- February 21, 2019
- Posted by: Shane Dwyer
- Category: Patient Resources
When I first heard the term “the entourage effect,” I thought it had something to do with the hit Television Series based on Mark Wahlberg’s life. I thought I missed an episode and that they did something crazy with cannabis, so I quickly went to research that topic and today I’m here to give you the full digest on what it means.
The term was dubbed in 1998, by S. Ben-Shabat, according to Wikipedia.
The Entourage Effect Explained
When studies are done with animals involved, the cannbidiol utilizes a synthetic version of single molecule CBD that is made exclusively for research and development. On the flip side, an extraction of the entire plant will feature THC, CBD, and over 400 other compounds. A variety of these compounds will work in harmony, synergistically, to create what has been called “the entourage effect” by scientists. This effect amplifies the therapeutic benefits so that the medicinal impact of the entire plant is more enhanced when compared to the sum of it’s parts.
You’ll hear terms being kicked around like “whole plant medicine,” which dates back to Chinese Medicine and has been used in healing arts like Ayurveda.
As holistic medicine has always been an afterthought in the USA thanks to the pills like Advil and other NSAIDS, people are now realizing that the isolated chemicals they are putting in their bodies may not be the best solution, thanks to the rise in popularity of CBD and hemp oils.
The momentum continues to build in support of medical substances being more beneficial to consumers in their natural, whole state.
“Cannabis is inherently polypharmaceutical,” Dr. John McPartland notes, “and synergy arises from interactions between its multiple components.”
The entourage effect happens when multiple components within the cannabis plant become engaged with the human body to amplify the influence on a larger level than any of those components could do on their own. Working in synergy makes it happen. Like they say, “team work makes the dream work.” Think of it that way.
I compare this to the real world, where people have different sets of skills that they possess. When people enter partnerships, they marry skill sets. A good chiropractor can partner up with a lawyer. When the chiropractor sees someone who was injured maliciously, they could signal the lawyer and create business for one another. The lawyer sues while the chiropractor treats the patient. The same can be said about a website designer and a copy writer. The list goes on, and on. Marrying talents and abilities makes a better result.
In short, combining natural compounds will help multiply and amplify the effect. Everyone taking CBD should seek the entourage effect as they get a better overall experience medicinally.
Back in the 1990’s, a drug called Marinol was released as a pure, synethic version of THC. Everyone in the world of science bet that it would work as well as using the whole cannabis plant. But, after some testing, it was discovered that patients actually preferred the whole plant versus the Marinol.
With over 85 cannbinoids discovered that have been working in cahoots with THC to produce relief, it turns out that cannabis has many more active compounds than just THC.
As we’ve talked about before, the cannabis plant has a lot more THC than CBD, so the users get that “high.” Hemp, on the other hand, is the opposite, and it can work to relieve problems without getting people high. Hemp oil will NOT get you high.
