Terpenes 101: What they are and what they do
There are around 150 different terpene kinds found in cannabis. Even though the majority of terpenes are just present, the more potent ones work in concert to give different cannabis strains their own fragrance profiles and medicinal benefits.
Terpenes are fragrant compounds that can be found in many plants throughout nature. They are abundant in herbs, fruits and plants. Because they play an important role in the aroma and flavor, many people frequently associate them with cannabis.
So what are those fragrant compounds all about? Read on to know more about it.
What are they?
Terpenes are essential to plants and its effects vary from plant to plant. In some, they attract pollinators, while in others, they strongly repel predators like insects or foraging animals.They are extremely aromatic substances that give many plants and herbs, including lavender and rosemary, as well as some animals, their distinctive scents.
Terpenes play a variety of roles in the cannabis plant in addition to giving it its distinctive aromas and flavors. Terpenes can also have a variety of medicinal and mood-altering effects on cannabis users as they synergistically work with the cannabinoids.
Terpenes 101: Where Terpenes Come From
Terpenes in cannabis are organic substances that are present in the trichomes of female and male cannabis plants. Trichomes are translucent—sticky glands that are found on leaves and stems and, in much lower numbers, on the surface of buds. Importantly, trichomes have glands that create terpenes called resin glands. They are essential to the development and survival of a cannabis plant. These organic substances not only provide various scents but also enhance the color and pigmentation of the leaves and buds, which improve the flavor of the cannabis. Terpenes, in essence, contribute to the plant’s attraction to some animals while discouraging potentially harmful ones.
The terpene geraniol, for instance, deters insects and herbivorous animals from nibbling on cannabis. Other terpenes, such as linalool and terpinolene, draw insects and other tiny animals that can aid in the distribution of pollen. By providing information about the environment, shielding plants from infections and stresses, and aiding in the initiation of immune responses, these aromatic chemicals boost plants’ immune systems.
Many terpenes are volatile substances, which means that when cannabis is extracted as usual, they are frequently lost. However, more delicate extraction techniques, including live resin, are becoming more popular as people become more aware of the therapeutic potential of terpenes.
In order to protect the terpenes and other volatile plant chemicals during the extraction process, live resin is manufactured from freshly frozen cannabis plants. This results in a more aromatically complex and tasty cannabis experience.
What do they do?
Terpenes’ aromatic characteristics have long been known about. Terpenes have a variety of bright fragrances that humans have long used to create essential oils for applications like aromatherapy.
Anyone who has applied linalool-containing lavender oil behind their ears, for instance, is aware of its potential relaxation benefits. The terpenes in some cannabis strains can also enhance their effects.
Terpenes, however, seem to have effects that go beyond those that make people feel good and reduce stress. An emerging area in medicinal cannabis treatment is terpenes. Up until recently, attention was almost solely drawn to the therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids like THC and CBD, but as our knowledge of terpenes deepens, it is becoming clear that these fragrant chemicals are also potent medical agents.
Some people believe that terpenes will influence or improve the high that comes from cannabis use. The idea that terpenes increase or modify the effects of THC and CBD in the body is known as the entourage effect.
These claims are supported by some research. For instance, a study published in Frontiers in Neurology discovered that individuals with epilepsy who took an extract high in CBD experienced less adverse effects and improved symptoms compared to those who received purified CBD. This implies that other cannabis constituents, such as terpenes, may influence how the body utilizes CBD.
Each terpene possesses a special blend of healing qualities. Unsurprisingly, some of the impacts terpenes have on people are similar to how they work in cannabis and other plants, such as assisting in the defense against infections and undesirable bacteria with their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral qualities.
Terpenes 101: Medical Benefits
Terpenes have been linked to a number of therapeutic advantages in in vitro (in test tubes) and preclinical animal investigations. However, it should be mentioned that terpene research is still in its early stages and hasn’t been widely carried out on humans. To firmly establish our understanding of these compounds, more study is required. With that being said, here are some of the medical benefits terpenes offers:
- Antiviral – numerous terpenes, such as alpha- and beta-pinene, caryophyllene, camphor, and carvone, may have potent antiviral effects.
