The Discovery of the Entourage Effect
The increase in cannabis awareness and the long-overdue legislation advancements have brought many different aspects of cannabis to the forefront. Not only is it more openly studied, but those findings are being used to make real changes. That is very exciting in most cases, but that also leads to a wealth of information and jargon that is hard to keep up with.
The CBD Entourage Effect is one of those topics that even people who follow cannabis news carefully might not have heard of yet. Fortunately, with the mounting research, it is likely that you, and everyone else, will hear much more about it in the coming months as it continues to gain acclaim through rigorous studies. While we will go into much further depth, the entourage effect is the idea that the health benefits of CBD are enhanced when it is extracted using the entire cannabis plant – with some THC included. Ultimately, the CBD Entourage Effect is proving to be very useful, with findings that are proving increased health benefits.
Here is the truth about what the CBD Entourage Effect is, how it works, and what it is used for:
What is the CBD Entourage Effect?
The CBD Entourage Effect has everything to do with the cannabis plant and entails taking the very best parts of the plant and fusing their assets into CBD oil. When most people think of the word entourage, they think of a following or a group, supporting one person or entity. While the CBD Entourage Effect has nothing to do with the company the user keeps, it references a group of other compounds extracted from the cannabis plant that work alongside CBD to support it and further its benefits.
The CBD Entourage Effect is a culmination of over twenty years of research and analysis. The research behind this effect was done by Dr. Raphael Mechoulam and Dr. Shimon Ben-Shabat. They are two scientists that developed a basic understanding of what is now known as the CBD Entourage Effect.
Basically, cannabis has over 120 phytocannabinoids. Phytocannabinoids are cannabinoids that occur naturally in the cannabis plant. However, the CBD Entourage Effect combines the most widely-researched Phytocannabinoids, along with THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) & CBD (Cannabidiol), in addition to a few smaller cannabis compounds known as terpenes or terpenoids to create a more beneficial CBD oil.
Researchers are starting to believe that remedies such as CBD oil are better in their whole and natural state. While this makes sense, considering if both have healing properties, they would work better together, it is a touchy subject. After all, THC makes people high & CBD does not. Therefore, the combination of the two makes legality and possibly usability more difficult.
Additionally, the public perception was that CBD was good for some ailments and THC was used for other, usually more serious ailments. Therefore, different people used different Phytocannabinoids. So, the introduction of using them together is still a new concept to those who have only used cannabis in the way the public views the two Phytocannabinoids.
How does the CBD Entourage Effect work?
The CBD Entourage Effect keeps all the essential components of the cannabis plant together. It is referred to as full-spectrum CBD oil, whereas on the other side of the spectrum is CBD isolate oil. “Isolate” refers to CBD being the only compound from the cannabis plant used in the oil – so the main difference between full-spectrum & isolate CBD oil is that one contains THC & other cannabinoids while the other does not.
Think of it this way: When you are using either CBD or THC, you are splitting up the tools the cannabis plant has to work with while in its natural state. Sure, the two tools might be effective but they are limited because they are only half as capable as they were naturally intended to be.
So, when the CBD and THC are combined, the plant can continue to work naturally, with all the tools it was given. This means that there are more compounds reacting to our body, which as the CBD Entourage Effect theory goes, is what helps provide maximum relief to users.
What is the CBD Entourage Effect used for?
The CBD Entourage Effect is theorized to maximize the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, in either CBD or THC form alone.
Previous to his work on the CBD Entourage Effect foundation, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam was the scientist that discovered the human body’s natural production of cannabinoids. These cannabinoids work with cannabinoid receptors, or what is now referred to as the endocannabinoid system (ECS) to help it in its natural process. The ECS is the portion of the body that helps achieve homeostasis. This is the natural state of the body. If you are unbalanced, you will have problems with many aspects of your life. The cannabinoids help the ECS restore and keep that balance, long-term. While both THC and CBD have worked exclusively, with marginal results, the effect of allowing them to work together has had extensively better results. Together, one method works okay for some people. However, together, many more people are finding relief by helping their bodies remain balanced.
Therefore, the CBD Entourage Effect is used to treat the following issues:
- Trouble Sleeping
- Not having an appetite
- Pain
- Depression
- Memory loss
Now, this doesn’t mean that all these issues can be completely cured by implementing the CBD Entourage Effect. Rather, this should be a supplement to traditional medicine. Sometimes, CBD oil is all you need but often, the power of both traditional and holistic medicine offers a balance that you can’t get from anywhere or anything else.
In a 2009 journal, a paper entitled Synergy research: approaching a new generation of phytopharmaceuticals was already discussing the benefits of phytopharmaceuticals. This was long before cannabis and the CBD Entourage Effect started to gain public or positive legal attention. Nevertheless, this paper talks about the importance of informing the new generations of the benefits of phytopharmaceuticals. The paper also warns against forsaking traditional medicine but it stresses that the synthetic and natural solutions can work in tandem.
In summation, The CBD Entourage Effect continues to be studied and it still continues to be a controversial subject, both medically and legally. However, the more research that is done adds to the already mounting evidence that the CBD Entourage Effect is useful. Many of its supporters in the scientific community are certain that if research continues to provide positive results, the CBD Entourage Effect will become an increasingly popular (and natural) way to remedy many common ailments plaguing our society.