The entourage effect of THC and CBD
Eastern medicine is known for a more holistic approach where Western medicine tends to zero in on one specific molecule that is used for treating a disease or symptom. Taking something in its entirety for medicinal purposes often offers a great deal of benefits. The cannabis sativa plant is an example of the contrasts between Western and traditional medicine. There are now products offered that are labeled as isolates or whole plant extracts. Advocates of Western medicine theories would recommend isolates because they contain just tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or strictly cannabidiol (CBD) or less common individual phytocannabinoids. While THC offers a variety of health-related properties, it is responsible for the “high” effect users get when they consume cannabis. CBD is non-psychotropic. THC and CBD are the two most abundant, well-known and well-studied cannabinoids and both have shown pain-relieving benefits in humans. However, they aren’t the only compounds in cannabis that provide positive effects on health. In the cannabis plant, there are hundreds of plant compounds made up of phytocannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. Research indicates that these compounds can work together and offer superior improvements in pain relief that each one would produce independently. The synergy of CBD, THC and the whole cannabis plant is referred to as the entourage effect. THC and CBD have whom to work differently together than when separate, helping to lessen side effects and boost efficacy. The most well-studied compounds found in the marijuana plant that support the idea of the entourage effect are THC and CBD, which have been found to work differently together than when separate. Research shows that CBD works to counteract some of the “high” feeling, anxiety and elevated heart rate that is caused by THC. The result is that higher doses of THC can be used in the treatment of pain due to multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and more.