The Entourage Effect is a phenomenon in which the combination of all the cannabinoids and terpenes found in the cannabis plant work in harmony to create a greater therapeutic effect that would be impossible for them to achieve on their own. Russo, E. B. (2011)
As an analogy, imagine a guitarist playing a solo. While the sound of the music they create can be amazing, when they are accompanied by a drummer and a singer, the music is taken to another level. We can all agree that listening to a guitar solo or a singer performing acapella is wonderful, but a band playing in tune delivers the ultimate music experience!
And we believe that the same can be said for medicinal plants like cannabis. Their healing is the greatest when the widest spectrum of plant components is consumed. In other words, nature knows best!
What are the benefits of the Entourage Effect?
The Entourage Effect can create a greater sense of relaxation, improved pain relief, improved sleep, improved mood, and more. It can also help reduce anxiety, depression, and inflammation.
How does the Entourage Effect work?
The Entourage Effect works by having all the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in the cannabis plant interact with each other, working synergistically to produce stronger effects than any single compound taken alone. This is called cannabinoid synergy. Russo, E. B. (2019)
The cannabis plant has more than 400 hundred unique chemicals, each affecting us differently. There are more than 100 cannabinoids, 200 terpenes, many flavonoids, and several phenolic compounds. Some of these compounds are inactive and some are active, beneficial, and good for us like CBD. Some are even psychoactive, like THC!
Isolated CBD on its own doesn’t produce many effects, some studies even point towards inactivity. But if consumed together with THC, for example, 10mg of CBD and 1mg of THC (10:1 ratio), the CBD’s effects can be greater than the effects of 100mg CBD alone. Additionally, when CBD influences cannabinoid receptors, it also prevents the full effect of THC. This is seen in diminished negative side effects of THC, like racing heart, anxiety, and red eyes.
McPartland, J. M., & Russo, E. B. (2001). Cannabis and cannabis extracts: greater than the sum of their parts?. Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics, 1(3-4), 103-132. [DOI: 10.1300/J175v01n03_08]
Russo, E. B. (2019). The Case for the Entourage Effect and Conventional Breeding of Clinical Cannabis: No “Strain,” No Gain. Frontiers in Plant Science, 9, 1969. [DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01969]