- Anticancer – along with other terpenes like pinene, camphor, terpinene, and beta-myrcene, limonene may be especially notable anticancer and antitumor agent. Terpenes may have a special advantage in treating cancer because they are unlikely to harm healthy cells or have negative side effects.
- Antidepressant – twenty-five percent of antidepressant medications are made with terpene-rich plant extracts. Among the several plant extracts utilized in antidepressant drugs are linalool and beta-pinene.
- Antimicrobial – many different terpenes have the potential to be antimicrobial, or to stop a hazardous microbe in its tracks. Alpha-bisabolol, geraniol, menthol, eucalyptol, and terpinolene are terpenes that may aid in killing or halting the spread of microbes.
- Pain Relief – terpenes including humulene, geraniol, linalool, and -pinene may have pain-relieving properties. Fascinatingly, the aforementioned study also discovered that these terpenes stimulate CB1 receptors in the body, which are a component of the endocannabinoid system and affect how pain is perceived.
Holistic Strains with These Terpenes
Peach Mochi | Sundae Driver |Banana Sundae| Overflo | Strawberry Bubbles
Goats Breath |Modified Grapes| Blue Dream | Lemon Heads| Slurricane
Terpene & Cannabis: How do they benefit each other
The entourage effect, which may be thought of as: The whole of all chemicals present in cannabis are more connected than the sum of its parts, is an emerging theory that says all plant compounds in cannabis function together synergistically. In other words, when cannabinoids and terpenes are taken together as opposed to separately, a unique whole-plant synergy takes place which is why at Holistic Releaf by Design Dispensaries we believe in full spectrum products that capture all the natural elements of the plant.
The therapeutic synergy of cannabinoids and other components, such as terpenes, was shown to be the reason why full-spectrum CBD extract is four times more potent than CBD isolation and allowed patients to take a far lower dose.
In addition, terpenes have been reported to increase cannabinoid activity in more recent research, however substantial terpene concentrations were required to observe this augmentation.
Terpene profiles and cannabinoid content assist consumers in learning as much as they can about the strains and products they are buying. The “dankness” of weed is caused by terpenes, fragrant compounds found in cannabis and other plants. They also provide a wide range of health advantages for mental and physical health.
In simpler terms, terpenes and the present cannabinoids in cannabis benefit each other in a way that can help narrow down the best strain for your needs. Read more about the type of terpenes that will best suit you.
Most prominent terpenes found in cannabis are:
- Myrcene – this is one of the most abundant terpenes found in cannabis. It aids in the treatment of pain and sleep disorders.
- Limonene – this has the familiar scents of lemons and oranges. It brightens the mood and it has anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and anti-bacterial effects.
- Linalool – this is the main essence of the lavender plant. It has properties that are calming, relaxing, mood-stabilizing, sedative, pain-relieving, and anti-inflammatory.
- Pinene – this is nature’s most abundant terpene. It has anti-anxiety properties and can bind to neurotransmitter sites in the brain in the same way that Xanax does.
- Caryophyllene – is sometimes categorized as an atypical cannabinoid because of this particular effect. The only terpene in cannabis that has been proven to be able to bind to the CB2 receptor in the body’s immune system.
Check the chart below for the complete terpene list in cannabis.
You can get the best value for your money by learning about terpenes and how they impact your body.
Let us help you better understand the different terpenes and the ideal terpene profile for your specific needs!
Visit Holistic Releaf By Design— the best dispensary in Billings MT:
- Address: 2860 Old Hardin Road, Suite D Billings, MT 59101
- Business schedules:Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6:30 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm
- Contact number: (406) 969-1127
We are also one of the best dispensaries in Great Falls, MT.:
- Address: 6 Black Eagle Rd., Great Falls, MT 59404
- Business schedules:Monday to Saturday, from 10 am to- 7 pm , and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.
- Contact number: (406) 591-0660
Always remember, education before medication. Live well, live holistic!
