Terpenes? What Is the Story About Them?

In addition to familiar cannabis words like cannabinoid, indica and sativa, you may have lately come across terpenes. This is yet another chemical discovered in cannabis.

But what exactly are terpenes? And how crucial is it to understand the different types and amounts of cannabis before purchasing a product?

Continue reading if you want to find out what researchers have discovered thus far.

What exactly are they?

Terpenes are chemical substances that occur naturally in plants and some animals. They are in charge of the scents, flavors, and even colors associated with different species of vegetation. Terpenes are what distinguishes certain cannabis strains from others in terms of smell and flavor.

They can also be converted into useful goods such as cleaning solvents, insecticides, and dyes. Some of them are even therapeutic.

Terpenes are found in practically all plants, although some of the more prevalent sources include:

• cannabis
• aromatic herbs fragrant, such sage and thyme
• citrus fruits flavors

What exactly do they do?

Terpenes exist for the reason of protecting plants from predators and harsh weather. What they do in people is still a bit of a mystery. Terpenes, on the other hand, are increasingly being used by cannabis researchers and users to classify cannabis products and forecast their effects.

The fundamental concept is that a strain’s terpene profile — the dominating terpenes — collaborates with its cannabinoid content — the quantity of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and other cannabinoids — to produce the effects that people associate with different strains.

For example, they could explain why two strains with the identical THC amount have such disparate effects.

Do they give you a high?

Terpenes will not get you high in the classic sense. Some are still classified as psychotropic due to their effect on the brain.

While terpenes are not psychoactive on their own, some believe they may influence the effects of THC, the cannabinoid associated with high sensation related to marijuana.

Many cannabis enthusiasts and budtenders believe that when selecting a strain, customers lay far too much focus on THC levels. Instead, they advise concentrating on specific terpene profiles to achieve the desired results.

According to Trusted Source, certain terpenes may have potential benefits for some mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.

Compared to THC and CBD, how do they function?

THC and CBD are just two of the approximately 100 cannabinoids contained in cannabis, but they are the most prevalent and thoroughly studied.

Cannabinoids and terpenes are two separate chemicals that can provide insight into what to expect from a cannabis product.

Nonetheless, they all appear to interact with one another in what scientists refer to as the “entourage effect.” This is the concept that the “whole spectrum” of cannabis, which includes all cannabinoids, terpenes, and other chemicals found in cannabis, works synergistically to produce cannabis sensations and effects.

In other words, it’s the idea that a little bit of everything might be better than a lot of one thing.

According to Trusted Source, a combination of CBD and THC proved more effective for pain management than THC alone.

Breast cancer tumors in a Petri dish respond more positively to a cannabis extract compared to pure THC alone, according to a 2018 studyTrusted Source. However, those synergistic effects were thought to be primarily related to other cannabinoids rather than terpenes.

This is critical to keep in mind if you’re utilizing CBD for therapeutic purposes. If you take a CBD isolate (a product that only contains CBD) and it doesn’t provide you the desired effect, you should try a full-spectrum CBD product, which will also contain terpenes and other cannabinoids, including trace levels of THC.

Terpenes in common use and their effects

There are over 400 identified terpenes in cannabis, but only a few of them have been connected to specific effects by scientists.

Here are a few types of common terpenes and their possible effects:

• Beta-caryophyllene: It is found in cloves, rosemary, and hops, may be useful in treating anxiety and depression symptoms.
• Beta-pinene: If you’ve ever taken a walk through a coniferous forest, you’re familiar with the fragrance of beta-pinene, which may have both anti-depressant and anti-cancer characteristics.
• Humulene: This terpene can be found in ginseng, a plant that has long been utilized in folk medicine for its stimulating properties.
• Limonene: Limonene, one of the most commonly detected terpenes, has characteristic citrus overtones and may have anti-cancer capabilities. It has been demonstrated to have anti-anxiety benefits in mice.
• Linalool: Lovers of lavender aromatherapy may wish to look for cannabis with linalool, which may aid in stress relief.
• Myrcene: Myrcene, which is found in mangoes, has antifungal and antibacterial activities and may possibly have sedative characteristics.

Keep in mind that much terpene research is still in its early phases. More high-quality human research is needed to completely understand the health effects of various terpene compositions.

Maximizing their advantages

Interested in learning more about terpenes? Here are some pointers to remember:

• Examine the label. Some lab-tested cannabis brands contain terpene profiles (typically the three most common terpenes) and product concentrations (usually a number that sits around 2%).
• Examine the product for freshness. Terpene concentrations might degrade over time, so choose goods with a recent package date. If you’re going with a flower, at least give it a sniff. You want something fragrant (which indicates a high terpene level) and not stale.
• Use cannabis oil with caution. Synthetic terpenes are frequently added to oil-based vaping products. It is unclear whether synthetic terpenes are less effective than natural terpenes, yet they are frequently used to make solvents and other household chemicals. Proceed with caution and be wary of marketing materials that make unrealistic promises about what they will do.
• Turn off the heat. There is some indication that dabbing, which includes extreme heat, may break down synthetic terpenes and produce possibly hazardous byproducts. You may want to stick to vaporizing flower at a low temperature or taking edibles until experts learn more about how heat affects terpenes.
• Maintain a journal. Take note of your intake strategy and how you feel as you experiment with different terpene profiles. This can help you narrow down the ideal terpene profile for the benefits you’re looking for over time.

In conclusion

Terpenes contribute significantly to the scent and flavor of a cannabis strain. They may also collaborate with cannabinoids and other cannabis plant chemicals to produce euphoric effects.

However, research on the plant’s more than 400 terpenes is still in its early stages, making it difficult to make definitive claims regarding them.

It’s also important to say,, in addition to cannabinoids and terpenes, your physiology, previous cannabis experience, and the environment in which you consume cannabis can all have an impact on how you feel. Terpenes are only one component of the puzzle, but they may be a fun opportunity to experiment with different goods and discover what you like best.