You know how some cannabis strains have cool names that you feel like you can smell, or even taste, just by the name? That’s because their names come from their unique terpene profile. But what are terpenes? Terpenes are naturally occurring compounds found in many plants that are responsible for their distinct smell and taste.
Are terpenes unique to cannabis?
No. Terpenes are found in many plants, but they are becoming more well known due to their significant impact on the smell and taste of weed as they’re found in abundance in cannabis plants.
Some other aromatic plants that contain a significant terpene profile are pine, rosemary, lavender, and citrus fruits.
What Do Terpenes Do?
In nature, terpenes appear to play several different roles in attracting pollinators and protecting the plant from predators and infection.
Terpenes are even isolated and added to other products such as cosmetics and cleaning products; this is why your cleaning products often smell like lemons.
In humans, research is beginning to uncover some ways terpenes interact with the body and the brain. It’s hypothesized that terpenes interact with the endocannabinoid system, which may help influence the varying impacts of cannabis strains. They may even have health benefits on their own. More research is necessary to understand the potential benefits of terpenes fully, but preliminary research on the entourage effect supports this continued investigation.
Additionally, because terpenes have such a strong smell, they are a significant part of aromatherapy and other natural healing properties. These influence a person’s mood and stress levels.
The Entourage Effect
The entourage effect is the theory that cannabinoids and other compounds like terpenes work together to provide the benefits we associate with cannabis. This is supported by scientific research that demonstrates people experience increased benefits when additional cannabinoids and terpenes work together.
With CBD and THC, we know they interact with different receptors, so have added benefits when used together. The same appears to be true of terpenes and other cannabinoids like CBG and CBN.
So, while CBD isolate may make sense for users in some scenarios, it’s beneficial to consider CBD products that also contain terpenes.
Do Terpenes Get You High?
Terpenes aren’t intoxicating on their own and therefore don’t get a person high in the same manner as THC. However, there is evidence that they impact a person’s brain and can change the overall impact during cannabis consumption.
The more we learn about cannabis, the more we realize that THC and CBD content are not the only things to consider when choosing the best strain for you.
The Most Common Terpenes in Cannabis
There are many different types of terpenes, and not all have been studied extensively. But here are the six most common terpenes in cannabis and their potential benefits.
Try identifying the common plants or dominant scents associated with each terpene just by their name.
Limonene
Did you guess that limonene is typically associated with citrus fruits like lemons and limes? It is also the most common terpene and one of the most easily recognizable.
Research suggests that it interacts with the immune system, which provide several benefits, including:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Antidiabetic
- Anticancer
- Antiviral
Limonene is found in many natural healing products and can be taken as a supplement. However, it’s also often used as a scent in cleaning products and even cosmetics.
Linalool
Linalool is most prevalent in lavender. It is said to have calming properties that can be beneficial for stress, anxiety, and depression. So, those who find benefits with aromatherapy should consider seeking cannabis flower containing linalool.
Pinene
Pinene, or beta-pinene, is present in… you guessed it, pine. However, it’s also present in rosemary and basil.
You know the wonderful healing feeling you get from being in nature? Really breathing it in. Many people believe that it is partially influenced by pinene. Research has backed up this claim and noted that the circulating levels of pinene in the forest air could be enough to be therapeutic. These impacts are said to come from it being a bronchodilator (letting more air into the lungs) and its anti-inflammatory effects.
This is another major reason we need to be preserving our forests.
Myrcene
Myrcene is less identifiable by name because you can find it in many different plans, such as mangos, hops, lemongrass, and thyme. Research suggests that it may have antioxidizing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Beta-caryophyllene
Beta-caryophyllene is found in many herbs and vegetables but most prominently in black pepper. It has similar anti-inflammatory properties associated with other terpenes, but it may also influence pain.
Humulene
Humulene is found in hops, cloves, ginger, and ginseng. Ginger and ginseng are both used for natural health benefits. Ginseng is often used to boost the immune system and energy levels, while ginger fights nausea. It’s unclear if the humulene alone may also have these benefits, but we look forward to uncovering more.
Preliminary research suggests it may help prevent allergic reactions in asthma and may have protective properties that could influence cancer development.
Note that research is still in the preliminary stages (many performed on animals), so more research is necessary to understand the potential health benefits fully.
How to Maximize the Benefits of Terpenes
Is cannabis part of your regular health and wellness routine? Maximizing the benefits of terpenes can help here too.
- Educate yourself on terpene profiles. Read above and learn about how each terpene may affect you and determine which may most benefit your personal health goals.
- Keep a record of terpene profiles. When consuming cannabis, record all relevant information in a cannabis journal. Include the consumption method, terpene profile, and how it made you feel so you can determine what’s best for you.
- Read the label. Many lab-tested products have terpene profiles listed which makes it easy to keep track of. If not, ask your budtender.
- Check for freshness. Terpenes can diminish over time, so the fresher the product, the more potent the terpenes. If you’re purchasing flower, you can tell by the smell. If you’re purchasing packaged products or online, check the packaged date, if possible.
- Know the difference between CBD isolate and broad-spectrum CBD. When CBD is isolated, the process often removes all of the terpenes and other cannabinoids. While sometimes this is preferred, there is evidence to suggest that it’s more effective when all of these elements work together, the Entourage Effect.
- Turn down the heat. There is some evidence that higher heat can degrade terpenes, such as with dabbing.
If you haven’t already considered terpenes when purchasing your cannabis products, now might be a good time to start.
Check out our online dispensary for all your favourite cannabis strains. Don’t forget to read the descriptions to learn more about what to expect from each strain.