Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-euphoric cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp, is a medicinal compound with diverse healing properties. It’s believed that CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) to help heal issues like stress, mood changes, physical discomfort, and sleep problems. When CBD products are made using the entire plant instead of using an isolate of cannabidiol alone, it’s known as the entourage effect. The other cannabinoids in the hemp plant work together synergistically to affect your ECS in different ways. Keep reading to learn more about this fascinating concept!

What is the entourage effect?

The entourage effect is the synergistic interaction between cannabinoids, terpenes and other compounds found in cannabis plants. The entourage effect is the reason that whole plant products are more effective than isolated cannabinoids.

Can I get the entourage effect with CBD alone?

If you’re looking to get the entourage effect with CBD alone, you may be disappointed. While some research has shown that some cannabinoids are effective at treating certain medical conditions on their own, like THC and THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), others like CBD or CBDA (cannabidiolic acid) aren’t as effective when they are isolated from the whole plant.

The only way to maximize your health benefits from all of these components is by using a full spectrum product, which means it contains not just CBD but also other cannabinoids such as CBN (cannabinol) and CBC (cannabichromene). These extra ingredients increase bioavailability so that you can experience more of their effects without having to take a higher dose and risk overdosing.

How does the entourage effect influence your endocannabinoid system?

The endocannabinoid system is a group of receptors, enzymes and other proteins that help regulate the body's vital functions. The endocannabinoid system works by detecting what's going on in your body and keeping it in balance through complex chemical reactions.

Cannabinoids bind to these receptors to produce their effects; however, they can also bind with different receptors throughout your body (like anandamide) or even with non-cannabinoid receptors (such as TRPV1).

How can the entourage effect help you?

The entourage effect is a complex interaction between cannabinoids and terpenes that produces an enhanced effect. It’s important to understand the entourage effect if you want to choose cannabidiol products that produce the greatest therapeutic benefit for you.

The synergy between cannabinoids and terpenes found in cannabis plants  work together to create a more beneficial experience than any one of them would provide on its own.  Therefore, consuming full-spectrum CBD products may be more beneficial than isolate or broad spectrum products.

Cannabinoids and terpenes work in harmony to produce this phenomenon—and understanding how they interact will help you decide which products are right for your needs.

Full-spectrum CBD products are the best way to experience the entourage effect. Full spectrum means that it contains all of the other cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids that naturally occur in hemp plants. Broad spectrum means it does not contain THC, but still has all of the other natural cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids found in hemp extract. Isolate CBD products contain only CBD and no other cannabinoids or substances from hemp plants at all.