Can CBG Repair Bones and Muscles?

Cannabigerol (CBG) is a relatively understudied cannabinoid that is increasingly found in products marketed to athletes for promoting recovery. Because of the cannabinoid’s potential anti-inflammatory properties, CBG is touted by marketers as having benefits for enhancing recovery from physical exertion. And, according to emerging evidence on the effects of CBG on muscle and bone strain, these claims might be more than just hype. 

So, what do we know about CBG, and what is the evidence surrounding its use for athletic recovery? This article explains what CBG is and shows how it enhances and promotes muscle and bone repair. It explores the implications for future discoveries and advances in research on this rare, mysterious cannabinoid.

Perhaps you may even want to try out incorporating CBG into your own exercise routine, in which case this guide is an excellent place to start for getting to know a little bit about this cannabinoid, its benefits, and what the research says about its efficacy in athletic recovery. 

CBG: A Brief Overview

While tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the two most well-known and discussed cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, there are actually over 150 phytocannabinoids (or plant-derived cannabinoids) that have been identified in the plant by modern science. 

CBG is a lesser-known cannabinoid whose benefits are currently under investigation in scientific research. It is the third most common cannabinoid in the cannabis plant, next to THC and CBD. However, unlike THC, CBG is a non-impairing cannabinoid, and it will not produce the intoxicating “high” effects associated with marijuana use. 

Yet, this special cannabinoid has an interestingly essential chemical relationship to both THC and CBD. This is because the acidic form of CBG, known as cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), acts as a parental compound from which the other main cannabinoids (like THC and CBD, among others) are produced. 

Enzymes in the plant convert CBGA, and the broken-down acid is transformed into the main cannabinoid acids, namely tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), and cannabichromenic acid (CBCA). Ultimately, exposure to heat or ultraviolet light initiates a process called decarboxylation, which converts these acids into the cannabinoids THC, CBD, and cannabichromene (CBC)—cannabinoids that have entirely different effects from their acidic forms. 

The benefits of CBG are still being researched, with most evidence in the preclinical or survey stage. However, there are new indications that the cannabinoid has properties with the potential to provide benefits such as:

• Anxiety relief – supported by a small clinical study
• Anti-inflammatory effects
• Sleep improvement
• Relief from digestive disorders
• Pain reduction for chronic and acute symptoms, as well as for migraines and headaches
• Neuroprotective and procognitive effects
• Weight control
• Anti-tumor effects

CBG and Athletic Recovery

As interest in cannabis-based medicine expands, CBG is emerging as a compelling candidate for athletes seeking natural, non-intoxicating ways to support healing and performance. 

In the following sections, we explore some recent scientific studies investigating CBG’s effects on pain, inflammation, and tissue repair. 

Together, this evidence presents the potential for CBG to support recovery from bone injuries, reduce muscle soreness, and promote overall resilience after recovery from physical strain.

Studying CBG in Sports Drinks

Emerging research shows that CBG has the potential to aid with muscle repair in athletic recovery. A 2024 study from the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition presents results from an experiment involving the application of a CBD- and CBG-based sports beverage powder. The primary aim of the study was to find out if the two cannabinoids – along with beta-caryophyllene, amino acids, and magnesium – enhance recovery time for delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) occurring after strenuous exercise. 

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Researchers produced a powder containing 35 mg of CBD with 50 mg of CBG per serving dissolved in 16 oz of water, and gave this drink mix twice daily to exercise-trained individuals who self-reported exercising at least 3 times per week for at least 30 minutes each session for the past year. The cannabinoids were isolated, nano-emulsified, dried, and powdered using 20% cannabinoids and 80% acacia gum to improve absorption and taste. Since the powder was given twice daily (every 12 hours), the total daily doses actually consumed were: 

• 70 mg CBD
• 100 mg CBG
• 50 mg BCP (beta-caryophyllene)
• 7.6 g BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids)
• 840 mg magnesium citrate

Participants underwent experimental induction of DOMS, and half of the participants followed up their exercise with the sports drink mixed with the cannabinoid-containing powder twice per day. The other half of the participants received a placebo drink. 

The cannabinoid-containing sports drink reduced the interference of DOMS on daily activities in individuals compared to the placebo, highlighting new potential therapeutic uses for CBG in muscle repair. Although discussion of the results indicate that the differences reported were “modest,” the formulation nevertheless produced reductions in participants’ self-reported experiences of interference from muscle soreness, discomfort, or stiffness on their ability to perform daily activities at work or home, as well as their ability to perform further physical activity at 48–72 hours after DOMS induction. Thus, the findings provide evidence that functional indicators of well-being could be enhanced by similar cannabinoid-based formulations.

These outcomes suggest promising potential for future studies to explore how varying dosages or targeted applications of CBG—possibly combined with CBD, terpenes, amino acids, and electrolytes—can improve muscle repair in athletes and individuals with routine muscle repair, recovery, and relaxation after exercise. It is not yet clinically determined if CBG may help those with degenerative disorders or muscle spasms, but mouse studies show CBG may protect against chemo-induced muscle atrophy. 

READ: Unpacking the Relationship Between Cannabis and Athletic Recovery

CBG as a Pain Reliever to Support Bone Repair

A 2023 study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research finds that CBG and CBD used in combination as an analgesic (pain-reliever) effectively reduced fracture-related pain in mice, performing on par with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used for comparison. While NSAIDs can interfere with bone healing by dampening the body’s early inflammatory response in healing, the study found that CBG (as well as CBD) actually seemed to support the bone healing process. This suggests that CBG can play a potential dual role in injury recovery: pain management and bone repair.

The study showed that CBG accelerated several phases of bone regeneration. In early phases, CBG and CBD increased the abundance of bone progenitor cells. During the later phases of healing, the two cannabinoids produced enhanced mineralization of the soft callus and increased strength and density in newly formed bone. 

In terms of pain relief, mice treated with CBG displayed improved functional outcomes, showing fewer complications with gait and mobility during healing. Researchers also found that CBG boosted the viability and proliferation of bone and bone marrow cells, all while avoiding the addictive risks associated with opioids or the healing delays and organ toxicity linked to NSAIDs. While this research is still preclinical, the experimental findings nevertheless offer interesting possibilities to athletes and others seeking safer alternatives for post-injury care. 

Concluding Thoughts

With its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, relaxing, and regenerative properties, CBG may become a valuable tool in future recovery protocols for bone and muscle injury—especially in athletics where muscle strain, fractures, and stress injuries are more common. 

Most cannabis strains contain less than 1% CBG, making it a rare cannabinoid. Thus, in order to enhance our access to the medicinal properties of CBG, breeders have been experimenting with genetic manipulation and cross-breeding to increase the quantity of this underappreciated cannabis compound. Today, modern selective breeding techniques have allowed us to produce enhanced cannabis plants with profiles dominant in CBG. These strains could allow us to further isolate and study the therapeutic potential of CBG in the future to eventually develop novel cannabis-based treatments for athletic recovery or other medical applications.

Researchers need to conduct more clinical studies to explore CBG’s benefits for enhancing recovery from physical strain and injury. Nonetheless, CBG has so far achieved an impressive place in the growing conversation about the promising therapeutic benefits cannabis may offer in the context of athletic performance.