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Writer's pictureMoon Flower CBD

What is the Entourage Effect?

In the early 1990s, scientists discovered something pretty amazing. There is a biological system in the human body that responds explicitly to cannabis-- this is called the endocannabinoid system, or "ECS". To explain this system, let's use an example: you go for a run in the park, trip on a rock, and twist your ankle. It hurts for a moment, but the pain that you feel subsides pretty quickly. This is partly the work of your endocannabinoid system. By producing, molecules called endocannabinoids-- which interact with the cells in our body and get rid of those painful sensations.


Pain is just one thing that this system is in charge of regulating. It is also responsible for regulating memory, mood, sleep, appetite, stress, and your immune system (to name only a few). In other words, your endocannabinoid system is what is in charge of maintaining balance within your body. So where do cannabis and the entourage effect come in?


Molecules in the cannabis plant such as CBD, CBN, CBG, etc-- mimic the body's natural endocannabinoids so they are able to communicate with your ECS receptors. These receptors are located in cells ALL over the body, but especially in the brain and your immune system. This explains why cannabis is known to ease so many symptoms, like nausea, pain, inflammation, anxiety, and insomnia.


The entourage effect is what occurs when different cannabinoids, like CBD, CBG, CBDA, CBN, THC, etc-- combine together to produce an effect that is more powerful than what they would produce on their own. Think of it like a broadway show, CBD is the main character, while the rest of the cannabinoids and terpenes are the supporting cast. Of course, the main character is the most impressive, but without the supporting roles, makeup artists, stage designers, and others, there would be no show. This is why we stress full-spectrum oil over isolates so much.






We are also discovering that many plant terpenes outside of cannabis-- when combined with cannabis create a powerhouse of effects (this is what makes our Mood Food line so special because you are not only getting the entourage effect from our full-spectrum oil but also added plant terpenes that create the effects that you are wanting). This graph breaks this idea down a little better, check it out.





Pretty cool right?





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