Exploring the Entourage Effect of Terpenes

There are a few things that most people know about Hemp. One is that Hemp has certain medicinal effects which is the primary reason why medical Hemp is legal in a variety of states. Another commonly known fact is that Hemp contains both CBD and the psychoactive component known as THC.

Jampha uses hemp for its products offering CBD and its medicinal effects. Industrial Hemp contains many other cannabinoids besides just CBD and no more than 0.3 percent THC. Hemp contains some 200 terpenes and 100 cannabinoids. Additionally, full spectrum cannabinoids contain fatty acids, proteins and vitamins. Plus hundreds of other chemical compounds.  

Some Hemp Extracts Are Better Than Others:

Some hemp extracts are superior to others. If two companies both make CBD oil, that doesn't mean that the CBD oil from each company is equal in either quality or effectiveness. Simply put, not all hemp extracts are created equal. Quite a few variables are relevant when a company manufactures CBD extracts. The company's purification process, the parameters of the extraction method, the extraction method itself, and the genetics of the hemp plants all play a part in determining the quality of CBD extracts.

Entourage Effect 101:

Simply put, the Entourage Effect describes how multiple compounds, listed above, work together in a synergistic way rather than working alone, which then enhances the effects of cannabinoids. You can think of it like two sports teams; one relies upon one player doing everything while the other has everyone contributing in specific roles. Naturally, you would expect the team with everyone contributing to win.

What Does Research Say About the Entourage Effect?

The idea of the Entourage Effect first began in 1998. Professors Shimon Ben-Shabat and Raphael Mechoulam discovered that the endocannabinoid system displayed an entourage effect upon noticing that the plant compounds increased our receptors' activity significantly. These receptors are crucial in a variety of body functions, like sleep cycles, communication between cells, memory, and many others. A 2001 paper by Ethan Russo and John McPartland, two well-respected researchers, describes that terpenes enhance cannabinoids' effects. The paper also states that terpenes interacting with cannabinoids makes a notable difference in the effects of those cannabinoids. 

How Does The Entourage Effect Improve CBD Oil?

Simply put, the Entourage Effect improves CBD oil in that it enhances the effects of the cannabinoids found in CBD oil. This is clear when you compare a CBD product that has fewer compounds to one that includes terpenes and cannabinoids. It is even more clear when you compare a CBD product that only includes pure CBD, to a CBD product with a variety of compounds. In any case, the Entourage Effect is a notable example of the benefits of synergistic cooperation between compounds.