For decades, medical researchers have been interested in a phenomenon known as the entourage effect. The effect is commonly studied in modern pharmacology, especially when developing new drug therapies. But it turns out that medical cannabis researchers are interested in it as well.

Does the entourage effect play a role in medical cannabis efficacy? It is possible. As more research is done and scientists learn more, they might discover that certain combinations of cannabinoids and terpenes work exceptionally well for particular conditions.

More About the Entourage Effect

The term ‘entourage effect’ describes a process whereby two or more substances demonstrate and enhance ability to relieve symptoms or treat underlying causes of a disease, as compared to each substance acting alone. When the substances are combined, the effects of their individual properties are enhanced.

Think of the entourage effect as similar to manufacturing a composite. The components in a composite material have properties that are attractive to engineers. When you combine the materials, those properties are enhanced. The composite material offers superior performance over the individual components alone.

Investigating the entourage effect is all about looking at different compounds and chemical substances. And in the realm of medical cannabis, those compounds and substances are cannabinoids and terpenes. A typical cannabis plant contains more than a hundred of them combined.

THC and CBD Are the Big Ones

Beehive Farmacy is a Utah medical cannabis dispensary with locations in Salt Lake City and Brigham City. Its operators say that medical cannabis patients are typically after one of two cannabinoids: THC and CBD. They are the ‘big ones’, so to speak. Is it possible to create the entourage effect by combining them? Beehive Farmacy personnel say that some scientists believe so.

A number of studies cited by Healthline seem to indicate as much. None of the studies are necessarily conclusive on their own, but cumulative data seems to suggest the legitimacy of combining THC and CBD. Of course, there is also the question of combining the cannabinoids with plant terpenes.

More About Cannabis Terpenes

Terpenes are chemical compounds in plant life that nature uses to improve propagation, defend against predation, or both. Terpenes are the compounds that give plants and trees their distinct odors. There are literally hundreds of them. Cannabis has its fair share.

Although nature could have far more purposes for terpenes than human science has uncovered, medical cannabis researchers have discovered that these compounds can impact how brain receptors deal with cannabinoids. Therefore, it makes sense that combining cannabinoids and terpenes could produce the entourage effect under certain conditions. The trick is finding the right combinations.

Both researchers and cannabis companies are working on that right now. Scientists all over the country are trying to figure out the best THC-terpene and CBD-terpene profiles for treating the conditions medical cannabis is most frequently recommended for. Along the way, they may discover additional conditions for which medical cannabis might be recommended.

Getting the Most Out of Medicine

Investigating the entourage effect is all about getting the most out of our medicine. Combining ingredients to enhance efficacy is just common sense. It is so sensible that medical cannabis researchers have embraced the idea with a commitment to improve the products they produce.

Are you a medical cannabis user? If so, have you attempted to utilize the entourage effect to your own benefit? It would be fascinating to do a study among current medical cannabis patients to better understand their experiences with the entourage effect. For all we know, the right cannabinoid-terpene combinations could unlock the door to better health.