CBD & The Entourage Effect - The Ultimate Guide

As a CBD consumer, what do you need to know about the entourage effect? Is this scientific theory something that you need to consider when picking the next CBD product to add to your daily wellness routine? The entourage effect is often shrouded in mystery and we’ve been noticing that there is a general lack of understanding around what this theory is and why it’s important.

We believe that education is the key to encouraging more people to incorporate CBD products into their daily wellness routine. In this article, we are going to be holding a magnifying glass to the theory of the entourage effect. We will be giving you crucial insights into everything that you need to know about the entourage effect.

With a back-to-basics approach, we will be looking specifically at these commonly asked questions relating to CBD and the entourage effect:

• What is CBD?

• How does CBD oil make you feel?

• Can CBD oil get you high?

• Does the human body have a cannabinoid system?

• Do all humans have cannabinoid receptors?

• What does CBD do to you?

• Will CBD show on a drug test?

• How often should I take CBD oil?

• Can you take too much CBD?

• What is the entourage effect?

• How does the entourage effect work?

• What does the entourage effect feel like?

• Is full spectrum CBD better?

• Does broad-spectrum CBD get you high?

After reading this article, we are confident that you will have a solid understanding of what the entourage effect is, why it could benefit you, and how it could influence your future buying decisions. We wanted to make this article as accessible as possible for those that are new to the world of CBD. So, let’s start at the very beginning…

What is CBD?

CBD is just one of many cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids are a group of chemical compounds that collectively represent the many different characteristics of cannabis. CBD and THC are perhaps the most widely recognized of all the cannabinoids. Despite having the same molecular structure, these two chemical compounds could not be more different in terms of how they interact with cannabinoid receptors in the body.

THC is the main psychoactive component of the cannabis plant. This is directly responsible for the “high” sensation that many people are left with after smoking cannabis. CBD is also psychoactive but it is non-intoxicating and won’t result in a “high” sensation, no matter how much of it you consume. Instead, whilst THC can alter your state of mind, CBD focuses on providing potentially therapeutic effects.

CBD products have been taking the wellness industry by storm. This cannabis-derived chemical compound has been incorporated into a full range of different products that can be used for everyday wellbeing. From oils and topicals to beverages and edibles, there’s a wide variety of CBD products available to choose from with their own unique methods of consumption. The sheer level of consumer choice and flexibility has helped make CBD products accessible to everyone.

How does CBD oil make you feel?

CBD oil is one of the most popular products in the CBD marketplace. In the space of just a few years, it has emerged in popular culture as a go-to wellness product for those that are looking for a food supplement to support their overall wellbeing. It’s important to remember that CBD products, including CBD oil, are sold as food supplements. They are not intended to be used for medicinal purposes, despite the rather exciting therapeutic benefits of this compound.

CBD oil can make you feel calm and relaxed alongside a range of other benefits. Extensive research into the effects of CBD oil has shown that it has the potential to support the reduction of unnecessary inflammation in the body. The way in which CBD interacts with cannabinoid receptors, located throughout the body, enables it to influence human physiology in a number of ways, regulating things such as sleep, mood, and appetite.

CBD oil is to be consumed through sublingual administration. This is where you place a few drops of the oil under your tongue. You should hold these drops under your tongue for up to 30 seconds. This gives the oil enough time to diffuse into your bloodstream through the tissues in your tongue. CBD is only effective when it enters the bloodstream. The more CBD you can get into the bloodstream, the more effective it is likely to be.

Sublingual administration is seen as being the most efficient way to introduce CBD into your body. It all comes down to the route in which CBD takes to enter the bloodstream. If you give CBD a shorter route into your bloodstream, you will inevitably lose less CBD along the way. If you’re looking for value for money and you want to get the most out of this chemical compound, CBD oil is the ideal product for you.

Can CBD oil get you high?

