You may be asking yourself, “If CBD is so good, why not just make a synthetic version?” Ultimately, this is what has happened with Aspirin and morphine. However, as stated by the famous Greek Philosopher, Aristotle, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Another great term for this is called synergy.
What is Synergy?
In general, synergy is the working together of two things to produce a result greater than the sum of their individual effects. When we’re talking about the workplace, a team with synergy will accomplish a goal better and faster than a team without synergy. Synergy can be seen throughout the plant and animal kingdom in simple and abstruse ways.
Take into account the flowers and the bees. The bees turn the nectar from the flowers into honey as their primary food source. The flowers are then successfully pollinated by the bees. Consider penguins during the harsh winters in Antarctica; they huddle together to conserve body heat. The same concept can be applied to CBD.
Scientists have found that there is a kind of synergy between all the active compounds so that the whole is greater than the sum of all the parts. Every component of the hemp plant works together to create the phytocannabinoid we know as CBD. Unfortunately, using the whole plant sparks little to no interest for pharmaceutical companies who prefer synthetic compounds that can be patented. So, if a synthetic version were to be made it simply wouldn’t be all that good. With that being said, there are other medicinal herbs that can be taken with CBD for added health benefits. Again, working together to create a superlative result – synergy.
Pairing Other Medicinal Herbs with Hemp
Incorporating more herbs into your life can improve your overall health. There are multiple herbs that can be paired with CBD to create a more suitable effect. Interestingly enough, cannabis is not the only plant that contains medically beneficial cannabinoids. As a matter of fact, there are several plants that are also rich in cannabinoids and benefit the body’s endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for helping the body maintain homeostasis that is needed for attaining maximum health. Below are six plants found to either contain healing cannabinoids or affect the endocannabinoid system.
1. Coneflower- Echinacea
Echinacea has long been promoted as the herb that encourages the immune system. It has been known to reduce the symptoms of colds, flu, and some other illnesses, infections, and conditions. Echinacea uses cannabimimetics instead of cannabinoids to engage the endocannabinoid system, particularly the CB2 receptor. The NAA’s (N-alkyl amides), which are similar to THC, are responsible for regulating the immune system, pain, and inflammation.
2. Electric Daisy- Acmella Oleracea
The Electric Daisy is most commonly known for its pain relieving constituents. It successfully blocks pain receptors at nerve endings, as per trials conducted by Cambridge University. The compounds found the electric daisy are called N-Isobutylamides. They are similar to other cannabinoid-like compounds in how they regulate pain and inflammation.
3. Helichrysum Umbraculigerum
Helichrysum is native to South Africa. It has large amounts of CBG (cannabigerol) which has the ability to stabilize mood and relax the mind. Helichrysum is used in African ritual ceremonies to make fumes with a potential psychotropic effect similar to other cannabinoids.
4. Liverwort- Radula Marginata
Liverwort contains large amounts of perrottetinenic acid, which is strikingly similar to THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis. However, Liverwort is not known to have any psychoactive effects. It is most commonly known for its ability to treat respiratory infections, such as bronchitis. Historically, it has been used to alleviate gallbladder, liver, and bladder problems.
5. Cacao- Theobroma Cacao
The cacao plant is a delicious superfood. A superfood is a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being. A lot of people with sensitivities to cocoa resort to eating cacao instead because it tastes almost identical and has the same consistency. Furthermore, eating natural chocolate, like cacao, increases the amounts of anandamide in the brain because the FAAH enzyme is less active. The result is similar to what many people experience when smoking cannabis – a general feeling of being relaxed and happy – although the result is nowhere near as potent as with THC.
6. Black Pepper- Piper Nigrum
There has been a very common terpene found in Black Pepper called beta-caryophyllene (BCP), and it functions as a cannabinoid. BCP binds to the CB2 receptors, giving it the therapeutic effect of reducing inflammation. Numerous research has implied that BCP could be used for the treatment of arthritis and osteoporosis, and may potentially increase the effectiveness of certain anti-cancer drugs.