CBDA & CBGA: Lesser-Known Cannabinoids in the Spotlight

by Billee Sharp

Research into medical cannabis is increasing our understanding of cannabinoids exponentially. The most recent scientific studies estimate at least 113 identified cannabinoids with many more still to be formally recognized. Many of these cannabinoids have not yet been studied in isolation and as such, must be considered as forming part of the entourage effect of full spectrum cannabis products. Of the cannabinoids that are currently being researched the perceived benefits continue to grow. In this article I’ll be focussing on just two of the cannabinoids that have recently come to the fore: CBDa and CBGa.

The “a '' at the end of CBDa and CBGa stands for acid, These acid cannabinoids are the precursors to CBD and CBG respectively. CBDa, (Cannabidiolic acid) and CBGa (Cannabigerolic acid) are the forms in which the cannabinoids naturally exist in the plant. When either cannabinoid is exposed to temperatures of 250 degrees F during processing, they convert to CBD and CBG respectively, through a process known as decarboxylation.

In Jan 2022 Oregon State University published results of research on the combined effect of CBDa and CBGa on inhibiting the Sars-Covid -19 coronavirus. The two cannabinoids appeared to bind to the coronavirus spike protein and prevent the virus from entering human cells. While the research was conducted in laboratory conditions and not on human subjects the positive evidence was significant and consequently further research is underway.

How the acid form of cannabinoids differs from the cannabinoid form is not entirely known. What we do know is that cannabinoids in acid form are highly bioavailable as they are consumed in their raw state. Both CBDa and CBGa exhibit the properties of CBD and CBG but in acid form, the cannabinoid appears to have a heightened effect on certain conditions.

CBDa is particularly indicated for its influence on serotonin production, the rapid onset of effect is extremely useful to those with mood issues.

CBDa like CBD is highly indicated for its anti-inflammatory properties and is proving to be a significant inhibitor of nausea.

In the world of medical cannabis research CBGa it is known as “the mother of all cannabinoids”. Quite literally all the other cannabinoids first appear as the CBGa cannabinoid, which later converts to CBG, CBDa, THCa, etc. Early research into CBGa has shown that it activates PPAR receptors which control levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, both of which make it particularly useful for both prevention of diabetic conditions and for systematic treatment for diabetes and its comorbidities.

CBGa research is ongoing into cancer treatment, with a recent study suggesting CBDa targets colon cancer cells. CBGa also shows promising results with bladder dysfunctions, neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular issues.

The interaction of CBDa and CBGa on our endocannabinoid system enables the ECS to maintain our homeostatic balance and for our immune system to function at full capacity. As neither CBGa or CBGa have psychoactive effects, these cannabinoids are accessible to all as an immune boosting supplement.

NB. Synergy Wellness “Super Immune” capsules, 30 x 25mg (17mg CBDa 8mg CBGa) #241 $75.00

Sources:

“What are CBDa and CBGa?” Eleanor Thompson, Jan 2022, Green Life Remedies

“Effects of low-dose CBGa as nausea inhibitor” E M Rock L A Parker

June 2013, National Library of Medicine

Gardeners: On your mark, get set, go!

by Elana Dusse

Here in Northern California, we were recently blessed with some late-season rains in a very dry winter. They extended our natural green season but now it seems the last of the rains have come and gone and any green that is forthcoming will have to be coaxed and cultivated by human hands.

Now is the time to get those stiff garden gloves and hand-tools out of the shed; to get those seedlings in the dirt; to set up your automatic drip systems if you have them. Now is the time to turn your soil, maybe add in some compost or nutrients to fortify it, to give the little plants their best chance at surviving and eventually thriving.

This is not specific to cannabis cultivation but the same rules apply, except cannabis plants are especially delicate little fairies in the beginning of their lives and need to be carefully transitioned to the Great Outdoors in a process sometimes referred to as ‘hardening off’. Sounds kinky, no? But it’s pretty straightforward and I will attempt to explain it with the remainder of this article.

If you expose your little cannabis seedlings to too much cold, too much wind and too much direct sunlight too early, they may not make it through their vulnerable plant puberty and reach adulthood.

Many gardeners start their seedlings in a controlled environment, such as a greenhouse or even inside their home under a light to give them their best shot of making it through to adolescence. As the plants become accustomed to their warm, protected environment, the process of acclimating them to the outside world must be done with care. A small fan circulating the air around the seedlings will help them strengthen stems and better prepare for the potential windy days that Spring is known for, at least here in Northern California. You don’t want the fan blowing directly at the seedlings because it could dry them out too much but just enough to keep air circulating around the room and bring a little movement to their structure.

Consistent moisture for the seedlings is also very important for their early leaf development but again, they must not get saturated and risk getting root rot so a little spray bottle of pure water is a great way to evenly distribute moisture.

Although once they start growing, you will want to feed them a hearty brew of nutrients on the regular, resist the temptation to fertilize them before they are in their forever-home soil.

And as mentioned above, too much direct sunlight can also shock these little girls as the sun’s rays are so much more intense than any artificial lighting, so as you begin to transition them outside, you start with a shady area for several hours and after a couple days in shade, you can start introducing them to direct sunlight; start with an hour and then increase by an hour each day and after about a week (depending a bit on their variety) they should be adjusted enough to transition outside. If there are any signs of burning or wilting, than you might need to slow down the exposure time a little.

As mentioned above, California spring days can be wildly windy so it is also a good idea to give the seedlings a little wind block when you are hardening them off outside so they don’t get damaged by wind when their structure is still vulnerable.

