CBGa, or Cannabigerolic acid, is an acidic cannabinoid. It's the precursor from which other cannabinoids are synthesized, including THC and CBD. Like other acidic cannabinoids, CBGa is non-intoxicating in its natural state and must be heated (decarboxylated) to convert into its neutral form, CBG.
When you're considering whether to smoke or vape a product like CBGa Crumble which I use in my concept ECS Balance Control, there are several factors to consider:
Are you sure you don't want to ingest it? As much as we love to do it, smoking and vaping have potential health risks. Vaping, while many think it is the less harmful way to inhale, is harder to control the temperature of. Ultimately, many choose to ingest even the solid extract crumble daily.
The efficiency of decarboxylation - Did you know heat turns it into CBG? Smoking and vaping should provide the heat necessary for decarboxylation, and the method allows CBGa vapor. Many who add it to their homemade pre-rolls will experience both CBGa and CBG by smoking it as the cherry of the joint is combusting, while some of the Balance is vaporizing. However, a vaporizer's specific temperature controls may cause it all to turn to CBG, which is pleasant, along with the terpenes in the crumble.
Most will do both ingest and inhale and add it to the existing products they use now to help gain a more balanced experience with them. It's been shown in scientific studies that endocannabinoids decrease as we inhale and consume THC, but this is not the case for CBGa ingestion or CBG inhalation.
Onset and duration, plus the type of effects: Many will dab CBGa due to its immediate results, even though it's decarboxylating the acidic chain of the cannabinoid. It has a mellow and uplifting feeling that feels great between or before THC dabs and even on their own. There are so many ways to use CBGa Crumble.
Ingestion of CBGa Crumble has been vital to my own Endocannabinoid Balance, and it's how I came up with the concept for ECS Balance Control. The ability to maintain THC use without having efficacy issues was incredible; it was something sharing with the world was necessary to do so many years ago. Many people don't desire THC, and also, many consumers want to gain control of how much of it they use while making it effective like it was when they used it long ago.
Our brains function using a complex system of neurochemicals, such as neurotransmitters, precisely what our endocannabinoids Anandamide and 2-AG are. These help to transmit signals and information between neurons, but we need to include them due to long periods of needing more knowledge on how to stay healthy. For some, it was due to the lack of Cannabis in their diets - of all types, as we've always had THC, CBD, and CBG.
Maintaining a balance of these chemicals is critical for healthy brain function. For example, an imbalance in neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine can be associated with conditions like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.
So what happens when we don't have enough endocannabinoids?
We're finding out that lacking them causes the same things and even life-threatening situations and disorders - this is how important our internal cannabinoids are. If we lower them due to using too much of a good thing like THC, not getting enough exercise, and having a poor diet - our body and quality of life suffer.
Other types of Balance:
The Balance between Brain Hemispheres: Our brain's left and right hemispheres have different functions, and achieving a good balance between them can promote more effective thinking and problem-solving. The left brain is often associated with logical thinking and analytical processes, while the right side of our brain has connections to creativity and emotions.
Emotional Balance: Emotional Balance involves managing our emotions in a way that allows us to respond appropriately to life's ups and downs. It's about feeling and understanding our feelings but not being ruled by them.
Work-Life Balance: This refers to effectively dividing our time and energy between work and personal life to avoid burnout and stress.
Cognitive Load Balance: It's important not to overload our brains with too much information at once, which can lead to mental fatigue, stress, and reduced productivity.
Strategies to maintain or restore these forms of Balance can include a healthy diet, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management techniques (like meditation and mindfulness), social interactions, cognitive exercises, and in some cases, medication or therapy.
It's a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional if you feel mentally unbalanced or overwhelmed to the point of being unhealthy. Many consumers use various supplements and natural ways to find Balance, and others use Yoga and Meditation, which are also ways to increase our Endocannabinoid Tone.
So, whether to dab or smoke CBGa is up to the user and the experience they want - but many end up with ingestion as their number one choice to gain the type of ECS Balance Robinson often talks about and enjoy life a bit more.
-Mike Robinson, Co Founder of CBGa Crumble, and the Creator of ECS Balance Control
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