Chances are, you’ve heard of the “Entourage Effect,” but each time it’s brought up, you have to say, “So, what is it again?
When most people think of CBD, they think of how it makes them feel, or in other words, why they like it. Most of us don’t think of all the chemical compounds behind the scenes, making it all come together.
All of these compounds work together (synergistically) to produce an unforgettable experience for you—a one-of-a-kind party thrown just for you!
Let’s take a look at this intricate, astounding process.
Backstory on “The Entourage Effect”
You’re probably wondering how this whole phenomenon came about. Back in 1998, Dr. Ben-Shabat and Dr. Mechoulam hypothesized that cannabinoids would bind more effectively with CBD receptors when they had the opportunity to work synergistically.
The research continued well into the early 2000s until Dr. Gudrun Ulrich-Merzenich, and Professor Hildebert Wagner expanded this research, stumbling upon what this process achieves—a synergistic effect that benefits the whole body that improves the body’s ability to absorb beneficial compounds.
The Power is in the Hemp
Hemp contains bounties of naturally occurring compounds like cannabinoids, terpenes, and essential oils.
Some of the cannabinoids are CBD (the one we all know and love), THC (less than 0.3% for full spectrum and less than 0.01% for broad spectrum in hemp-derived products), CBN, CBG, along with many others.
The chemical composition of hemp enables a synergistic relationship between the different compounds present in the oil. There are over 100 other compounds present in the hemp plant, and each one has a unique way of boosting the therapeutic effects of your CBD oil.
Aside from these compounds, terpenes bring their own particular skill set to the party. Some people only credit terpenes for taste and smell, but they all have specific benefits.
In fact, the cannabis plant contains over 200 different terpene profiles.
It’s the natural chemical composition of a plant that gives a distinct aroma. Nonetheless, these terpenes also have a hand in the production of the entourage effect.
How the Process Starts
When you take your CBD product, there’s a little bit of waiting time before it kicks in. Ever wondered what’s happening behind the scenes during this time?
Your body processes the cannabinoids so they can bind with endocannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, in the brain and central nervous system.
Each cannabinoid and terpene has a unique biochemical effect on the body, so when they’re all there together, they can work with each other to produce in-depth therapeutic results.
Think of it like this: All of these compounds are in a room utilizing each other’s energy to create solutions for your benefit!
The endocannabinoid system is designed to link with cannabinoids produced by the body, but compounds found in hemp work with the endocannabinoid system just as efficiently.
Experiencing the “Entourage Effect”
As mentioned above, the entourage effect occurs when your hemp product has a broad range of compounds available for synergistic pairings.
The best type of product to acquire this effect are full-spectrum products since they have all the naturally occurring compounds of the hemp plant—aka whole-plant benefits.
Most full spectrum products you’ll run across these days will be CBD Tincture Oils or CBD Soft Gel Capsules. These two products are staples in CBD wellness because they contain everything needed to experience CBD and its broad range of soothing benefits.
Our CBD +CBG 2:1 Wellness Tincture with broad spectrum CBD embodies a combination of cannabinoids alongside a proprietary blend of terpenes that enhance absorption and overall effectiveness. Each bottle is carefully crafted with a rich cannabinoid blend, featuring a 2:1 ratio of CBD to CBG.
CBG stands for cannabigerol, which interacts directly with the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain to provide further balance within the body by interacting with your endocannabinoid system. This innovation formulation gives you direct access to the entourage effect since it has various compounds present.
On the other hand, our CBD Soft Gel Capsules contain organically sourced hemp paired with MCT oil. You have all of the naturally occurring compounds we mentioned earlier, with the added benefit of MCT (medium-chain triglycerides).
This is a fatty oil compound that ensures proper bodily absorption. CBD is oil soluble, and our bodies are primarily composed of water. We already know water and oil typically don’t mesh, so your CBD needs a proper vehicle to effectively make it into the bloodstream.
Other capsule formulations like our CBD + CBG Morning Capsules have a broad spectrum oil base but still have the other cannabinoid (CBG) that CBD can work with to produce enhanced effects.
This brings us to our next section.
Do Broad Spectrum Products Activate “The Entourage Effect?”
There seems to be a bit of confusion surrounding this topic—some say no way, and others say, yeah, totally.
The truth of the matter is that you may experience a smidge of the infamous entourage effect, but it won’t be as pronounced as it is with full-spectrum products.
As you may know by now, all traces of THC (less than 0.01% for broad spectrum) are removed during an additional extraction process. Without those additional compounds present for synergistic collaboration, the entourage effect can’t reach the same level.
Parting Thoughts
Many people hear about the entourage effect but graze over it or ignore it entirely because they don’t know what it is.
If you’ve been in that category in the past, you don’t have to worry about that being you anymore.
Recap: the entourage effect occurs when cannabinoids, terpenes, and other naturally occurring hemp compounds work together to bring you a deeper level of therapeutic benefits.
This is especially helpful for those looking for more out of their CBD products. Your best bet is to utilize full-spectrum products; however, you can still catch a glimpse of the entourage effect from broad-spectrum products.
Just think about it like this, the cannabinoids are throwing a party in your favor—woohoo!
Ready to join the “Entourage Effect?”
Grab one of our Full or Broad Spectrum Tincture Oils Today!