The CBD Entourage Effect in Relation to THC, CBD, CBC, CBN and CBG

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. Aristotle said those words over 2,000 years ago and triggered millennia of cheesy sports quotes in the process.

At least it’s better than, “There’s no “I” in “team”.

But this quote isn’t just for inspirational speeches in the locker room. It also applies to cannabinoids and something known as “the entourage effect”.

Put simply, it means that cannabinoids and terpenes (both found in the cannabis plant) work better when combined than they do individually. Neat idea, right? Well, it’s much more than that, as there is a wealth of research supporting this claim.

How Does The Entourage Effect Work?

There are no hangers-on in this scenario. Each part of the cannabis plant that makes its way into our bodies brings its own specific talents to the table, and the way they all work together is called the entourage effect.

While research on the topic is ongoing, scientists to date have uncovered as many as 120 different chemicals, referred to as phytocannabinoids, working within the cannabis plant. Two other smaller groups of organic compounds—terpenes and flavonoids—are also often in the mix.

Each type of molecule targets specific bodily systems or works to promote certain general effects within the body, like the prevention of inflammation.

Together, these groups of compounds are thought to be more effective than high doses of any single compound—at least, in theory.

That these disparate plant parts can all work together to create a beneficial net impact on us has yet to be conclusively proven, but scientists have already uncovered a huge amount of interesting information in searching for potential signs of the entourage effect.

Which Compounds Are Involved In The Entourage Effect?

Within the huge (and growing!) list of phytocannabinoids in the cannabis plant, scientists have uncovered three main groups of compounds, including:

Phytocannabinoids

The largest group of all, these compounds are responsible for most of the chemical reactions that make things happen.

When we’re feeling the effects of cannabis or cannabis-derived products, we’re mostly feeling the effects of its cannabinoids, mostly because these molecules are capable of plugging directly into our bodies through a miraculous structure called the Endocannabinoid System.

Despite its recent surge in popularity, cannabidiol (CBD) isn’t even the most famous phytocannabinoid. That title would have to go to tetrahydrocannabinol, otherwise known as THC—the chemical responsible for making us feel high after consuming cannabis.

These two compounds could be two of the most important when it comes to the entourage effect. They are the most heavily researched and have been connected with all kinds of health benefits, including issues related to anxiety, chronic pain, low appetite, and stress.

There are other cannabinoids, too, and thanks to increasing consumer appetite for these compounds, you can now find them in a host of products.

Cannabinol (CBN) is formed during the degradation of THC. Traditionally, producing CBN was expensive and time-consuming, but methods have changed, and it has become much more common. Research is still limited on this cannabinoid, but anecdotal reports suggest that it can help with insomnia. It is also considered to be mildly psychoactive by some, but this seems to be hotly debated. Either way, it’s not euphoric in the same way as THC.

Cannabichromene (CBC) is more closely associated with analgesic and stimulating properties, though it has been linked with many other benefits. Research is still limited, as with CBN, but there is a lot of excitement around this compound.

Cannabigerol (CBG) is known as “the mother of cannabinoids”, as its acid form (CBGA), converts to all other cannabinoids. It also remains in both CBG and CBGA form in harvested hemp and is often extracted and marketed for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Terpenes

Have you ever smelled something so good it made your mouth water? When it comes to cannabis-related products, that type of pleasant aroma arises from terpenes.

The plant parts are like naturally occurring essential oils that leave traces of scents (and sometimes even tastes) that can range anywhere from citrus, berry, mint, and pine to more exotic-leaning flavors like pineapple.

Flavonoids

Despite what their name may suggest, these molecules have nothing to do with flavor. Instead, flavonoids deliver the goods in terms of antioxidants, nutrients, and other natural boosters they can bring to our bodies.

Flavonoids are not exclusive to cannabis plants. The helpful little molecules also appear in a number of fruits and vegetables and even the delicious concoctions of wine, tea, and chocolate!

How Do These Compounds Work Together?

With each part of the plant having a different role to play, it might seem only natural that these compounds would interact differently with each other, producing a different overall effect on our bodies depending on which ones—and how many—are present.

That’s the basic idea behind the entourage effect, which generally comes to the conclusion that the more of these natural actors are allowed to get together, the better the overall impact.

What We Know (And What We Don’t) About the Entourage Effect

Legal research into the cannabis plant and its effects on the human body and brain is still relatively recent—and continuously emerging.

Skeptics of the entourage effect often point to the general lack of test results proving it, and especially the lack of controlled, double-blind, lab-tested analysis—the exacting type of studies most scientists prefer before making an official call on something. (Also complicating the matter is every human body’s unique response to these chemicals, making even the most well-conducted research difficult to discern.)

Still, researchers have managed to conduct a few examinations into the entourage effect, and what they’ve found has largely seemed to show that the plant parts are better together.

A majority of the research has focused on the interplay between the plant’s two most famous compounds, THC and CBD. And it seems that CBD may have a calming effect on its more notorious friend, with typical THC side effects like sleepiness, anxiety, and an increased appetite all tampered down when mixed with CBD.

A small number of studies have also supported the idea that adding flavonoids and terpenes to the mix could help boost the therapeutic potential of CBD, CBN, CBC, and CBG by helping the compounds to deliver greater neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. (No such effect was found when terpenes were paired with THC in one recent study, though the researchers only examined the interplay using six different terpenes.)

Still, as the market for cannabinoids continues to expand, so, too, will the breadth of scientific findings on the substance, which will hopefully lead to clearer answers on how the plant’s parts all operate—both independently and together..