May is Mental Health Month and at Synchronicity, we feel it’s of the utmost importance to consider the body in a holistic manner. We aim to help people make their body, health, mind, and general sense of well-being whole. While we are not intending to provide medical advice or treat diseases, it is important for us to spread awareness and start important conversations with our valued community members.
What is Mental Health Month?
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), millions of Americans face life with a wide variety of mental illness conditions. NAMI has created the “You are not alone” campaign to draw attention and awareness to this reality, and start conversations to normalize mental illness and offer resources to those who need them. Through sharing personal stories on social media (use the hashtag #NotAlone to participate) and a variety of other workshops and activities, the month of May is spent in solidarity with those who are affected.
At Synchronicity, we aim to be inclusive and aware of the different illnesses our community members may be living with, and do our best to offer our own resources and recommendations.
CBD and CBG: What Does Mental Health Have to do with Cannabis?
One common mental illness we’ll focus on is an anxiety disorder, which affects millions of people around the world. Each of the different cannabinoids plays a role in emotional regulation, and both CBG and CBD have shown immense promise with their anti-anxiety effects. The term 'anxiety' is commonly used to describe unpleasant feelings of worry, fear, and doubt. Anxiety, in many cases, is a normal human emotion. However, in some cases, these feelings begin to interfere with a person's ability to function and become characteristic of an anxiety disorder. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition), there are five types of anxiety:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder, characterized by anxiety attacks, irritability, and apprehension;
Panic Disorder, in which a person undergoes brief spells of anxiety and turmoil;
Social Phobia, featuring avoidance of social situations and extreme stress induced by social contexts;
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, in which a person experiences recurrent thoughts referred to as obsessions, and compulsive behaviors meant to quell the distress caused by those obsessions;
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, characterized by long lasting anxious responses to intense trauma.
These distinct types of anxiety may call for different cannabinoids. For instance, in numerous anecdotal cases, THC has shown beneficial for those coping with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, while it aggravates and intensifies feelings of panic in those susceptible to other types of anxiety.
Interestingly, studies suggest that CBD and THC "exert opposite actions on brain function" (CNS Drug Discovery, Volume 7, Issue 1). THC can induce anxiety, while CBD promotes a calming sense of well-being. It is important to note, however, that the two can work synergistically, with small amounts of THC potentiating CBD's effects. That’s why you’ll hear our experts talking about CBD and CBG percentages in cannabis strains and why those numbers are important to pay attention to when deciding what course of medicine may be right for you.
What is CBG?
CBG is the parent cannabinoid to all other cannabinoids, meaning that it is the precursor from which all other cannabinoids are synthesized. It is considered the "Rolls-Royce" of cannabinoids, as it's expensive to produce because it is found in the plant in small amounts. CBG is non-psychoactive and has promise in reducing anxiety and inflammation. Additionally, it has the potential to be an antibacterial, anti-fungal, antioxidant, and analgesic.
What is CBD?
Though CBD has been a household name when it comes to anti-anxiety, in a 2016 study published in Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, CBG was shown to have multiple anti-anxiety properties, such as the ability to inhibit the uptake of the neurotransmitter GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid). GABA prevents or limits nervous activity in the brain, and with CBG acting as a reuptake inhibitor, there is the potential for greater GABA levels in the brain. CBG may also promote mood regulation through its ability to increase anandamide, a naturally occurring cannabinoid that is produced by our bodies. More research is necessary, but preliminary studies show great potential for these relationships.
We are here to support anyone suffering from any disease, disorder, or mental illness and will treat you with nonjudgmental quality care. We subscribe to high ethical standards and our founder, Valentia Valentine (Piccinini), has a personal experience and impressive story to tell about her fight with MS.
Stop by Synchronicity today or call our team to discuss your unique needs and how we are positioned to help. We have a wide range of experts to consult including nurses and a licensed pharmacist. We are on your side and together we make our community strong!
Further Reading
Don’t just take our word for it! Like all complex issues, we encourage you to conduct your own independent research before forming an opinion. Here are some fantastic NIH (National Institute of Health) studies regarding CBG, which you can read for further information. These studies are well respected because they are sourced from the U.S National Library of Medicine:
This information is intended for educational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for medical care or to prescribe treatment for any specific health condition. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.