Unless you are a botanist, you likely have no idea what terpenes are? If you are a botanist, you may realize that terpenes can have a large effect on the hemp plant and the characteristics of the CBD made from it. 

Just like terpenes, the average person may not know anything about the cannabis plant past the notorious compound THC. The fact is that CBD and THC are just two of hundreds of chemical compounds in cannabis that all play a part in how the body reacts to it when it’s ingested. 

In this article, we’ll cover what terpenes are, how they affect your CBD product, and which ones you should look for. 

What are Terpenes?

Terpenes are essential oils that are found in many plants in nature, including cannabis. They are responsible for the flavor, color, and smell variations of the plant. In fact, manufacturers have been using terpenes to create flavors and scents of many everyday household products. Lavender Oil is a great example of a product that relies heavily on a terpene, linalool in this case, for its smell. 

Some terpenes act as repellents by creating smells that herbivores and insects find unappealing, while others may attract insects in order to spread their seeds and pollen. 

Along with cannabis, terpenes are common in many aromatic herbs like sage, parsley, and thyme as well as a variety of citrus fruits. 

With restrictions around cannabis research starting to loosen, researchers are looking at the effect different terpenes have and how they seem to affect the body. By identifying the different effects of each terpene, we may be able to better predict how people will react to a certain combination of terpenes and cannabinoids.

Why are Terpenes Important to CBD and Cannabis?

Different Terpenes will produce different specific feelings when consumed. Myrcene for example is known to produce a feeling of well-being and promotes relaxation. Pinene, on the other hand, tends to have strong anti-inflammatory benefits. 

There is also the Entourage Effect. This theory states that the compounds found in cannabis work better together than separately. While not yet clinically proven, much anecdotal evidence points to this being true. 

A large portion of research being done on cannabis currently is examining the effect that different cannabinoids, different terpenes, and different combinations of these two have on humans.

If the Entourage Effect is true, when shopping for a CBD product a complete spectrum CBD will result in the best benefits. 

How are Terpenes Different from Cannabinoids like CBD?

Terpenes and cannabinoids like CBD and THC are both vital components to a cannabis plant and may overlap in their functions. These substances are different though, even if just in subtle ways. 

Cannabinoids are a chemical compound while terpenes are more of an oil. While both appear to interact with the endocannabinoid system, the key difference between the two is how they are absorbed by the body. 

What Terpenes are found in Cannabis?

There are over 20,000 terpenes in plant life worldwide, in cannabis, there are up to 100. We definitely can’t cover all of them, and really, we don’t know all of them. We do know the main ones and effects they are supposed to have on the CBD product you end up taking. 

As we said earlier, different terpenes affect the body differently. Every strain of cannabis, and hemp, has different terpene profiles which can drastically change your experience with the product. 

There is quite a lot of medical research done on the validity of isolated terpenes as alternative medicines or therapies. For example, Limonene was studied extensively in a paper found on ScienceDirect.

Now, we’ll briefly look at five of the most common terpenes found in cannabis. 

Myrcene

Myrcene is the most common terpene in cannabis. You can find it in lesser quantities in mangoes, lemongrass, and basil.  

Myrcene has a reputation as a good choice if you are looking for an anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxer, or sedative effect. Myrcene has been given the nickname “couch-lock” since it’s known to have you so relaxed after its use.  

Pinene

This is the most common terpene in the world and as you might have guessed carries with it the pine, woodsy smell. Commonly found in pine needles, rosemary, and basil, pinene has been used as a therapeutic tool by many eastern cultures. The belief is even walking through a forest thick with pine needles can soothe a person’s psyche. 

When consumed pinene has a mildly alerting effect and is noted as an antidepressant as well as a bronchodilator. 

Limonene

The last time you smelled or took a bite of a lemon, you got very familiar with limonene. Possibly Limonene’s most important job is improving the absorption rate of other terpenes, but it does have powerful mood-boosting properties itself. 

Humulene

Beer drinkers are familiar with this terpene as it’s often found in hops. This is a powerful anti-inflammatory and is one of the few terpenes noted as an appetite suppressant.

Linalool

This flowery terpene is known for its stress relief and anti-depressant effects. As we mentioned earlier, linalool is the terpene found in anything with a lavender scent and is vital to the practice of aromatherapy.

Along with its relaxing properties, early studies of Linalool have shown to have positive effects on seizure sufferers and relief for psychosis. 

Conclusion

Hopefully, this has helped you identify which terpenes will be helpful to you. Make sure you ask for lab results before buying a product so you can make sure which terpenes you’re getting! 

Lab reports are supplied with all of our products to make shopping as easy as possible!

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