Everything you need to know about the ‘entourage effect’

Potyque takes a look at what is known as the ‘entourage effect’ and what you need to know about this new concept when using CBD oil for wellness.

Potyque takes a look at what we call the ‘entourage effect’ within the CBD world, and what you need to know about this new concept when using CBD products as part of your wellness routine. 

It all begins with terpenes. Terpenes are organic compounds produced by plants; this is what gives CBD its distinctive ‘earthy’ taste. Terpenes help create what scientists call the ‘entourage effect’ which magnifies any potential benefits of the plant’s individual components. 

It revolves around the theory that all the compounds that we find in the plant’s components can actually work together harmoniously in order to create a much more beneficial effect than when we isolate them.

Researching into combining cannabinoids

There are currently a few studies happening around the benefits and pitfalls of the entourage effect, especially when it comes to more pressing medical concerns, such as chronic pain and inflammation. Some findings have discovered that combining CBD with other compounds can be extremely complimentary, with CBD working to combat the side-effects such as hunger and anxiety.

When we buy CBD oil, what we are purchasing is an isolated compound, we’re just getting the benefits of a small part of the Cannabis plant. Researchers are now asking the question as to whether consuming other compounds found in Cannabis, along with CBD, could actually influence and improve the benefits we already see from using our CBD oils.

The Cannabis plant itself is made up of many different compounds including cannabinoids, omega fatty acids, flavonoids and terpenoids, so the research to be done in this area is vast. We’ve yet to see the full benefits that come with consuming many of the Cannabis plant’s many compounds together as one supplement.

How could ‘the entourage effect’ benefit CBD oil users?

Although this theory is still very much under assessment, there is some research to suggest that using a broader range of cannabinoids could improve the results you already see from your CBD use. A bit like following a recipe, each ingredient has its own benefits, but all the ingredients combined often creates something even more substantial. The same could apply to the different compounds found in the Cannabis plant.

The main thing to note is that you may not be able to feel the synergy between the compounds, as ‘the entourage effect’ doesn’t give you a high. Instead, you would potentially be more likely to see improved results, especially if you use CBD for physical symptoms or anxiety. Effectively, mixing up your compounds will create a more balanced reaction in the body, which will in turn create a more balanced result from your CBD oil.

Full spectrum, broad spectrum and isolates

When it comes to CBD, there are three main categories that you’ll find your CBD products falling into. The first is the full spectrum CBD, which contains all the compounds of the cannabis plant that we touched on in the above sections. These full spectrum CBD products provide the full benefit of the Cannabis plant, allowing all the natural compounds to work together as they were meant to. These full spectrum CBD products are the ones that will offer ‘the entourage effect’ most prominently.

The second category is the broad spectrum, these tend to be products that have actively removed the THC along with some of the other key compounds. These products aren’t necessarily lower quality, instead they offer a more subdued result.

Finally we have the isolates, which is where we come in. Isolates are products that only have one of the compounds present. In the case of Potyque, these are the CBD oils. These are highly recommended for when you need to add a gentle dose of wellbeing into your days. Isolates are perfect for those looking to get started in the world of cannabinoids and are much more widely available, especially in the UK.

Although ‘the entourage’ effect has the potential to be a big turning point in the CBD industry, there is still a lot of research to be done in order to determine how beneficial it can be.

If you’re looking to dip your toe into the world of CBD, then we highly recommend trialling our lowest 5% strength Potyque CBD oil or taking a look at our beginner friendly titration pack.

If you’d like to find out more about the ‘entourage effect’, CBD or how best to take Potyque oils, contact us today to speak with our founder Michelle.  

Sources:

https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01238.x

https://cbd-one.co.uk/blog/the-entourage-effect/#What_Is_The_Entourage_Effect

https://www.healthline.com/health/the-entourage-effect

https://www.sperocbd.com/resources/cbd-the-entourage-effect-the-ultimate-guide/ 

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