28 Sep The Entourage Effect: CBD’s Super Power

CBD (or cannabidiol) has been a health mega-trend on and off over the last few years – but there is still more to learn about how to choose the CBD for your lifestyle. By having a better understanding of hemp products, you can make better decisions about what you’re buying. 

First, What Are Cannabinoids and Terpenoids?

Cannabinoids are 1 of nearly 500 phytocannabinoids found in hemp plants. This also includes popular cannabinoids like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), non-psychoactive CBD (cannabidiol) as well as terpenoids which give herbs, flowers, and fruits their flavour and scent properties. Fun fact: hemp contains more than 60 terpenoids that are not found naturally-occurring anywhere else – what some might consider an unrivalled source of powerful nutrition. 

The Entourage Effect is the Beneficial Lovechild of These Two Natural Compounds

When you bring cannabinoids and terpenoids together in CBD products, you create synergy through what is known as “The Entourage Effect”. This is when the different naturally occurring compounds combine to create a super phytonutrient profile for extra benefits. To date, there has been a growing research interest in the use of The Entourage Effect to help in the treatment of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, neurologic disorders like multiple-sclerosis and epilepsy, as well as the modulation of the immune system and the microbiota-gut-brain axis. 

How Does The Entourage Effect Work In Your Body? 

The therapeutic impact of cannabis compounds are rooted in their binding abilities with the naturally occurring endocannabinoid receptors in your body and throughout the central nervous system. Your natural endocannabinoid system links with cannabinoids which goes on to interact with many processes throughout the body acting as a modulator – this is why you will often see CBD marketed for “balance” or hear “homeostasis”, which is the stable, balanced state of internal, physical, and chemical conditions maintained by your body. 

Not All CBD Products Are Formulated the Same 

You’ll find the added impact of The Entourage Effect in CBD products that are labelled “Full Spectrum CBD” or “Broad Spectrum CBD”. Products labelled ”CBD Isolates” or have isolates in their ingredients will not give you the entourage experience, since their formulations contain the isolated CBD compound mixed with a carrier oil and no other companion compounds – resulting in a gentle, low impact experience with CBD. To understand how the spectrum works read more here.