If you’ve spent any amount of time studying CBD online, you’ve undoubtedly heard of something called the entourage effect. We’d like to spend a few minutes exploring it and discussing its significance. In fact, to get the most of your CBD experience, it’s important to take advantage of the entourage effect.
Many people associate cannabis with THC and CBD, however, those two cannabinoids barely scratch the surface of the plant. Cannabis is an extremely complex plant composed of over 500 different compounds, and THC and CBD are just two out of hundreds. Many of these compounds not only contain benefits of their own but also play a significant role in the entourage effect, which is what makes this plant so beneficial for your body.
To get the most of your CBD experience, it’s important to take advantage of nature’s little orchestra, otherwise known as “the entourage effect”.
We’ll start by grouping the compounds into three primary groups known as cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, and then we’ll examine their importance in influencing the entourage effect and everything it entails.
Cannabinoids, which are also known as phytocannabinoids, naturally occur within the hemp plant. In general, cannabinoids interact with cannabinoid receptors within the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and are ultimately responsible for the effects associated with hemp.
The most well known (and abundant) cannabinoids in cannabis are THC and CBD. But they are not the only ones. To date, there are over 113 identified cannabinoids in cannabis. Only THC is associated with the psychoactive properties of marijuana.
While the benefits of CBD and THC are widely documented, there are a few other, lesser-known cannabinoids that have begun to show benefits of their own: Cannabinol (CBN), Cannabigerol (CBG), Cannabichromene (CBC), Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), and Cannabidivarin (CBDV).
Terpenes are an important aspect of the entourage effect because they contribute their own benefits. There are roughly 100 different terpenes identified in hemp. But terpenes aren’t just found in hemp. They exist in every plant! Terpenes are the organic compounds that give plants their own unique aroma and flavor. In cannabis, they’re produced by the same glands as the cannabinoids.
Terpenes are known to actively affect cannabinoid receptors and are what allow cannabinoids to enter the brain through the blood-brain barrier. They’ve also been shown to directly impact neurotransmitters in different ways.
The influence of terpenes can elicit various effects, as not all terpenes work in the brain in the same way. Some might help you relax, while others could give you a much needed mental and physical energy boost.
Like terpenes, flavonoids are found in all types of plants and are responsible for their color. The gorgeous greens of kale, bright hues of blueberries, and deep reds of beets aren’t the only things flavonoids produce. They also interact with other chemicals in the plant during various growth stages.
Some research suggests that flavonoids can be extremely beneficial for health, as they help support homeostasis, or balanced wellness, in the body. Some flavonoids, such as quercetin, have been demonstrated to have powerful wellness properties. Quercetin is abundant in hemp as well as some other plant-based foods.
So now that we know the different types of compounds contained within the hemp plant, it becomes easier to understand all of the different components that influence the entourage effect. In short, the entourage effect is all the compounds of the hemp plant working together harmoniously to increase the wellness-promoting potential of the plant. Think of it as a band. Each part may be important and good enough on its own, but when all the pieces come together, they combine to become something much greater.
The entourage effect isn’t anything new. It actually underpins many alternative and holistic wellness practices by encouraging the use of the entire plant instead of just one part of it. It has long been thought that whole plant extracts often have greater benefits than their isolated components. This “whole plant” philosophy works with hemp as the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids found in hemp synergistically work together and create a more powerful effect than if they were used separately.
So to get the most of your CBD experience, it’s important to take advantage of nature’s little orchestra, otherwise known as “the entourage effect”.
When it comes to CBD, there is significant variability of products in the marketplace. That’s why it’s so important to understand just what you are getting.
When looking at options, you’ve probably come across CBD referred to as “full spectrum” or “broad spectrum.” These are terms that refer to whole or partial plant extracts of the hemp plant that contain many of the cannabinoids, terpenes, or flavonoids that combine to provide the maximum entourage effect.
You may have also heard of products containing CBD isolate. While CBD isolate does have wellness-promoting potential, it doesn’t contain any other beneficial cannabinoids, terpenes, or flavonoids, so products with CBD isolate do not support the entourage effect. They can still be attractive to consumers because they contain no THC (while most full and broad spectrum products contain only traces of THC).
Products made from full or broad spectrum oils tend to be more expensive because they are considered more effective due to the entourage effect created through the natural combination of cannabinoids, terpenes, or flavonoids.
We believe strongly in the principles of the entourage effect, and ALL oil-based products we sell are made from the finest broad spectrum oil available in the marketplace today. Why broad spectrum, rather than full spectrum? It’s quite simple. Our broad spectrum process goes a step further by removing even trace amounts of THC while capturing the full entourage effect. So our products are 100% THC free, but they preserve the benefits of the cannabinoids, terpenes, or flavonoids together.
