly 1% CBG is left in the end; hence, it’s a minor cannabinoid, making it costly to extract and prepare products like gummies, oils, and tinctures. That’s why you’ll notice that CBG gummies often sell at a higher price than CBD or CBN gummies. Studies show that CBG has strong anti-inflammatory effects and blocks certain pain receptors, numbing down discomfort effectively. Other than pain, it’s also good for gut, skin, sleep, anxiety & stress.
What Causes Nerve Pain?
Nerve pain or neuropathic pain stems from nerve damage caused by diabetes, shingles, rheumatoid arthritis, injuries, chemotherapy, fibromyalgia, and other debilitating conditions. In most cases, it’s chronic in nature and gets resistant to common painkillers and nerve-calming medicines. Medicines like pregabalin and amitriptyline are often prescribed by doctors for neuropathy, but they come with the risk of certain side effects like dizziness, weight gain, and dependency. Those who have very severe nerve pain are often put on opioid-based medicines, but in most cases, they make the patient addicted.
The biggest issue with nerve pain is that it becomes a lifetime condition. Most patients have to take medicines till their last breath; there’s not much of a permanent solution. Regular medicines just block the pain for a few hours, and then it comes back again. You have to learn to live with it; hence, many people have started shifting to much less body-damaging options like cannabinoids. Cannabinoid products like CBG oils and gummies are non-addictive, bring relief for 4-8 hours with every serving, and don’t cause any major side effects.
Science Behind CBG and Neuropathic Pain
There’s no doubt that CBG is effective for nerve pain, and there are many studies and anecdotal reports to back this claim. For example, a 2022 published study showed CBG’s effectiveness in curbing neuropathic pain caused by chemotherapy. Do note that the test was done on one mouse, and hence more human trials are needed in the future. It was observed that CBG brings down pain caused by nerve damage due to cisplatin (a chemotherapy drug).
CBG reduces pain levels by affecting CB1, CB2, and α2-adrenergic receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system. ECS is also present in humans; hence, CBG seems to be effective for nerve pain. CBG combined with CBD oil worked better than CBG alone, but neither reduced pain in other tests like formalin or tail flick. This suggests CBG helps specific nerve pain through certain receptors, not all types of pain.
Here’s a more recent study published in 2023, which studies CBG’s impact on nerve pain caused by arthritis. Researchers observed that CBG reduces pain by working on TRPV1 and CB2R receptors. It activates TRPV1 to numb and block the pain signals and also triggers endorphin release from skin cells to create a soothing, pain-free sensation. Hence, CBG topicals are perfect for targeted pain relief in specific areas.
Plus, it’s completely safe and non-toxic. So if you have a sudden acne breakout, do consider applying some CBG cream to it. Still, these are all animal trials and more concrete research is required, which involves human test subjects. However, there are many positive anecdotal reports from people who use CBG for neuropathic pain, so there’s no doubt about its effectiveness.
Is It Safe To Consume Cbg Every Day For Nerve Pain?
Yes, CBG is completely safe for daily consumption. It’s neither toxic nor addictive. However, if you are already on medications like pregabalin, it’s best to discuss it with your doctor first. Combining CBG with other nerve pain medicines can cause extreme fatigue, dizziness, and stomach issues. Also, you may feel slight dehydration in the initial days, so it’s best to increase your water intake. If you opt for low bioavailability products like CBG gummies, try to eat them with fatty foods for better absorption of the cannabinoid in the body.
Lastly, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid CBG, as there are not enough studies to understand how it affects kids’ development.
The End Note
To sum it up, yes, CBG is good for nerve pain. It works by blocking pain signals by affecting certain receptors in our body’s endocannabinoid system. However, it works best in combination with CBD, so try to buy products that offer a balanced mix of both these cannabinoids. Make sure to start with a low dose of 10-15 mg, note down the effects weekly, and gradually increase the serving size till you hit the perfect amount. There are tons of brands in the market, but due to a lack of proper regulations, the product quality takes a real hit.
Hence, it’s best to stick with well-tested, regulated, and popular companies like Colorado Botanicals. Their Recovery CBG + CBD oil is perfect for beginners and comes in a refreshing minty bliss flavor.