Premium Jane - October 27, 2020
Thanks to a phenomenon known as the entourage effect, CBD oil and other CBD products appear to be more effective when in the presence of other natural hemp compounds, rather than by themselves.
If true, this would suggest that full-spectrum CBD products may be more beneficial compared to isolate or even broad-spectrum products. Full-spectrum products include a complete range of terpenes, cannabinoids, and other compounds found in hemp. Broad-spectrum products are similar, minus the presence of THC.
Of course, few reliable studies have been published relating to the entourage effect and its potential impact on humans using CBD products. In this article, we summarize what we know.
Read on to find out more.
In basic terms, the entourage effect helps maximize the beneficial effects of CBD oil. It occurs when hundreds of different compounds in hemp interact with each other simultaneously to produce a synergistic physiological effect.
In 1998, doctors Raphael Mechoulam and Shimon Ben-Shabat were the first to suggest that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) demonstrated an ‘entourage effect.’ According to the Israeli researchers, various inactive metabolites and related molecules appeared to boost the activity of primary endogenous cannabinoids in the human body (namely 2-AG and anandamide).
In simpler terms, the entourage effect basically suggests that CBD is not solely responsible for the beneficial effects it produces in the body. The presence of other cannabinoids – such as CBN and CBDV – as well as terpenes like myrcene and beta-caryophyllene, appear to “amplify” the activity of CBD and its influence on various physiological systems.
Many suggest that terpenes, in particular, have a far more impactful presence in hemp extract than previously imagined. Terpenes are genuinely fascinating, not least because we’re still finding out how much they can help us. You can find terpenes everywhere, from the skin of citrus fruits to the essential oils squeezed from plant seeds.
Aside from smelling great, terpenes appear to help CBD function in the most efficient way possible. Think of it like a car; you could hypothetically drive down the road with a flat tire, a busted windshield, and a leaking radiator, but it would be a lot more efficient — and effective — if all those parts were functioning properly and working together.
Some people are incorrectly referring to this phenomenon as the “CBD entourage effect.” Indeed, CBD plays a tremendous role in the synergistic effects produced by dozens of hemp compounds working together and interacting with one another. However, it is inaccurate to label it as the most important part of the process.
In fact, no single hemp component should be labeled as the most important aspect of the entourage effect. All the “working internal parts” of hemp play a role; even if a single phytochemical component is missing, the cumulative effect may be diminished.
That being said – and going back to the car analogy – some hemp components do likely play more influential roles in terms of doing what the car is designed to do – which is get down the road as efficiently as possible.
In this analogy, CBD would almost certainly be the engine of the car; without it, the car’s not going anywhere. So, while it’s incorrect to label the entourage effect as the “CBD entourage effect,” there’s no denying that CBD plays a massive role in the whole synergistic process.
So what’s a potential CBD user to make of all this information? It seems that with each passing day, there’s a greater entourage of CBD oil products out there on the market to choose from. How do you know which one’s best for you?
Well, it goes without saying that any quality CBD oil product needs to start out with quality hemp. At Premium Jane, we source all of our hemp from farms right here in the USA. We also only use non-GMO, organic hemp.
Why? Because we believe the safety and effectiveness of the end product can only ever be as high as the quality of the starting plant material. In other words, only the purest, highest quality plants can produce the purest, highest quality CBD oil products. It’s really as simple as that.
In order to take full advantage of the entourage effect, CBD oil would need to be consumed in the form of a full-spectrum hemp extract (FSE). In the most basic sense, full-spectrum products contain a complete range of hemp’s natural phytochemicals — including small amounts of THC at levels of 0.3% or less.
Of course, FSE products are not the best option for every single user out there. For example, for folks that want to avoid consuming THC altogether, a broad-spectrum product or even a CBD isolate product would be a better option.
Broad-spectrum CBD products are very similar to full-spectrum products. The only difference is that broad-spectrum products are 100% THC-free. CBD isolate products, of course, contain CBD and nothing else.
At Premium Jane, we understand that the needs of our customers vary. This is why we offer two major types of CBD products: full-spectrum and CBD isolate. If you’re looking for the market’s most expertly-crafted range of authentic hemp-derived products, there’s really no better option than the USA-made Premium Jane range.
According to the phenomenon of the entourage effect, CBD is most effective when in the presence of other natural hemp phytocompounds. In other words, it appears that cannabinoids (including CBD) are influenced by the presence of compounds like terpenes, flavonoids, and possibly even nutritional components like hemp-derived omega acids.
Both full and broad-spectrum CBD products contain a variety of hemp compounds. Hemp CBD isolates, on the other hand, contain nothing except for the isolated CBD compound. Depending on a user’s personal needs, one type of CBD product may be preferred over another. Those looking to take advantage of the entourage effect, for example, will want to opt for a premium full or broad-spectrum CBD product. Those who want to avoid consuming any quantity of THC, on the other hand, may find that a CBD isolate product is the preferred option.