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Terpenes : What are they? We explain their benefits and effects.

What are terpenes?

Table of contents

CBD oil is just one of many natural products containing terpenes.

In fact, you don't need to be familiar with cannabis to consume terpenes - they are present in virtually every plant, including herbs, fruits and vegetables.

Terpenes are a scientific name to describe the aromatic compounds that we all interact with in our daily lives.

For cannabis and terpenes, abundance and diversity are the name of the game.

But did you know that terpenes are more than just aromas and flavours? They can also interact with THC and other cannabinoids to create a phenomenon known as the entourage effect.

Most of the time, terpenes are included in a CBD extract. Sometimes, however, hemp companies separate them out and reintroduce them into the final product to create different ratios and make a broad-spectrum product or improve the efficacy of CBD distillates.

Wondering why terpenes are so important for CBD oil? Why are they suddenly on everyone's tongue?

What are terpenes?

There are more than 500 molecules in cannabis, of which about 140 are known as terpenes.

Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in all plants on the planet, not just cannabis. However, as mentioned above, cannabis is especially abundant in these molecules, we could say that cannabis is a bio-factory of terpenes as well as cannabinoids.

Terpenes are responsible for the smell and taste of these plants. Every time you smell a fruit, herb or vegetable, or when you walk through the garden, you come into contact with terpenes.

Several hundred terpenes have been identified worldwide, and more than 100 have been linked to hemp plants. However, only a few terpenes occur in hemp in significant enough concentrations to be considered.

The main reason we are interested in terpenes is because of the additional health benefits they bring in addition to enhancing the effects of CBD in our bodies, naturally. Researchers have been investigating their therapeutic potential for decades, concluding that they have much to offer in terms of physiological and emotional well-being.

In fact, aromatherapy has been used for centuries because of its holistic and natural effects.

The most abundant terpenes in our CBD oil.

Terpenes are known to give cannabis plants attractive aromas. However, at the same time, they also contribute to the entourage effectby enhancing the therapeutic potential of other CBD and other phytocannabinoids. That's the main reason why most people choose Broad Spectrum CBD over isolates. Broad Spectrum CBD comes from the whole plant, reflecting its original phytochemical profile.

Here are the most abundant terpenes in CBD oil - with their health benefits explained.

Limonene

limonene

As you might have guessed from its name, limonene gives citrus fruits their fragrance. It is usually found in the peel of citrus fruits, such as lemon, lime and orange. Limonene has energetic, stress-relieving and anti-fungal properties; medical researchers have also found that it can act as an anti-irritant and enhance the absorption of cannabinoids and other terpenes.

Pineno

pine

If you have been walking in the bush or in areas with pine trees, you have probably smelled this terpene without realising it. Pinene can be found in pine needles, as well as in a selection of citrus fruits. In Chinese folk medicine, the terpene is:

  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Antioxidant
  • Anxiolytic
  • Bronchodilator

Myrcene

Handle

Myrcene is another very common terpene in cannabis. It has a spicy, earthy and fruity fragrance. Although it is the smallest terpene, it can facilitate the bioavailability cannabinoids across the blood-brain barrier, increasing their potency. It also acts as a muscle relaxant and can cause drowsiness in high doses. The scientific literature mentions myrcene as an antibacterial compound that can also reduce the pain.

Linalool

Linalool, lavender.

Linalool is a terpene that occurs naturally in marijuana plants, as well as in many flowers and spices. The fragrance is floral with a hint of spice. Because of its natural origins and pleasant perfume, linalool has had many commercial applications. It has been widely used as a perfume for soap, shampoo and hand creams. It has also often been used as an additive to cleaning products and detergents to provide a natural fragrance. Linalool is a widely used terpene and has also been used as an insecticide for fleas, fruit flies and cockroaches.