With regard to temperature, nights in Springtime can also still be too cold for seedlings so it may be necessary to bring them back in each night until the overnight temperatures increase or the plants get a little bigger. It’s good for any type of gardening enthusiast to be aware of their ‘hardiness’ zone to know when they can expect average last frost dates to better protect their vulnerable young plants. Here is a link to one of the many online search engines to determine which hardiness zone you live in.

I usually transition my cannabis plants from a seedling pot to a larger 1 gallon pot (of a nutrient-rich soil mixture) for a couple weeks and then to their final container, which is ideally at least 20-25 gallon size. I used fabric pots, which are very popular, for the first few seasons (they have excellent drainage and are not as wasteful as plastic) but last year I grew them in old clawfoot tubs, two to a tub and they did nicely.

Some people prefer to stair-step up the pot size more gradually but I just did one transition and it worked well. Be very careful when you are transplanting to not damage the roots. Give the roots a little bit of a gentle ‘tease’ before transplanting. Make sure the soil is moist but not too dry and not saturated (aka, do not transplant directly after watering; rather water them in well just after transplanting them to their larger pot. Also, they will benefit from a ‘rooting tonic’ - a supplement that you dilute in water when you water them in to help them better root into their soil substrate. There are different rooting supplements out there, some are fungal-based to help them better establish mycelia, some are actual hormones to help the plants root better. If you are more of a hobby grower and don’t want to get too fancy, you could just use an epsom salts dilution to give the roots some support while they acclimate to their new substrate. Potassium and phosphorus are also nutrients that help to encourage roots to spread and strengthen.

And then, of course, there is the nutrition needs of the plants from transplant til harvest to consider, which are considerable. Cannabis, being the ‘weed’ that it is, can still thrive with just sunlight and water but it will be lanky and devoid of full foliage and its flowers will be minuscule and lackluster. To encourage these plants to pop out the voluptuous, crystal-caked flower buds that we worship them for, we must tend them and feed them well and keep them pest-free. That is way too much to get into in this article but there is no shortage of information online on what is the best way to feed your lovely green goddesses so that they produce high-quality flowers for you in roughly 4-5 months time. Let’s just say, it is a labor of love from start to finish to grow this beautiful plant if it is not for the purpose of financial gain but you will be rewarded if you put your time, love, and energy in, for as they say: you reap what you sow! Happy planting!

Light My Fire: Warm Up to Beltane

How a Celtic Fertility Ritual Evolved Into May Day

By Dan Reich

Beltane is one of four Celtic holidays that mark the mid-points of the four seasons. May 1 happens to fall halfway between the Spring Equinox (when daylight and dark are equal) and the Summer Solstice (where the sun is up for the longest). It has long been considered the time at which spring is at the top of its powers, and the early Celts of Ireland and Scotland considered it the most important day of the year. As pastoral people who depended on their herds, May 1 was traditionally the day herds were let out into their summer pastures, and Beltane rituals evolved from the desire to protect their herds and insure good harvests as well as their own good health.

Beltane centered around the concept of a bonfire imbued with magical qualities that offered protection as well as a sense of purifying. Villagers would douse their own home fires, and bonfires would be created for the purpose of leading their herds and themselves through the fires as they believed the fire had protective qualities. Couples would jump over a small fire to express their devotion to each other, as well as to At the end of the bonfire ritual, everyone would light a torch from the bonfire and return to their huts to re-light their own fires. The bonfire also gave tribute to the sun as it marched towards its zenith on the Summer Solstice.

The tradition of going “A-Maying” (indulged most often by young people in love, or at least lust) also began to take hold. Participants would stay out all night, sleeping in the woods, making love, and gathering up flowers with which to return in the morning. Often, they would collect the morning dew and wash their faces with it. Flowers were also used to make crowns and garlands to decorate themselves and their livestock. The celebration of flowers and greenery were expanded when the Romans brought with them their own peak-of-spring fertility festival, Floralia, dedicated to the goddess of flowers, Flora.

“A trip through Google and

the Festival of Beltane looks like

Burning Man with more Pan flute.”

- Matthew Gallagher, writer

The celebration of fertility evolved into the Maypole Dance, in which people danced (often naked…these weren’t your elementary-school Maypole celebrations) around a tall pole with flowers and streamers attached. The pole represented male fertility, while the flowers and streamers paid tribute to the Flower Goddess. The G-rated version of the Maypole was quite popular in England, but never quite caught on here as our Puritan ancestors discouraged anything that had a pagan origin. Little did they know how lusty the Beltane celebrations of the Middle Ages were...writer Matthew Gallagher has described Beltane this way: “A trip through Google and the Festival of Beltane looks like Burning Man with more Pan Flute.”

More recently, May Day has been marked by somewhat tamer observances, such as the creation of flowery May Baskets to decorate friends’ and relative’s houses, and the removal of footwear to celebrate the first day of the year to go barefoot. Many colleges have local rituals that involve skinny-dipping or other “let it all hang out” activities. May Day races are also held in many locations. It also was designated International Worker’s Day in 1889 to acknowledge the gains made in worker’s rights and is celebrated throughout much of the world much as we observe Labor Day here. But that has nothing to do with the origins of May Day as a celebration of spring, fertility and rebirth.

So how can you celebrate May Day today? Given its ties to fertility, the advancement of summer and nature, you may choose to go for a barefoot walk on the beach, or gather wildflowers from the countryside. Make a flower crown for yourself. Light a fire in a firepit and enjoy the balmy early evening. Feel free to enhance the experience with the CBD tablet or tincture of your choice. You could also invoke both Beltane’s fire and flower with a strain you particularly enjoy. Beltane has also been viewed as a time for optimism and renewal…it might be the perfect time to start that project you’ve been meaning to get to.

As we reach the mid-point between spring and summer and notice the changes in Nature as it renews itself, it seems appropriate to mark the occasion with a celebration of the warm and abundant times to follow.

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