The History
The Entourage Effect theory came about in 1998. This theory was discovered by Israeli scientists Dr. Shimon Ben-Shabat and Dr. Raphael Mechoulam. Their study finds that fatty acids occurring in the cannabis plant enhanced cannabinoid activity in the body, meaning that cannabinoids may attach to the body’s CB1 and CB2 receptors more effectively with the presence of a fatty acid.
In 2009, scientists H. Wagner and G. Ulrich-Merzenich further expanded this theory with their study. This study states that the entourage effect may have “the ability to improve the absorption of the active ingredients by the body; the ability to better overcome bacterial defense mechanisms and the ability to minimize adverse side effects.”
It has been less than 30 years since these theories were published, and we have yet to fully understand the effects of cannabinoids, terpenes, fatty acids, and other compounds found in cannabis and hemp. Many more years of research are required to fully understand these compounds and how they act with the human body.
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