Cannabis Terpenes: What are They, Exactly?

You may have recently come across the less frequently used phrase “terpenes” in addition to more typical cannabis terminology like “cannabinoid,” “Indica,” and “Sativa.” These are other substances discovered in marijuana.

How about terpenes, though? How crucial is it to understand the varieties and concentrations of cannabis before purchasing a product?

Find out what scientists currently know by reading on.

What Precisely Are They?

Terpenes are naturally occurring chemical substances that can be found in some animals and plants. They’re in charge of giving many species of vegetation their distinctive smells, fragrances, and even colours. Terpenes are the compounds in cannabis that give some strains their distinctive flavour or aroma.

Additionally, they can be turned into goods like colours, insecticides, and cleaning solvents. Some even have healing qualities.

Terpenes are found in almost all plants, but some of the more popular places where individuals can find them are as follows:

cannabis
fragrant plants, such as thyme and sage
citrus foods

How Do They Behave?

It is believed that terpenes shield plants against predators and bad weather. What they do to people is still somewhat of a mystery. Terpenes are now being used by both cannabis researchers and users to categorise cannabis products and forecast their effects.

The fundamental theory is that the effects individuals associate with various strains are a result of the interaction between a strain’s terpene profile, or prominent terpenes, and its cannabinoid content, or the quantity of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and other cannabinoids.

For instance, they might clarify why two distinct strains with identical THC content result in such disparate experiences.

Do You Get High from Them?

You won’t get high from terpenes in the conventional sense. Nevertheless, some are regarded as psychoactive because they have an impact on the brain.

Terpenes don’t make you feel drunk on their own, but some people believe they may have an effect on how THC, the cannabinoid that gives marijuana its high, behaves.

Many cannabis experts and dispensary employees believe that when choosing a strain, customers place way too much attention on THC concentration. To achieve the desired results, they advise concentrating more on specific terpene profiles.

For instance, early research

According to Trusted Source, certain terpenes may be beneficial for treating some mental health issues, including as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.

How do they stack up against CBD and THC?

Although there are more than 100 cannabinoids in cannabis, THC and CBD are the two most prevalent and thoroughly researched.

Terpenes and cannabinoids are two different substances, but they can both give you some indications of what to expect from a cannabis product.

However, they all seem to interact with one another in a phenomenon known as the “entourage effect,” according to researchers. This is the theory that the sensations and effects of cannabis are produced by a synergistic interaction between the “whole spectrum” of cannabis, which includes all of the cannabinoids, terpenes, and other chemicals found in cannabis.

To put it another way, the idea is that a little of everything might be better than a lot of one thing.

2010 Research, For instance, Trusted Source demonstrated that CBD and THC together were more potent at treating pain than THC alone.

Breast cancer tumours in a Petri dish responded better to a cannabis extract than pure THC alone in a 2018 study trusted Source. However, terpenes were not thought to be the primary cause of those synergistic effects; rather, other cannabinoids were.

If you use CBD for therapeutic purposes, this is a crucial factor to take into account. A full-spectrum CBD product, which also contains terpenes and other cannabinoids, including trace quantities of THC, may be worth trying if you use a CBD isolate and discover it doesn’t have the intended effect.

Effects of Typical Terpenes

Although there are 400 identified terpenes in cannabis, only a small number of them have been associated with particular effects.

Here are a few typical terpenes and some possible effects:

Beta-caryophyllene. Beta-caryophyllene, a key component of hops, rosemary, and cloves, may be useful for treating anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Beta-pinene. If you’ve ever taken a stroll through a coniferous forest, you’re familiar with the scent of beta-pinene, which may also have anti-cancer and anti-depressant properties. properties from Trusted Sources.
Humulene. This terpene can be found in ginseng, a plant traditionally utilised in folk medicine for its stimulating properties.
Limonene. Limonene, one of the most widely distributed terpenes, has distinct citrus undertones and may have anti-cancer qualities. It has been demonstrated in mice that Trusted Source has anti-anxiety effects.
Linalool. Linalool-containing cannabis may be of interest to those who enjoy using lavender in aromatherapy since it may help reduce tension.
Myrcene. Myrcene, which is found in mangoes, has antifungal and antibacterial activities and may also have sedative effects.

Remember that a lot of the terpenes research is still in its infancy. To completely comprehend the effects that various terpene profiles have on health, more high-quality research on people is required.

Increasing Their Advantages

Want to learn more about terpenes? Observe the following advice:

Go over the label. Terpene profiles (typically the three most abundant terpenes) and product concentrations are included in some cannabis products that have undergone laboratory testing (usually a number that sits around 2 per cent).
Verify the freshness. In order to avoid a decrease in terpene concentration, look for items with a recent packaging date. If you can, take a whiff of the flower if you decide to use it. Not stale, but aromatic (a sign of high terpene content) is what you want.
With cannabis oil, exercise caution. Simulated terpenes are frequently added to oil-based vaping products. Although it’s unclear whether synthetic terpenes work any less effective than natural ones, they are frequently utilised to make household cleaners and other chemicals. Exercise vigilance and be suspicious of marketing materials that make lofty promises.
Reduce the heat. There is some proof that dabbing, which uses extreme heat, could cause synthetic terpenes to break down, producing potentially hazardous metabolites. You might want to stick with a vaping flowers at a low temperature or eating edibles until experts learn more about how heat affects terpenes.
Publish a journal. Take note of your intake technique and how you feel as you experiment with various terpene profiles. This will eventually enable you to identify the ideal terpene profile for the desired results.