Beta-Caryophyllene

Betacaryophyllene, Terpene

Beta-caryophyllene can be found in cloves, cinnamon, black pepper and broccoli. It is one of the most promising terpenes in terms of its therapeutic effects. It is also known as "the dietary cannabinoid" because it can interact with cannabinoid receptors in a similar way to cannabinoids. This mechanism allows beta-caryophyllene to reduce the pain and the inflammation.

Bisabolol

isabolol is only found in large quantities in the flowers of chamomile and some other plants, such as the candeia tree (Vanillosmopsis erythropappa), Myoporum crassifolium, and some varieties of cannabis. This natural monocyclic sesquiterpene alcohol has a floral aroma very similar to honey, apples and chamomile. Bisabolol offers anti-inflammatory, anti-irritant, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal and analgesic properties. It also allows better absorption of other molecules by the skin.

This terpene has generated considerable commercial interest due to its taste and effects, and is now used in cosmetics for sensitive skin, children's products, aftershave lotions, after-sun creams, and ointments for irritated skin. However, it appears that bisabolol may have an even wider range of applications.

Bisabolol properties:

  • Antifungal
  • Antibacterial
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Soothing

Terpineol

This terpene is highlighted by notes of apple, rose and citrus. It is commonly found in tea tree, lemongrass and jasmine. Research suggests that it has potent anti-fungal, anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory effects. sedatives.

Benefits and effects of terpenes in CBD oil.

Terpenes offer a host of health benefits on their own. However, they can also modulate the effects of cannabinoids, including CBD and THC. Humans have evolved to consume cannabinoids, and the endocannabinoid system (SEC) is soundproof. Both cannabinoids and terpenes can interact with the SEC receptors to help the body maintain the homeostasis - the biochemical balance between all systems and organs.

This unique synergy between cannabinoids and terpenes is known as the "cannabinoid-terpene synergy".the entourage effect" or "the joint effect".

How do terpenes contribute to the entourage effect??

The entourage effect has been studied by scientists since its introduction in 1998, when Raphael Mechoulam, the father of cannabis research, discovered that whole plant extracts could produce more pronounced therapeutic effects than individual compounds of these extracts used in isolation.

This concept was further developed by the Dr. Ethan Bud Russoneuroscientist and cannabis expert, in his book "Taming THC: Cannabis Synergy and Phytocannabinoid-Terpenoid Interactions".

The entourage effect involves a unique relationship between cannabis, terpenes and cannabis flavonoids. When these molecules are consumed in the form of dried flowers or as an oily extract, they enhance the efficacy of CBD and THC while mitigating potentially unwanted reactions.

The entourage effect is not unique to terpenes. For example, CBD is known to counteract the psychotropic potential of THC, which can be useful for people sensitive to high doses of THC. CBD can be used to balance the intoxication of THC, resulting in a more clear-headed feeling.

THC, in turn, can amplify the anti-inflammatory and relaxing effects of CBD when introduced even in small doses.

In short, whole buds and full-spectrum extracts are believed to work better than their broad-spectrum or isolated counterparts.

Another interesting study on this phenomenon found that cannabis strains with equal or higher proportions of CBD and THC can enhance the therapeutic potential of the plant up to 4 times more than THC alone.

The study authors concluded that taking twice the amount of a THC isolate had no impact on its therapeutic effects, except that the high was dull and more psychotropic, triggering anxiety and paranoia more often than even high-THC strains.

Final thoughts on terpenes and their role in our CBD products and CBD oils

Researchers and phytopharmacologists interested in the health benefits of cannabis have been investigating the influence of terpenes in cannabis extracts for decades.

Terpenes are more than just aromatic molecules. In fact, they can greatly enhance the therapeutic profile of our CBD oil. There is still much to be discovered about the relationship between cannabinoids and terpenes. Still, these compounds are necessary if you want to experience the full benefits of cannabis.

That's why you won't find single-molecule cannabis. They are always accompanied by natural ingredients such as terpenes and flavonoids.

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Written by:
Carlos Vera

Carlos Vera

CEO & Founder

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