Those who are somewhat familiar with mind-altering substances have probably heard of the entourage effect. There is much debate surrounding the entourage effect, whether it exists or not. In this blog, we discuss what is known about it to date and whether it is worth considering.
The wondrous workings of the entourage effect
Powerful natural remedies such as cannabis, magic mushrooms and CBD products contain several substances. Think THC and CBD in marijuana and CBD oil, and psilocybin and psilocin in magic mushrooms and truffles. These substances each have their own effects. But research shows that these substances can also affect each other mutually. This can alter the effect and effects of the drug and is called the entourage effect.
Dr. Raphael Mechoulam is the researcher who came to use the term entourage effect. He was a well-known cannabis researcher and isolated and studied the various cannabinoids. He became convinced that the substances in cannabis interacted synergistically with each other, thereby creating special effects. So the effects are different, than if you used each substance separately. The whole is more powerful than the individual parts.
The entourage effect in cannabis and CBD products
Cannabis is a plant that contains a large amount of bioactive compounds. These are not only the cannabinoids, such as THC, CBD and CBG, but also terpenes. If you look at the entourage effect, all these substances can influence each other. However, not much research has been done on this wonderful interaction between the various compounds in cannabis.
But we already know quite a bit about the two best-known cannabinoids, CBD and THC. If you take THC separately, without other cannabinoids, it can have an intense and fully psychoactive effect. However, it is also likely to involve negative effects. Anxiety and paranoia are known side effects of THC.
If you add CBD, these negative side effects are much less present. It is believed that CBD can inhibit the psychoactive effects of THC, giving you a milder high. CBD and THC work harmoniously together through the entourage effect, which can be attractive to users.
But terpenes also play an important role. Terpenes are the substances in marijuana that provide the powerful smell. Linalool is one of the terpenes that through the entourage effect, can enhance the relaxing effects of CBD. Pineene could possibly help counteract the disruptive effect THC has on memory.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Cannabis contains large amounts of terpenes and cannabinoids, and also in different compositions. As a result, specific cannabis strains can also have certain effects. The entourage effect also applies to full spectrum CBD products. This just doesn’t contain THC, but it does contain other cannabinoids and terpenes.
Entourage effect in magic mushrooms
Did you know that the entourage effect can also occur in magic mushrooms? How this works in magic mushrooms and truffles has not yet been well researched. But the mind-altering alkaloids, like the cannabinoids in marijuana, can affect each other’s effects.
The different substances in magic mushrooms are:
- Psilocybin
- Psilocin
- Baeocystine
- Norpsilocin
- Aeruginascine
Most people know psilocybin as the main mind-altering substance in magic mushrooms and truffles. But in fact it is psilocin, into which psilocybin is converted in the body, that can cross the blood-brain barrier. Then it can have its psychoactive effects in the brain. The other substances in magic mushrooms have not yet been well studied. Baeocystine is similar in chemical structure to psilocybin, but occurs in much lower concentrations.
Norpsilocin was discovered in 2017, so not much is known about this either. It is possibly the metabolized equivalent of baeocystine. Another substance in magic mushrooms is aeruginascin, which was discovered in 1989. Similar in structure to the other alkaloids in magic mushrooms, it also corresponds to a chemical found in the venom of some toads.
Although the entourage effect is best known through cannabis and CBD products, it is quite possible that the various substances in magic mushrooms also work synergistically with each other. It would be interesting if more research were done on this.
What can you have from the entourage effect?
Natural remedies, whether they have mind-altering effects or not, can help support our health. It is not for nothing that magic mushrooms are used as a therapeutic agent for PTSD and depression. Cannabis and CBD are also commonly used for mental and physical health conditions.
With their various effects, they can contribute a lot to your health. If you are interested in cannabis for your health or recreation, you may want to consider the entourage effect. For example, take a look at a strain’s terpene profile to see what additional effects you can expect from it. Furthermore, you can also pay attention to the ratio of CBD to THC.
With CBD products, the entourage effect also plays a role. If you want to take full advantage of this, go for a full spectrum CBD oil, such as the one from Dr. Candy (available in 10%, 20% or 30%). This contains all cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids, unlike a CBD isolate. Full Spectrum CBD oil can therefore have a broader effect than CBD isolate.
For magic mushrooms, it still makes no sense to consider the entourage effect. If you purchase a mushroom grow kit, your mushrooms will contain all the substances that naturally occur in them. The same goes for microdosing truffles.