CBG’s (cannabigerol) potential role in supporting overall mental wellness is a trending discussion. While early preclinical studies suggest promising effects of CBG on mood balance and emotional well-being, there’s not enough evidence yet to say CBG can treat anxiety or any other health issues.
Even though it’s not an approved treatment for stress or anxiety, many people find CBG products help them feel more balanced, possibly because CBG supports the endocannabinoid system, which regulates stress and maintains balance (homeostasis) in the body.
Does CBG Help With Anxiety?
There are personal accounts of people using CBG to help with anxiety, but it doesn’t have substantial human clinical trials that are still lacking to prove its effectiveness.
One promising piece of research that many people reference is a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is a study in which neither the participants nor the researchers know who gets the real treatment or a fake one (called a placebo). This way, they can fairly test whether the compound works better than nothing without anyone being influenced by their expectations.
This study found that CBG significantly reduced anxiety and stress in healthy adults when surveyed compared to the placebo at a modest dose of 20 mg of CBG daily [1]. While this suggests that CBG may be a natural option for stress and anxiety relief, it’s worth noting that this study doesn’t hold the same weight as clinical trials in humans, and much more research is needed to draw any conclusions.
CBD vs. CBG for Anxiety?
CBD and CBG have growing reputations for supporting mental wellness, but neither compound is FDA-approved to treat anxiety.
CBD has been researched more extensively than the other cannabinoids, so it might be many people’s first choice.
One journal review specifically looked at CBD as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders. It found that studies in animals show CBD has the potential to help with anxiety issues like generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, OCD, and PTSD, but most studies only tested it for short-term use.
Human studies also suggest that CBD can reduce anxiety, but again, only with short-term use and not many tests in actual patients with anxiety disorders. Overall, the review indicates that CBD seems promising for anxiety, but it’s inconclusive as we need more studies to understand how it works when taken over a more extended period [2].
Another popularly mentioned review looked at eight studies on CBD’s potential in treating anxiety.
Six were small, controlled trials, while the others were case studies. The studies examined how CBD affects anxiety in healthy people, those with generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and PTSD, but didn’t cover panic disorder, phobias, separation anxiety, or OCD.
CBD was given in capsules or sprays in doses ranging from 6 mg to 400 mg. The researchers used different tools to measure anxiety and found that CBD generally helped reduce signs of anxiety and that the CBD doses were generally well-tolerated. The most common side effects were tiredness and drowsiness [3].
Now, for those who struggle with the adverse effects of tiredness and drowsiness, CBG might be a better option. While research has not fully understood its side effects, the general user consensus is that CBG has excellent calming effects that are more uplifting for daytime use.
Can You Use CBD and CBG Together for Anxiety?
Yes, you could use both CBG and CBD together to support overall wellness, including stress management, but neither are FDA-approved treatments for anxiety or any other medical condition.
The balance of CBD and CBG can often create desirable effects that help to calm the mind and body, without getting high.
Although CBG may not be the forerunner of cannabinoids that comes to mind when thinking about anxiety support, studies are demonstrating that its calming but uplifting effects may benefit anxiety symptoms [1].
References:- Cuttler, C., Stueber, A., Cooper, Z. D., & Russo, E. (2024). Acute effects of cannabigerol on anxiety, stress, and mood: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, field trial. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 16163.
- Blessing, E. M., Steenkamp, M. M., Manzanares, J., & Marmar, C. R. (2015). Cannabidiol as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders. Neurotherapeutics, 12(4), 825-836.
- Skelley, J. W., Deas, C. M., Curren, Z., & Ennis, J. (2020). Use of cannabidiol in anxiety and anxiety-related disorders. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 60(1), 253-261.
