Science Says: What Exactly is the Entourage Effect?
Cannabis is a complex plant containing hundreds of different chemical compounds, including cannabinoids and terpenes. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) are the most famous cannabinoids, but more than 100 others have been identified, with most occurring at low levels in most strains.
Cannabinoids are the plant’s building blocks that bind to our body’s chemical receptors and modulate conditions such as pain, nausea, seizures and inflammation. Plant terpenes, which are found in many fruits, herbs, trees and spices, are what make marijuana both flavorful and pungent; Without them, cannabis would have almost no taste or smell.
While each cannabinoid and terpene has its own properties, the magic really happens when they work together to deliver a synergistic effect on the body and mind. This cumulative impact is called the “entourage effect” and was first identified in 1998 by a group of scientists—including the “Father of Marijuana Research,” Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, who discovered THC and CBD back in the 1960s. The entourage effect was more recently popularized by noted cannabis researcher Ethan Russo in his paper Taming THC: Potential Cannabis Synergy and Phytocannabinoid-Terpenoid Entourage Effects.
The entourage effect is serious science, but here’s how I explain it to customers: While one cannabis compound is good and may deliver multiple benefits, synergies come from the unique interactions of the plant’s many chemical components that can amplify those therapeutic benefits.
In other words, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
Whole-Plant Extracts Studies
Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids (Wikicommons)
A 1981 study found that whole-plant extracts produced 330% more biologic activity than THC alone. Researchers hypothesized that cannabis contained “synergist” and “inhibitor” compounds; for example, cannabinoids such as CBD can mitigate the negative effects of THC, while boosting its benefits. So while laboratories are able to isolate individual compounds such as CBD or THC, in many circumstances single cannabinoid extractions are not as effective as whole plant.
Russo’s study took a deeper look into how cannabinoids and terpenes influence one another and the synergies they create in different combinations. According to Russo, terpenes on their own are quite potent and can have a broad range of effects: acting as a sedative, providing pain relief, killing bacteria and reducing inflammation, along with taming depression and anxiety. But they also act in concert with cannabinoids to either catalyze or inhibit their effects. Russo theorized that myrcene, for example, can reduce resistance in the blood-brain barrier to help other chemicals break through, while pinene could help counteract the spacey-ness caused by THC.
Whole-plant medicine offers the full spectrum of cannabis’ therapeutic compounds, which is why at Mary Jane’s Medicinals, our focus is on the whole plant, rather than isolating individual cannabinoids like CBD. Our topicals are produced with a whole-plant infusion process, so they contain the full spectrum of cannabinoids, rather than filtering out certain components through an extraction process.
At Mary Jane’s Medicinals, we believe in the healing power of the natural cannabis plant, the wisdom that fuels the entourage effect and the myriad ways cannabis can deliver its benefits.
Check out this other great article at Farma Health on CBD for depression.