Medical cannabis research has grown significantly over the last decade and researchers continue to discover new applications for the many compounds found in this once taboo plant. Much of the focus of researchers has centered on active components of the hemp plant known as cannabinoids.
The potential clinical benefits were first identified in 1940 with the discovery of the cannabinoid cannabinol, or CBN. Since then, researchers have found over one hundred such cannabinoids, including the widely popular THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBG (cannabigerol), and CBD (cannabidiol).
Today, thousands of clinical studies have been performed into the mechanisms of action of these compounds, as well as their effects on humans and animals. Researchers and private companies are working hand-in-hand to find novel uses for these unique plant medicines, and a review of recent technological advances shows manufacturers are finding innovative ways to extract and synthesize these hemp extracts into beneficial consumer goods.
Everything from organic farming practices to extraction technology is now under review and being continuously refined in an effort to yield a better, more potent, and higher quality product.
Researchers have also identified individual benefits of cannabinoids, as well as synergistic entourage effects when cannabinoids are combined.
Consumers, for example, no longer have to decide between CBG vs CBD when looking for a hemp extract product. Rather, they can combine the various effects of multiple cannabinoids into blends that have been dubbed “full spectrum” because they contain a combination of cannabinoids and other hemp plant components like aromatic terpenes, all of which have been shown to support health benefits related to stress, anxiety, pain, sleep, inflammation, and even epilepsy.
While the molecular structures of these various cannabinoids differ, they are closely related and have been found to interact directly with the central nervous system and endocannabinoid systems in people and animals. Thus, it makes sense that combining cannabinoids helps to provide overall benefits for a variety of issues. These other cannabinoids are often referred to as “minor cannabinoids,” but research shows there is nothing minor about them.
CBG, for example, has been referred to as “the mother of all cannabinoids” because it is the precursor from which other cannabinoids are synthesized. So, when you take CBD, THC, CBN, CBC or any other cannabinoid, at one point, they were all cannabigerol before nature’s chemical processes took hold.
And while cannabidiol (CBD) is more of the celebrity cannabinoid because of its widespread use and concentrations found in hemp, CBG is really one of the superstars. It exists in lower concentrations in the plant, making it much more rare, but the pharmacological case for its benefits in patients with health concerns like Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis is founded in solid science.
But CBG is not alone. Other cannabinoids can work together with CBD to enhance health benefits through the entourage effect, as noted by researchers. Moreover, hemp’s other compounds, like terpenes, add further effectiveness. These compounds give hemp its distinct smell and flavor, but they also possess mechanisms of action that have been shown to provide anxiolytic and mood-enhancing effects, providing support to those who may suffer from conditions such as anxiety, depression, and mood imbalance.
These effects have been demonstrated in biochemical research but in recent years human clinical studies have proven their benefits in the real world. A case study involving CBD and other cannabinoids found that after just one month, over 79% of patients taking this hemp-based alternative medicine showed improvements in anxiety and sleep.
In another study involving patients that utilized a multi-cannabinoid, predominantly CBG dosage, researchers found that over 70% of users claimed superior results with the blend that included higher amounts of CBG.
The latter study suggests that users taking multi-spectrum CBD oils containing minor cannabinoid compounds like CBG and CBN could be more effective than just CBD by itself. This has been confirmed time and again by various studies. As cited by CNN, London-based GW Pharmaceuticals has found similar results that indicate taking a combination cannabinoid therapy yields better results for patients with conditions such as multiple sclerosis than stand-alone cannabinoid isolates.
Thus, while CBD and THC seem to be getting all the health hype, the science suggests that minor cannabinoid compounds and other components found in hemp such as terpenes, may play a significant role in the health benefits reported by the millions of people who use these natural therapies worldwide.
Researchers continue to make inroads with scores of clinical studies slated over the next several years, and hemp extract manufacturers are standing by in an effort to identify the most effective hemp extract combinations available.