Harnessing The Entourage Effect

Hemp, and many other plants, contain a dazzling number of compounds and elements. Some give rich color, others distinctive smells or healthy energy storage, but all are important to the overall well-being of the plant. The five that we focus on for the Entourage Effect are: Cannabinoids, Terpenes, Flavonoids, Beneficial Fatty Acids, and Phospholipids.

First up is cannabinoids. These are probably the most familiar as it’s the group that CBD falls into. While CBD is one of the most abundant, did you know that there are other cannabinoids that can be found in hemp plants? It’s true. Cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabidivarin (CBDV) are all brothers and sister compounds to the more well-known CBD. These additional cannabinoids allow us to maintain a more complete profile of the hemp plant while still focusing on the relationship between the endocannabinoid system and CBD.

Terpenes are next. These are oils that give plants their unique aromas, and similar to cannabinoids you can find many varieties in hemp. More than just a pleasant smell, terpenes are produced in the same region in hemp as cannabinoids as well as common to other botanicals and can act on the same receptors in our bodies that CBD does: the receptors found in our endocannabinoid system. This means they bring with them a host of effects that can be used to benefit you. In some cases may even be more powerful that what a cannabinoid like CBD can provide. We love our terpenes and their benefits so much.

Now come the flavonoids. Surprisingly, their main trait is the varied colors they provide to plants of all kinds. Juicy red beets, bright blue berries, and emerald heads of fresh lettuce: all the work of flavonoids. As well as this highly visible role, they also interact with the growth of plants in their various stages of development. Research shows that when we take them into our bodies, they can help with our ability to self-regulate our complex internal processes. It’s these regulatory benefits that help make flavonoids an important component of any entourage cbd oil.

Finally, we have beneficial fatty acids and phospholipids. These are probably more familiar elements than the ones above, well known for their importance to our diet and well-being. They help support our cells and provide energy, as well as a host of other useful functions. Examples that can be found in hemp are nourishing Omega-3, -6 , -9 and phosphatidic acid.

So now we know the members of our entourage. But how does the CBD Entourage Effect actually work?

In short, we supercharge our endocannabinoid system with CBD plus a mixture of the other elements found in hemp that we discussed above. Let’s break that down a little, starting with the endocannabinoid system.

The endocannabinoid system, ECS for short, is found in all of our bodies. It’s a network of little receptors that use endocannabinoids, created by the body, or plant derived cannabinoids called phytocannabinoids such as CBD, to turn on and off and in turn affect many aspects of how our bodies function. The two main receptors in the ECS are called CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are mostly found in our brains and are involved in processes related to our mood, memory, and movement. CB2 receptors are most dominantly present in our digestive system as well as located, to a smaller extent, throughout our muscles, bones, and immune systems.

Here is where the Entourage Effect comes in and why we think it’s an important factor in how to find quality CBD. The theory is that a well-maintained ECS, flush with those “other elements” plus CBD, is the preferred way to support your body rather than just CBD alone (e.g. a CBD isolate product). This is why we say that our products provide “Total ECS Support.” We make sure that your body is in the best possible state to take in CBD and put it to good use, maximizing its effectiveness to support the ECS. Thus, our entourage CBD oils offer a more holistic approach than a simple CBD isolate.

So you know the inner workings of the endocannabinoid system, and the parts of hemp you need to effectively activate it. That’s great! From here, we should look at the products that contain the right stuff for you to take full advantage of the Entourage Effect.

Start with broad-spectrum CBD. Our broad-spectrum CBD is made from our proprietary Whole Food Hemp Complex, a rich, slow-process hemp extract from our heirloom-verified, organically grown hemp extract.

This next-level CBD oil, loaded with a powerful array of cannabinoids, forms the base of our products. To us, ‘broad-spectrum’ means just that. We're obsessed with making sure we offer you the full range of cannabinoids and other beneficial botanicals found naturally in hemp, such as flavonoids, terpenes, fatty acids. (If you need a refresher on full-spectrum vs broad-spectrum CBD check out our explanation.)

From here, it’s time to infuse! We take the cannabinoids, flavonoids, and other unique elements found naturally in hemp, like CBD, and add them together with other botanicals and important scientifically studied constituents to form our broad-spectrum extract fusion. We call this our “Whole Food Hemp Complex,” a more complete mixture that has what you need to take advantage of the Entourage Effect for full mind and body balance. This combination ensures you get the most beneficial relationship between your endocannabinoid system and CBD.

At Hemp Fusion, we make sure to watch out for GMOs, soy, gluten, and artificial colors. We keep it simple: sunshine-fed hemp and the compounds you can find inside of it.