Learn about the Entourage Effect.

The Entourage Effect & What It Means for People Using CBD

If you’ve looked into using CBD oil, gummies or any of the increasing number of CBD products that are hitting the UK market, you’ve likely come across the term ‘Entourage Effect’. It’s a common enough terminology in the field, but not everyone understands what it means for the efficacy of the products they’re taking.

With this in mind, that’s exactly what we look at here as we explain what the Entourage Effect is and how it can cause CBD products to work together to support the body and mind even more effectively. What you learn in this article will show you exactly why you should be including broad spectrum CBD products in your daily routine.

It’s important to state at this point that no reliable studies have been conducted to confirm the existence of the entourage effect or indeed the efficacy of CBD in helping to support health. That said, there is an ever increasing body of anecdotal evidence out there from users around the world that points towards CBD being a hugely beneficial compound.

So, What Exactly IS the Entourage Effect?

Essentially, the Entourage Effect is something that is said to make the use of CBD oil even more beneficial to human health. Broad spectrum CBD products differ from isolates in that they contain a wide range of cannabinoid types, rather than just one. Having these multiple types of CBD in the same product, they work synergistically, with each one interacting with others and compounding overall potency.

The phenomenon was first recognised by Israeli doctors Shimon Ben-Shabat and Raphael Mechoulam back  in 1998. They found that CBD is only partially responsible for the effect it has on the body, with other other elements such as CBDa, CBDn, CBDv, terpenes and other hemp compounds – to name but a few – acting to amplify the power of CBD when it exists.

There are currently known to be around 500 different types of phytocannabinoid existing in the cannabis plant, with each working better together than alone. Let’s take a look at some of the main ones.

• Cannabidiol (CBD) – The main variety associated with the cannabis plant that has no psychoactive effect and is known to offer help with inflammation, pain management and a wide range of other issues
• Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDa) – Known to reduce pain, inflammation and anxiety
• Cannabinol (CBn) – Reported by users to help promote sleep, reduce muscle spasms and pain
• Cannabigerol (CBg) – Another compound that is believed by many to help with depression, as well as offering antibiotic and antifungal properties.
• Cannabichromene (CBc) – Also reportedly able to reduce inflammation and nausea

This is just a small selection of the many CBD compounds that exist, so you see that CBD oils makeup can be very complex. Although, it’s not all about CBD when it comes to the entourage effect.

CBD Is Not the Only Factor at Work

There are some out there that refer to the concept as the ‘CBD entourage effect’, however, it’s not the only factor at work in this particular case. Of course, CBD plays a vital and central role in the phenomenon, but it also relies on the effects produced by dozens of natural compounds from the hemp plant like terpenes and flavonoids that combine to offer more potent health support.

In truth, no single part of the hemp plant is the most important element in the entourage effect, as they all play an important role. So much so that if any of these elements are missing, their compounded effect is reduced. Of course, there are some that are more influential in the process – like CBD – but none stand out as being the ‘most’ crucial. It’s very much a cumulative effect with every compound and element present magnifying the other.

So, What Does All This Mean To The Average CBD Oil User?

Well, the entourage effect is something that should guide your buying behaviour, as it will point you towards the products that are most beneficial to your body. That starts by choosing a brand that uses the broadest, highest quality hemp in their CBD oil and other products. The initial plant matter will dictate how potent the end product is – it’s as simple as that.

It also means that you should be looking for a CBD oil, spray or capsule that’s been created using the gentlest possible extraction techniques. One such method is CO2 extraction, which ensures that all of the hemp elements and various forms of CBD make it out the other side of the process.

Full Spectrum v Broad Spectrum CBD Oil

When browsing the CBD market, you’ll find products that are both ‘full spectrum’ and ‘broad spectrum’ and they both harness the entourage effect because of what’s inside. There is a small difference between the two in that full spectrum CBD contains THC – the CBD compound that causes the ‘high’ in cannabis – whereas broad spectrum CBD contains none of it.

Now, before you start worrying that full spectrum CBD oil is going to get your stoned, it isn’t, as the levels we’re talking about are typically around 0.3% which is a statistically negligible amount that absolutely won’t cause any kind of psychoactive effect. It’s only when you look at buying products like Cannabis oil or THC oil does this change.

The Entourage Effect – The More Compounds the Better

Basically, the bottom line when it comes to CBD products and the entourage effect is that the more natural cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes and other hemp elements that exist in your CBD oil, the better able it will be to support your health. By interacting with each other, the cumulative effect is enhanced greatly.

If you’ve made the decision to use CBD oil or any of the other varieties like CBD gummies, CBD spray or even CBD skin care products, it’s a good idea to go for those advertised as either ‘full’ or ‘broad’ spectrum CBD for all the reasons shown above. Sure, there are other considerations at play and some people will prefer or be better suited to CBD isolate products, but they won’t offer increased potency caused by the entourage effect.

We thank you for taking the time out to read our blog. We hope that doing so gives you a better understanding of CBD in general and why the entourage effect is important.