The Entourage Effect: What Is It?
The entourage effect is a phenomenon associated with cannabis-based products in which all of the plant's natural compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, work together to produce a more therapeutic effect than any of those compounds would deliver on its own.
Cannabis is not a single compound product but a complex molecular profile that produces numerous phytocannabinoids and a diverse range of terpenes. As a result, the "entourage effect" is the vital contributor obtained from adding terpenes to cannabinoids.
The Entourage Effect has been said to help treat psychiatric symptoms but are these claims real or unfounded? This blog will review everything we know about the entourage effect and if it is what it is made out to be.
The Entourage Effect
In simple terms, The Entourage proposes that when all the many compounds are present in cannabis plants, they may be able to provide more benefits than alone. For example, THC alone can cause anxiety, but when combined with CBD (a non-intoxicating compound), this reduced anxiety becomes less apparent.
This concept has been much debated over the years among cannabis experts and scientists alike; however, most seem to agree that something is happening. But what is it?
What does the entourage effect feel like
The entourage effect is a feeling of relaxation and calm, increased focus, and improved energy and motivation. It can also help you feel more alert and aware of your surroundings.
History of the entourage effect
The term "entourage effect" was coined by Raphael Mechoulam in 1998, who discovered that cannabinoids (cannabinoid compounds found in cannabis) have different effects based on how they are ingested. This was shown when mice were tested for a specific compound 2-AG. Other compounds were present. Those molecules were found to help reduce pain for animals even though they did not directly bind themselves to CB1 or CB2 receptors.
Though Ethan Russo reexamined the entourage effect, it is only recently that research has been conducted to understand how these compounds work together to produce different results on cannabis.
Does the entourage effect exist?
The entourage effect is a theory that cannabis' medicinal properties are greater than the sum of its parts. Cannabis contains over 100 cannabinoids, chemical compounds believed to be responsible for much of cannabis's effects on the body. The most well-known cannabinoid is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which produces psychoactive effects when consumed in large doses. Other cannabinoids, such as CBD (cannabidiol) and CBG (cannabigerol), don't produce strong psychoactive effects but may still contribute to the overall therapeutic benefits of marijuana consumption.
Cannabis also contains terpenes, odorless chemicals secreted by trichomes, tiny hair-like structures found on certain plants like hemp and hops that give them their unique smell and flavor profile. Terpenes interact with cannabinoids like THC or CBD in various ways. Some terpenes have been shown to enhance the effects of other compounds, while others have been shown to counteract or neutralize them altogether.
Currently, the claims of the entourage effect are unfounded. According to a review of the research, the cannabis entourage effect is often used for marketing, promoting, and selling therapeutic products based on nebulous and unproven pharmaceutical processes. Unregulated industries have misrepresented and abused these claims by overstating them in scientific literature. Most of what we know about the entourage effect can be summed up as clever marketing, as the science has not proven or found definitive information on the subject.
Is more research needed?
Many scientists and medical researchers have criticized the entourage effect, claiming it is not entirely accurate. This could be due to a lack of solid studies on the subject, or it could be due to a lack of concrete evidence for the existence of this phenomenon.
Dr. Ethan Russo, a neurologist and researcher, cites evidence of the entourage effect possibly existing in a 2018 meta-analysis. This meta-analysis looked at a few hundred participants and treatment for epilepsy using two different CBD products. One being pure CBD and the other being CBD with other cannabis extracts. The group with the CBD cannabis extract reported a lower frequency of seizures. This evidence sounds good, but the results did not meet the 50% reduction in seizures to meet the clinical threshold.
Results are mixed
While more research is needed, we can be sure that the entourage effect is still a theory. Some say that the effects are real, while others sum up the theory and evidence as not being statistically significant enough to make conclusive statements.
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