As we said earlier, consuming CBD in an isolated form cannot result in a “high” sensation. CBD can often contain trace amounts of THC but this is not enough to present any noticeable effects. At Spero CBD, all of our CBD products are THC-free due to our rigorous testing process. Taking products like CBD oil, as part of your daily wellness routine, will not create this sensation.

In comparison to THC, the overall effects of CBD on the human body are much more subtle, placing an emphasis on wellbeing and instilling a sense of calm in the franticness of modern life. If you’re looking for a product that will get you “high,” CBD oil is not for you. However, if you need a product to support your day-to-day wellbeing, you need to consider CBD oil.

Does the human body have a cannabinoid system?

Yes – every human body has an endocannabinoid system that plays an essential role in supporting the physiological systems that must be maintained for health. The endocannabinoid system has a singular mission: to bring a sense of balance to the human body by regulating many of its core functions and ensuring that everything is working in harmony.

The role of the endocannabinoid system is to create this equilibrium. The human body is at its very best when everything is working in unison. In other words, this system is designed to promote homeostasis, keeping your body functioning optimally regardless of any challenges that it may face from external forces. A strong ECS will support the performance of your core functional processes whatever the weather!

Do all humans have cannabinoid receptors?

The cell-signaling system consists of neurotransmitters, receptors, and enzymes. These three components help the system to promote homeostasis throughout the body. Principally, there are two main types of receptors: CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are found in the brain (central nervous system) and elsewhere in the body, whilst CB2 receptors are typically located in the gastrointestinal and immune systems (periphery). There are usually far fewer CB2 receptors than CB1 receptors in the body.

The vast majority of cannabinoids can bind to both CB1 and CB2 receptors. As humans, we naturally produce cannabinoids in our bodies. These are known more specifically as endocannabinoids, stemming from the word “endogenous.” When you consume a cannabinoid through the use of a product like CBD oil, these are called exogenous cannabinoids because they come from external sources, such as the cannabis plant.

Whilst everyone has an endocannabinoid system, some of us have stronger systems than others. This is because many people are enhancing the power and capability of their endocannabinoid system with exogenous cannabinoids. Products like CBD oil is an example of this. CBD is a plant-based cannabinoid that can help to support the ECS in its endeavours to promote homeostasis.

What does CBD do to you?

The therapeutic benefits of CBD can vary from person to person. Anecdotal evidence and scientific evidence has suggested that CBD can provide a sense of relief to those that are suffering from chronic pain, anxiety, and stress. There’s still so much about this cannabis-derived chemical compound that we don’t know. However, evidence is quickly mounting to show just how beneficial this cannabinoid can be to our everyday wellbeing.

Scientific research has found that CBD can have a tremendous impact on the overall effectiveness of your endocannabinoid system, stimulating both CB1 and CB2 receptors. Although, unlike many other cannabinoids, CBD does not directly bind itself to either of the two receptors, having the unique ability to influence the ECS in a way that sets it apart from other exogenous cannabinoids.

Will CBD show on a drug test?

This is one of the most common questions that we get asked. It’s a completely reasonable question but the fact it keeps getting asked shows that the general public still have a very limited understanding of exactly what CBD is. Hopefully, with the assistance of educational articles like the one you’re reading now, you will increase your knowledge of CBD and use this to inform your buying decisions.

No – CBD is highly unlikely to show up on a drugs test. The assumption that CBD will show up on a drug test is tied to the false belief that this chemical compound will result in a “high” sensation when consumed. It’s incredibly important to understand that CBD is just one component of the cannabis plant. This does not automatically mean that it carries all of the same traits and characteristics as the whole plant.

At Spero CBD, our CBD products are entirely THC-free, so there is little to no chance of CBD showing up on a drugs test. Full spectrum CBD products have the potential to show up on a drugs test, as these contain all of the naturally occurring cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, including trace amounts of THC. Although, even then, we would be very surprised if full spectrum CBD showed up on a drugs test.

