What does the entourage effect mean to you as a CBD consumer? Is this scientific notion anything you should think about while selecting your next CBD product for your daily health routine? The entourage effect is frequently veiled in mystery, and we’ve seen a widespread lack of awareness about what it is and why it’s significant.
We feel that education is the most effective way to encourage more individuals to include CBD products in their daily health regimen. We’ll be looking at the entourage effect notion with a magnifying lens in this post. We’ll teach you all you need to know about the entourage effect.
What Is the Entourage Effect?
Simply defined, the entourage effect is the hypothesis that the complete spectrum of the cannabis plant works best together – the interaction between all of the plant’s chemicals, such as Phytocannabinoids and terpenes, come together to maximize their benefits. The word generally refers to herbal treatments that contain a variety of substances that interact together to have a specific effect on a person’s health, such as reducing inflammation or relieving anxiety.
It all started in 1998 when Professors Raphael Mechoulam and Shimon Ben-Shabat discovered that the Endocannabinoid System had an ‘entourage effect’ when they discovered plant chemicals significantly boosted the activation of human receptors.
These receptors, which interact with our Endocannabinoid System, play an essential role in regulating and balancing various bodily functions, including immune response, cell communication, sleep cycles, memory, etc.
Ways to Experience the Entourage Effect
Let’s have a look at the many forms of CBD on the market and which are thought to benefit from the entourage effect. Because all substances other than CBD were eliminated to manufacture this product, one kind of CBD – CBD isolate – isn’t included below because it doesn’t provide an entourage effect.
Full-Spectrum CBD
Full-spectrum CBD products are your best bet if you’re searching for a CBD product that contains the majority of the components found in the cannabis plant. These products are classified as possessing the entire plant’s cannabinoid profile, including some THC. Look for hemp-derived CBD products with trace quantities of THC below 0.3 percent to avoid the euphoric effects of THC. Terpenes, flavonoids, fatty acids, and other minor cannabinoids are commonly found in full-spectrum CBD oil.
Broad Spectrum CBD
Broad-spectrum CBD products typically contain a variety of cannabinoids, and many people prefer this choice because it has even less THC. THC is present in most broad-spectrum products in trace levels; however, it is listed as non-detectable (ND) on the COA. With the exception of the THC content, these items are quite comparable to full-spectrum products.
CBD Isolate
Since isolate CBD is pure CBD so it won’t provide you the entourage effect.
What’s the Difference in CBD Products ?
CBD Isolate, Broad-Spectrum, Full-Spectrum, and Optimal-Spectrum are all distinct types of CBD and CBG and THC products on the market that include different plant chemicals. These words relate to the team’s composition and the synergy of the players who surround the product.
- CBD Isolate has no terpenes or cannabinoids other than CBD, obviating the entourage effect’s potential advantages.
- Broad-Spectrum contains a mix of cannabinoids and terpenes but no THC. Although the entourage effect may be decreased because these CBD products have all traces of THC eliminated, it still harnesses some of this synergistic power.
- Full-spectrum cannabis contains cannabinoids like CBD, terpenes, and trace levels of THC (less than the national legal limit of 0.3 percent) to optimize the entourage effect and maximize your individual advantages.
What Does the Research Say?
Combining Phytocannabinoids and terpenes may bring additional medicinal advantages. The entourage effect has been researched in combination with a variety of conditions. According to research published in the British Journal of Pharmacology in 2011, combining terpenes and Phytocannabinoids may help with:
- pain
- anxiety
- inflammation
- epilepsy
- cancer
- fungal infection
Advantages Of the Entourage Effect
There are many advantages to the entourage effect, especially to people suffering from various health conditions. Cannabinoids perform better with a mix of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids than with a full spectrum CBD solution that has fewer chemicals or, worse, simply pure CBD.
And don’t forget about what the research says. When humans take cannabis, these molecules, which scientists call ‘endocannabinoids,’ can interface with these neurotransmitters on a cellular level.
Don’t forget that the endocannabinoid system refers to the network of these endocannabinoids in our body. When our neurological system falters, cannabis-derived substances can assist our bodies in regaining their natural balance and stability. This idea underpins cannabis’s use as a medication.
Which CBD Extracts Are Best for The Entourage Effect?
The hemp CBD extracts with the most plant ingredients have the highest chance of sparking cannabinoid + terpene synergy. Here you have three choices:
- CBD isolate extract: There are no additional cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, or other plant chemicals in this product. If you want to experience cannabis + terpene synergy, this is almost pointless.
- Broad-spectrum extract: Without any THC, it contains a wide spectrum of plant chemicals (CBD, CBG, CBC, terpenes, flavonoids, and so on). It’s thought to cause some entourage synergy.
- Full-spectrum extract: THC is present, as well as a wide spectrum of other plant chemicals. Among cannabis and CBD users, this is a very popular option. Will give you the complete CBD, THC, and terpene entourage experience.
Is Cannabis More Than Just THC And CBD?
As we’ve seen throughout this whole article, the answer to that question is quite obvious. Yes, there is much more to the cannabis plant than just those two chemical compounds. You can even make delicious cannabis edibles at your home with a few simple steps. So, if more research were done on it, people would be happier and healthier since they’d be able to enjoy the positive side effects of these chemicals.
Final Thoughts
The entourage effect has recently received a lot of attention. If this theory holds true for all cannabis extracts, it might forever revolutionize how people utilize hemp and marijuana-based goods. This phenomenon, however, does not necessarily imply that broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate are inferior than full-spectrum CBD products. In other circumstances, the entourage effect isn’t the desired outcome.
