Cannabis is one of the most complex and least-understood plants in the world, composed of over 100 discrete cannabinoids and more than 200 terpenes and flavonoids. Although we have a general understanding of how the herb works, scientists still struggle to figure out what the compounds do and their interactions. Get help at Homegrown Cannabis Co. and start growing your own.
Researchers generally agree that the combination of these chemical compounds produces more robust and more beneficial effects. In 1998, Israeli chemists Shimon Ben-Shabat and Raphael Mechoulam discovered the “entourage effect, ” combining two aspects of a chemical reaction.
The Entourage Effect And Cannabinoids
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid cousin of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which exemplifies this idea. THC may produce feelings of paranoia, anxiety, nausea, memory loss, and palpitations in its purest form. Visit this site Homegrown Cannabis and see the differences.
The response that THC has on our bodies and endocannabinoids is responsible for many of these unwelcome sensations. THC, however, has the capability of being checked and balanced by CBD. It blocks these receptors, not activating them, to minimize the potential effects of THC.
In addition to cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids also play an integral role in the entourage effect.
Influence Of Terpenes On Entourage
Analgesic and antimicrobial properties of myrcene provide cannabinoids with a point of binding to the endocannabinoid receptors. The compound pinene, for example, is an anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antibiotic terpene, which can lessen some of the cognitive-impairing effects of THC. Combining terpenes with other cannabinoids and flavonoids can result in many different effects and sensations. A wide variety of effects can be produced by a wide variety of cannabis strains with similar levels of THC and CBD but differing terpene and flavonoid compositions.
Full Spectrum Products And The Entourage Effect
CBD alone is unlikely to affect most ailments as effectively as it would when combined with other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Think of CBD’s puzzling relation to epilepsy, for example. While CBD isolate has been shown to have antispasmodic properties, parents in the U.S. and Canada have reported that it does not effectively treat children with epilepsy.
In contrast, parents who have added small amounts of THC to their children’s CBD isolates have reported significantly higher rates of antiepileptic response. It appears that some scientific studies substantiate these anecdotal claims even though they are anecdotal.
The two doctors examined the effects of CBD on epileptic children by comparing seven studies conducted between 2013 and 2016 in order to find out if CBD-rich extracts work better than pure CBD. CBD-rich extracts containing CBD and other cannabis compounds were nearly twice as effective at reducing seizures as pure CBD.
Also, the doctors reported that CBD-rich extracts produced three times fewer adverse side effects in patients than pure CBD.
As A Result
The entourage effect is still a theory, despite the promising results of scientific research. It needs a great deal more testing and verification before it can be considered empirical evidence.