Have you ever wondered how some CBD oils and other nootropics are formulated to help us tackle specific types of mental hurdles? For example – it’s quite common to see different products that specialize in helping us fall asleep from those that help us wake up and feel energized in the mornings. In the world of cannabis, we understand a product’s chemical makeup – which determines its overall effects on our minds and bodies – is based on its spectrum. 

In this post, we’ll break down the differences between full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products and dive into how you can achieve the entourage effect through different combinations that work best for your CBD routine.

Broad-Spectrum vs. Full-Spectrum vs. Isolate

 Three typical types of CBD oil are available on the market: isolate, full-spectrum, and broad-spectrum. Isolate will be the most basic form of CBD. To make it, CBD oil is extracted then purified into a crystalline form that removes all of the other cannabinoids. 

Full-spectrum CBD oil will be the opposite – there will be traces of all the other compounds that are present in the cannabis plant, such as THC (although due to the laws in the United States, there should be less than .03% of the psychoactive compound present in CBD products.) 

Tree of Life Seeds produces broad-spectrum CBD oil, which takes all the guesswork about THC percentages by extracting 100% of THC out of our broad-spectrum products. Broad-spectrum CBD oil removes only the THC molecule leaving all the other beneficial cannabinoids.

This allows you to experiences the benefits of the entourage effect due to the presence of naturally-occurring phytocannabinoids and terpenes without worrying about any psychoactive THC content.

What is the Entourage Effect?

When cannabis terpenes, cannabinoids, and other compounds interact, you’ll experience a synergistic result: a relatively new explanation for these interactions has been the concept of the entourage effect. 

Put simply, this is a phenomenon that comes to life when all of the cannabis plant compounds come together to interact with the human body. CBD Oil Review explains that “When we combine multiple compounds in their natural state, we don’t end up with the sum of each part; instead, we get a multiplying effect.” The entourage effect is what happens when all of these simultaneous interactions result in a more substantial, more tangible impact on unwanted symptoms than a single compound would by itself. 

Different Combinations of the Entourage Effect

As different types of botanical compounds come together, you can play around with the results and experiences that work best for some of the pain points you might be trying to address with CBD. One of the most influential factors will be the terpene profile of the cannabis plant from which the oil was extracted. 

Different terpenes will have different entourage effects, and as explained by a recent study, people have been “using a combination of terpenes that produce similar effects to increase effectiveness. For example, some combine Pinene, Myrcene, and Caryophyllene with the belief that this combination effectively combats anxiety.” When terpenes come together in their interactions with other cannabis molecules, you’ll experience different types of physiological and cerebral effects.

As an article on WeedMaps explains, “An additional factor contributing to the entourage effect could also be that cannabinoids and terpenes hit different targets, and the combined activity at those targets (receptors or other cellular pathways) results in a better outcome.” So, if you’re looking to combat feelings of inflammation, for example, when you have multiple molecules attacking the source at numerous different points, the sense of relief might be much more powerful.

Best CBD Routines to Get the Entourage Effect

Getting into a CBD routine that complements your lifestyle should prioritize which exact pain points you’re hoping to address with CBD. For example, if you’re looking to experience an entourage effect that will help you sleep, consider combining your CBD products with other sleep aid compounds such as melatonin and chamomile extract. Together, they’ll promote a full night’s rest by helping your mind wind down and help you stay asleep throughout the night. Alternatively, if you’re looking to target inflammation with a natural compound, our Curcumin CBD capsules provide an antioxidant-rich solution that’s excellent for taking in the morning, or on-the-go when things get stressful.