How often should I take CBD oil?

When you introduce a new food supplement like CBD oil to your body, you should aim to start with a small dosage before gradually increasing it. This will give you time to see how your body reacts to the cannabinoid before consuming a large amount. You should always follow the instructions that come with each individual CBD product. It’s important to do this as some CBD products have different strengths and contain higher percentages of CBD than others.

Can you take too much CBD?

Experiencing adverse effects to CBD is incredibly rare but you should try your best to monitor the amount of CBD that you are taking on a regular basis. It isn’t possible to overdose on CBD, but if you take too much at one time, you could experience some very minor side effects, such as dizziness. As time goes on and you begin to learn more about how your body responds to certain CBD products, you will be able to find an optimal dosage.

Some people can get all of the therapeutic benefits they need from a very small dosage of CBD oil, whereas others require a much larger dosage to experience the same effects. It’s all about finding a dosage that works for you and this will come with experience taking the cannabinoid. You might find that certain CBD products, like CBD oil, have the ability to provide you with greater levels of therapeutic value than other products on the market.

What is the entourage effect?

The entourage effect is a theory that could completely change how you decide to consume CBD going forward. The theory proposes the idea that CBD is more effective when it is ingested with other cannabinoids at the same time. When you purchase standard CBD oil, you are buying the compound in an isolated form with no other cannabinoids attached. Using the whole hemp plant, full spectrum CBD contains all of the naturally occurring cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, along with trace amounts of THC.

How does the entourage effect work?

There is much more to cannabis than just CBD and THC. The plant contains dozens of different cannabinoids that each have their own unique properties. CBD may be the most beneficial from a wellness standpoint, but the support of other cannabinoids can actually boost the performance of the compound and its ability to positively impact the ECS. This is why many people have been turning to full spectrum CBD as part of their daily wellness routine.

The diverse cannabinoid content in full spectrum CBD can help to maximize the possibilities of the cannabis plant as it enters your body. If you are an experienced user of CBD isolate and want to start exploring more cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, you could give full spectrum CBD oil a try to see whether the entourage effect manifests itself.

What does the entourage effect feel like?

While CBD interacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors, it does not bind to them. This is rather unusual among cannabinoids. By using full spectrum or broad spectrum CBD oil, you will be consuming a range of cannabinoids that bind to receptors located in both the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. You can think of the entourage effect as the enhancement of your endocannabinoid system through the use of multiple cannabinoids.

Is full spectrum CBD better?

It all depends on what you’re looking for! Some people prefer CBD isolate over full spectrum CBD because of the entourage effect. For more advanced users of CBD, consuming this cannabinoid in an isolated form is going to offer limited therapeutic effects. Whereas full spectrum CBD is going to drastically enhance those effects and unlock the keys to a whole world of new exogenous cannabinoids that have never entered your system before.

If you’re a CBD beginner, trying full spectrum CBD has the potential to overwhelm you. CBD in an isolated form can serve as the perfect introduction to the chemical compound with subtle effects that you will be able to easily monitor. When you’ve never had a CBD product before, buying full spectrum CBD is like jumping into the deep end.

Does broad-spectrum CBD get you high?

Neither broad-spectrum CBD or full spectrum CBD can result in a “high” sensation. It can be very easy to confuse the different CBD products on the marketplace. CBD isolate only contains CBD. Full spectrum CBD contains all of the naturally occurring cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, along with trace amounts of CBD. Broad-spectrum CBD contains all of the compounds found in the cannabis plant, including terpenes, cannabinoids, and essential oils, with the exception of THC.

Final Thoughts

We hope that this article has proven to be a useful educational resource as you endeavour to learn more about the incredible world of CBD. Understanding the content of the entourage effect is vital to be able to distinguish between different forms of CBD. If you know exactly what you’re buying, you will inevitably make stronger buying decisions that are going to provide you with greater levels of benefit.