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What is the Entourage Effect?

CBD Blog: General CBD Education | Panacea Life Sciences
Feb 25 2020

As the world grows to accept the use of Cannabidiol (CBD) products and cannabis, the world of science and experimental research grows alongside it.

The use of cannabis products as a medicine or dietary supplement has been shunned by a lot of major scientists and media publications as many people think of cannabis or marijuana as a recreational drug. Even to this day, there are certain people who refuse to accept the benefits of CBD and cannabis for healing, mental health care, and general well-being.

Luckily, this perception is changing as time goes on.

With the movement to legalize and accept CBD and Hemp products growing worldwide, more industry giants and names in science are looking to understand the beneficial effects of these products and cannabis-derived compounds. How do cannabis products interact with the human psyche, and what exactly do they do to the human body? What are the long-term effects of usage? There are so many key questions to answer that are starting to get looked at now, which is fantastic. 

One particularly interesting area of the science behind cannabis and CBD is the interaction of cannabis-based compounds with other substances. One of the main reasons why people opt out of taking CBD, for example, is that it has been shown to interact negatively with existing medications resulting in what is called a drug-drug interaction.  This is similar to warnings with prescription medications where patients are advised not to consume alcohol or grapefruit juice while on the prescription. Cannabis extracts may inhibit the body’s ability to metabolize the medications, which may cause an increase in prescription medication concentration leading to negative health effects. 

As we have stated in other posts, there are a large number of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavanoids in cannabis products.  How do the different elements in cannabis interact with each other?

That’s exactly the phenomena that we’re going to be taking a look at today. In this blog post, we’re going to be looking at the Entourage Effect and what this means for the CBD user. It’s an intriguingly vibrant subject and something that fascinates us all, here at Panacea Life Sciences.

What is CBD?

First things first, let’s establish what compounds you need to be aware of in order to understand the Entourage Effect fully.

CBD is one of the main elements to be aware of when discussing this.

CBD is short for cannabidiol, and it’s a natural compound that is extracted from the cannabis plant. It is a non-psychoactive, organic compound that has a wealth of benefits associated with it. CBD is one of our specialties here at Panacea Life, and we’re big fans of its potential benefits.

The most common form to find it in is within CBD oil extract, although there are a plethora of different products infused with CBD that may be found on the market. 

What is THC?

In contrast to its mellow counterpart, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the compound extracted from the cannabis plant that results in the sensation of getting high. It’s a naturally psychoactive compound that creates a euphoric sensation.

Like CBD, THC may be found in a number of different products. You may find THC in edibles and candies, tinctures, and so much more.

What are Terpenes? 

When discussing the entourage effect, it’s important to make sure that you understand what terpenes are. Terpenes aren’t just associated with cannabis, as this Well and Good article points out– they are strong-smelling compounds that may be found in everything from herbal tea to essential oils.

The terpenes in cannabis may have an effect on the consumer, changing everything from mood and emotions to mental clarity. Terpenes are a rarely discussed element of herbal significance, but they are fascinating to explore. They work in synergy with compounds like CBD, which brings us to our exploration of the Entourage Effect. 

What Products Might you Find CBD In?

There are a plethora of different forms that you may find CBD in. Before purchasing any CBD products, it’s incredibly important that you do your research to make sure that you are aware of any legal issues that you may encounter when using them in your location.

Furthermore, make sure that CBD is not going to have a negative impact on you. Do you have any pre-existing medication that it may interfere with, for example? How about any pre-existing health conditions? These are all things to be well researched and potentially consult with a medical professional before you even think about taking CBD.

Here at Panacea Life Sciences, we’re dedicated to finding the latest and greatest in CBD culture and educating our customers with real data regarding hemp products. There are a number of hemp products that stand out that perhaps you wouldn’t have guessed are coming onto the CBD market. Products like; 

  • Oil Extract and Tinctures
  • Makeup products
  • Skincare
  • Topical Balms
  • Candy and gummies
  • Edibles
  • Pet Supplements

This list is not exhaustive, of course. There are a number of creative minds and innovators in this industry who are constantly striving to make sure that they are crafting new ways for their consumers to enjoy CBD.

There are a number of different types of THC containing products as well, with one of the most common being smokable cannabis. When smoking cannabis, it is the THC compound that provides the intoxicating effect that so many users desire.

