HEALTH / WELLNESS
Finding Relief Through Cannabinoid Ratios B Y K AT H L E E N B R A D L E Y PA - C
Many of us are familiar with the effects of THC and CBD alone; however, there is much to be learned regarding the benefits of combining these two cannabinoids together. When combined, this dynamic duo has been proven to be extremely effective at managing pain and improving sleep as well as mitigating undesirable effects from THC. Different ratios of THC and CBD can produce different effects, giving the user a variety of options including functional daytime use or sedative nighttime therapy. Furthermore, the combination of these two cannabinoids helps amplify the positive effects that both have to offer. In this article, I’ll discuss the entourage effect, therapeutic THC:CBD formulations, and the benefits of using THC and CBD together.
I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y K AT I E W E I T M A N
Terpenes are responsible for the aroma of the plant, whether it smells skunky, fruity, or earthy, and flavonoids are the compounds responsible for the color of the plant—some plants being deep purple while others are a lime greenish-yellow. The combination of all of the compounds provides more therapeutic benefit than any of the individual parts alone. In other words, 1+1 gives you 3! This means that due to the entourage effect, less medicine is needed to achieve a therapeutic result. By using less medicine overall, the risk of undesirable effects also decreases. CBD and THC have a unique synergy that amplifies positive results while mitigating negative side effects.
THE ENTOURAGE EFFECT The benefits of combining THC and CBD begin with the entourage effect. The entourage effect, first described in 1998 by Shimon Ben-Shabat and further refined by Raphael Mechoulam in 1999, describes the additive effect between all the compounds in the cannabis plant. These compounds include cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.
RATIOS A ratio is a term used to describe how one quantity relates to another. If you have two equal quantities of two substances, you have a 1:1 ratio. If you have twice as much of one substance compared to the other, you have a 1:2 ratio. If you have three times as much, you have a 1:3 ratio, and so on. Combining cannabis and hemp together in specific ratios can help tailor to specific therapeutic needs.
Cannabinoids are compounds, like THC and CBD,that interact with our body’s endocannabinoid system.
DAYTIME USE By using ratios, patients are able to use cannabis and
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