AT ACS MAY WE SUGGEST-WHOLE PLANT CANNABIS-IT WORKS BEST
Cannabis in all it’s mystical glory has been used as whole plant medicine throughout the world for thousands of years and was actually in the US Pharmacopeia until 1942. It is our modern pharmaceutical industry that promoted the idea of making drugs with one primary active ingredient.
With the legalization of medical marijuana, and more research being allowed, full spectrum Cannabis products have been shown to be more effective than isolated extracts. There have been isolated cannabis products pharmaceutically created to treat very specific conditions such as intractable nausea, anorexia with cancer, and Lennox Gastaut or Dravet seizure disorders. For general use these isolates are not only less effective, but require much larger doses and have a tendency for more side effects.
Cannabis consists of hundreds of compounds, some still unidentified. The interaction of these Cannabinoids, Terpenes, and Flavonoids creates a synergy that enhances the effectiveness that these compounds would have when used on their own.
Of the over 100 Cannabinoids found in cannabis, THC and CBD are the most well-known and studied. The Entourage Effect is exemplified in the way these two compounds work together. THC alone causes “intoxication” or “the high” that is associated with cannabis use and is both sought after for it’s soothing relief and feared for it’s potential negative effects of anxiety and paranoia.
When pairing these two cannabinoids together, the CBD can not only minimize these negative effects but can enhance the positive medical benefits of THC such as opioid type pain relief, decreased inflammation, and also add it’s own antianxiety and antidepressant effects. The varying ratios of CBD to THC found in various strains also adds to the range of effectiveness for specific ailments.
In addition to Cannabinoids, there are a host (hundreds!) of Terpenes found in cannabis. These volatile compounds used by plants for protection against pests, and to attract pollinators have their own unique taste, aroma and distinct healing properties that add to the synergy symphony-the Entourage Effect.
Take Linalool: a Terpene found in large quantities in Lavender and prized for it’s relaxing and calming qualities. If you close your eyes, you likely be able to conjure up that soothing scent.
Many terpenes help move compounds across the blood-brain barrier, making it easier for Cannabinoids to enter the brain to exert a therapeutic effect.
Recent research has also shown the possibility that the healing properties of Cannabis are more Terpene than Cannabinoid dependent.
No more high TAC chasing required!
To reap the superior health benefits found when taking advantage of the Entourage Effect, ACS promotes the use of whole plant medicine or “Full Spectrum” products, that contain the full complement of Cannabinoids, Terpenes, Flavonoids, along with other naturally occurring cannabis compounds.
Keep it simple…Get back to basics… Let the amazing Cannabis plant “do it’s thing”.