All hemp-derived products from edibles to teas may contain low levels of THC.  Full Spectrum products contain the entire hemp extract, which will have cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavanoids.  These CBD products will contain less than 0.3% THC. By definition, these products will contain less than 0.3% 

What is the Entourage Effect? 

So, what on earth is the entourage effect? To put it plainly, the Entourage Effect is a term that describes the impact of the different compounds found within cannabis that have an impact on each other and the user, as shown in Wired.

To be more specific, this effect relates to the fact that the entire cannabis plant is made up of a plethora of different compounds- and that they work together more effectively in synergy than they do on their own. The entourage effect may assist the body to absorb more CBD, or the other compounds in a full spectrum oil may work directly with CBD or enhance the effect by stimulating parallel biological pathways.  

While pure CBD has been reported to boost mental wellness, full-spectrum products are reported to be more effective and at lower concentrations.  The multiple compounds in a full spectrum oil explain why holistic products may be more beneficial in some cases. Add in the extra benefits of organic terpenes, and you’re sure to have a much more pleasant experience overall. 

As with most areas of CBD and cannabis, research on the entourage effect. Legislation and stigmatization have slowed cannabis research, but as both hemp and marijuana have been legalized in various states, the number of scientific studies is rapidly increasing.    

As the movement to understand herbal alternatives grows, we’re sure to see this area of study becoming more developed and looked upon with greater interest. 

CBD has been incredibly popular in recent years, with more and more people looking to use it for medicinal and recreational means. There are even dedicated locations opening up in the world, like cannabis cafes. The world is slowly but surely becoming more accepting- which is exactly what this community needs.

What research is there to support the entourage effect?

There is currently not much research to back up the Entourage Effect. This is an area of science that is severely lacking. However, this is changing as general attitudes towards CBD and cannabis are changing as a whole.

Regardless of your personal opinion on cannabis, it’s hard to deny the fact that regulation is hugely important, as are long-term studies. It’s fair to say that people will always be on the hunt for things like CBD, so arguably, it would be better for them to be verified, safe, and easy to get hold of in a regular store. However, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, CBD is no longer on the list of Controlled Substances, enabling the legal transportation of CBD across state lines.

One of the main research points that supports the idea and use of the Entourage Effect is a 2011 review, present in the British Journal of Pharmacology. This review highlights the benefits of using terpenes and cannabinoids like CBD together, noting that they may be used to help with everything from pain management to dealing with infections. A fantastic point in this review is the proposal for future studies in this area. 

This is one of the beautiful things about being part of the CBD and cannabis world. This industry is constantly growing, fighting stigmas, and evolving to meet the demands of customers and clients as a whole. It will be fascinating to see where this research goes in the future.

There is also an acknowledgment in the 2011 study that THC and CBD balance each other out well. As you may know, THC may bring about anxiety in some pre-disposed people- and the mellowness of CBD helps to promote mental calmness.

More recent research from 2018 shows us that elements like terpenes may have an immense impact on the brain and neurological health, too. This report highlights the importance of considering holistic cannabis products for health and medical usage and begs the question of when modern medicine will start to embrace cannabis more.

Of course, the research listed here is not exhaustive. There is still much work that needs to be done to analyze the effects of cannabis compounds and to determine whether the Entourage Effect is a real thing or simply a well-supported concept.

How Panacea Life Could Help You Today

As you may see, the Entourage Effect is a fascinating element of cannabis culture that more people should be aware of. It has the potential to encourage the development of even more fantastic products to help people, specifically in the realms of pain management, anxiety release, and stress mitigation.

Here at Panacea Life, we’re dedicated to providing the best of the best when it comes to CBD and Hemp. We understand the importance of being able to find organic, verified products that you may rely on, and our aim as a company is to be the source of our customer’s knowledge when it comes to CBD. 

Whether you’re looking for delicious CBD edibles, high-quality extracts, or even the latest in equine or canine treatments, our shop will have you covered. We’re constantly striving to have the latest CBD treats and products in stock, and are always updating our store. Take a look at our website to see our full range of products.

Alternatively, if you have any questions about what we do, then we’d love to help out. No matter if you want to learn more about our company, our products, or something that we’ve written about in one of our blog posts, our team would be happy to hear from you. You may contact a member of our team at [email protected] to find out more today.

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