The Entourage Effect
Are you getting the most out of your cannabis medicine?
Both CBD and THC have the exact same molecular structure:
21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and 2 oxygen atoms.
A slight difference in how the atoms are arranged accounts for the differing impacts on your body.
THC and CBD may be the most famous cannabinoids – but they are by no means the only ones. In fact, they’re just two among many important players within the cannabis plant that work together to produce a number of potential therapeutic effects. The idea behind this effect is that when we combine compounds in their natural state we don’t end up with the sum of the parts but rather a multiplying effect. With cannabis, thousands of natural compounds within the plant interact together and with the human body to produce a more meaningful effect compared to any one of the compounds used alone. This is called The Entourage Effect.
The Entourage Effect also helps explain why different medical cannabis strains may have different effects depending on the individual. Since strains can differ vastly in their chemical profiles, they can cause an equally vast number of experiences.
This has begun to beg the question- with so many THC/CBD only medications on the market, is it better to take both?
One thing that we advocate people when it comes to cannabis as medicine is whole plant medicine. People are focusing very much on CBD-only medicine, with THC removed, and are often left wondering why they’re still experiencing symptoms or aren’t progressing as much as they’d like. Even minuscule amounts of THC (also known as micro-dosing) can have a greater medicinal effect. Many of the symptoms that people are trying to gain relief from can be benefitted by both Cannabinoids.
Below is a chart we’ve created, depicting which conditions/symptoms can be uniquely treated by either THC or CBD and which can be remedied by both.
