CBD Oil Benefits - What is the Entourage Effect?

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CBD oil is increasingly a big name in wellness. It's no wonder. The benefits are becoming well-known, and the research to back it up grows every day! There is another term though that is starting to become synonymous with CBD. That is the entourage effect.

Whether you’re vaping, eating or using a topical product with CBD, you can get the maximum benefits of the cannabis plant through the entourage effect. We're here to talk a bit about precisely what it is.

What is the Entourage Effect?

Cannabis plants are filled with so many different therapeutic elements, and usually, CBD and THC are the ones who steal the spotlight. There are actually hundreds of cannabinoids found in the plant along with terpenes, flavonoids and fatty acids. All of these create something called the entourage effect.

So what is this magical effect that CBD users can’t stop talking about? It’s when all of the compounds in the cannabis plant work together to maximize CBD oil’s effects. So the cannabinoids, terpenes and other elements you find in your CBD oil combine to relieve your anxiety better, help you focus or aid you in all the other wellness issues you face.

CBD stands for Cannabidiol. It’s naturally occurring and is found alongside over a hundred other cannabinoids in the Cannabis plant. CBD is the second most abundant cannabinoid found in Cannabis. Cannabinoids are found in our bodies already and in Cannabis plants.

Cannabinoids interact in the body in a lot of different ways, but the most important thing to know is that they make up the endocannabinoid system (ECS). ECS balances out our bodies when they are dealing with stressors and helps maintain homeostasis. 

In 1998 Raphael Mechoulam and Shimon Ben-Shabat  were two of the first researchers to talk about the entourage effect and the ECS. They said it 'may represent a novel route for molecular regulation of endogenous cannabinoid activity.’ In other words, it was beneficial.

Recently a study by Ethan Russo supported the benefits of the entourage effect saying “The plant does it better.” He states that there is a firm foundation for Cannabis synergy, making it clear of the benefits of the entourage effect.

Terpenes are also found to work with CBD and other compounds in the cannabis plant and also help with brain health.

Terpenes Are Beneficial On Their Own

Terpenes not only work well with CBD but have benefits all on their own. Terpenes are the oils found in plants that make them give off a unique smell and influence the flavour. Plants had initially developed these terpenes to keep potential predators away and attract pollinators. Cannabis is no different, and there are hundreds of terpenes found in there. 

The myrcene terpene is one of the most popular in cannabis plants. It has a more ‘earthy’ or ‘musky’ smell. It’s thought to be useful in helping with pain and inflammation. There’s also limonene terpene that gives off a citrusy scent and helps with issues like stress, heartburn, immune system deficiencies and has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Pinene terpene gives off the smell of a forest and is believed to be anti-inflammatory. Then there are lots of other ones found in the cannabis plant like linalool, caryophyllene and humulene.

CBD Full Spectrum, Broad-Spectrum and Distillate

If you want to get the benefits of the entourage effect, the best way to go is with full-spectrum and broad-spectrum distillate CBD products. Broad-spectrum distillate is what we use at Amphora with all of our products  so that you can get the benefits of the whole plant, plus our added terpenes. We don't use any harmful carrier oils or solvents, and our CBD oil is organic so you can have a great experience with CBD.

Full-spectrum CBD extract contains all of the wonderful natural elements found in the cannabis plant including CBD, other cannabinoids, essential oils, terpenes and flavonoids. Some of the better-known cannabinoids are Cannabigerol (CBG), Cannabinol (CBN), Cannabichromene (CBC), Cannabidivarin (CBDV) and Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV). It also has only small amounts of THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis plants. The THC will be no more than 0.2% in full-spectrum CBD oil to be compliant to the law in the U.K. Broad-Spectrum has all the same cannabinoids as full-spectrum, minus the THC altogether.

If you want to make sure the CBD inhale product you're using is safe, you need to find the certificate of analysis (COA). A COA tells you that you're getting exactly what the brand says is in their CBD oil, and it has been certified by a third-party. At Amphora, our certificates of analysis are easy to find on our website.

There is no doubt that one of the most exciting things about CBD research is how much more they are discovering about the entourage effect. You should be excited too! With a wide-range of full-spectrum, broad-spectrum and distillate products, you can experience all of what the cannabis plant has to offer. It means that you can get even more benefits out of your CBD oil to help you with your overall wellness.