THC and CBD are two of the most popular buzzwords in the cannabis industry. Nearly everyone, whether or not they use CBD or THC has heard of these words at some point.
Terpenes are the new buzzword and their presence is growing in popularity. This new word is causing many people to ask, what are CBD terpenes? Even many CBD and marijuana users find they’re unfamiliar with terpenes.
There are thousands of different terpenes offering unique and sometimes enticing aromas. Terpenes exist in almost every species of plant, including cannabis plants.
What many people don’t know is how important terpenes are when it comes to using CBD and other cannabis products.
Are you wondering what CBD terpenes are? Here’s everything you need to know about CBD terpenes and how they can help you!
What Are CBD Terpenes?
You can find terpenes everywhere. They’re in the aromatic flowers you smell and the fresh fruit in your kitchen. You can also find them in your favorite body sprays and perfumes.
You’ve likely had them without even knowing it!
These pungent compounds produced by plants are terpenes. Their purpose is to entice pollinators and ward off unwanted pests. Terpenes give lavender its calming aroma and citrus fruits their bright summery scent.
The plant boasting the greatest amount of terpenes is the cannabis Sativa plant. This also includes the hemp and marijuana plants.
Terpenes are naturally found in the form of oils. In cannabis, terpene oils form in the resin glands of the flower.
If you’ve smoked, smelled, or consumed any type of cannabis before, you might know different strains have different scents and flavors. Each cannabis strain has a unique terpene profile which influences its scent and effects.
Terpenes offer a few benefits you may have already experienced. Terpenes can work as an anti-inflammatory and are a type of antioxidant.
How people respond to the terpenes and the cannabis strains varies from person to person. Knowing the type of terpenes in your CBD products can give you insight into what effects you’re likely to expect. You’ll also learn which terpenes and types of CBD work best for your needs.
The Various Types of Terpenes
Different types of terpenes will have a different effect on you. Terpenes don’t have any psychoactive properties. They don’t consist of any THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical responsible for giving people an elevated “high” feeling.
Some terpenes, however, have a calming effect, similar to a light sedative. Those experiencing anxiety or stress may find certain terpenes help calm the mind.
There are thousands of different types of terpenes found in plants around the world. The cannabis plant consists of roughly 100 of these types. Let’s explore the main terpenes found in CBD cannabis plants.
Myrcene Terpene
Myrcene is the main terpene found in the cannabis plant and gives it its distinct scent. It’s also one of the main terpenes in mangoes, hops, lemongrass, and time. It has an earthy and red grape flavor profile and an aroma similar to cloves.
Myrcene consists of calming and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps fight against cancer and chronic pain.
The Myrcene terpene determines whether a strain of cannabis is Indica or Sativa. Plants with over half a percent of myrcene are Indica and are more calming than their Sativa counterparts. For CBD use, this soothing terpene promotes sleep and relaxation.
Beta-Caryophyllene Terpene
Beta-caryophyllene is the only compound that’s not a cannabinoid still capable of activating the cannabinoid receptors in the body. It can fully bind to the CB2 receptors on immune cells. This gives users a slight psychoactive sensation and reduces anxiety.
You can find Beta-Caryophyllene in rosemary, black pepper, and hops. It has a spicy rosemary flavor and reduces symptoms of depression, anxiety, and arthritis.
What does this mean? CBD oils and cannabis consisting of higher amounts of this terpene will have a stronger effect than those without.
A-Pinene Terpene
The common terpene found in nature is A-Pinene terpene. This terpene is common in coniferous trees, rosemary, as well as most essential oils. The flavor profile is unique having hints of dill and basil.
The unique aspect of this terpene is it may help protect and support your memory. THC is responsible for short-term memory loss in many users. A-Pinene may help counteract this effect. These anti-inflammatory properties of terpene may help suppress symptoms of asthma.
Limonene Terpene
As its name implies, Limonene has a citrusy scent and is common in most strains of cannabis. You can find limonene in juniper, rosemary, mint, and pine. It has a bright flavor resembling that of lemons and grapefruit.
This bright terpene serves as an energy booster and improves your overall mood. The human body can intake most of this terpene making it more bioavailable. It also has antibacterial properties that help fight against bronchitis and various skin problems.
If you need a mood and energy boost, look for CBD oils and products consisting of Limonene terpene.
Linalool Terpene
Linalool is a calming terpene you can smell in lavender plants and fungi as well as many cannabis plants. Linalool has a flavor profile bursting with hints of flowers and other fine botanical herbs.
The calming properties of Linalool promote good sleep and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. This terpene works by interacting with your GABA and glutamate neurotransmitter systems.
Other benefits of this terpene include anti-inflammatory properties and pain management. This makes it a great terpene for treating chronic pain and insomnia.
Humulene Terpene
Another sleep-promoting terpene is Humulene but it also offers other benefits as well. A unique feature of this terpene is its anti-bacterial properties It also has anti-inflammatory properties that comfort sore muscles.
Other strains of terpene on this list cause an increase in appetite. Humulene, however, does the opposite and suppresses your appetite. Hops, basil, and cloves are a few other plants consisting of higher amounts of Humulene.
Bisabolol Terpene
This warm and pleasant terpene is calming and possesses several more great benefits. It has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and promotes skin health. You can find the Bisabolol terpene in honey, certain types of chamomile, and apples.
These are only a few out of the hundreds of terpenes found in cannabis plants.
Terpineol Terpene
Terpineol has a distinct scent that reminds one of lilacs and lime blossoms. Many perfume and cosmetic manufacturers add this fresh terpene to their products.
Terpineol is usually found with pinene but offers a relaxing and sedative effect, opposite of pinene. It’s hard to identify the terpineol terpene as the pinene’s potency overpowers the terpineol.
Ocimene Terpene
This sweet, woody and herbal scented terpene offers several medicinal benefits. It has anti-viral, antiseptic, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties. Ocimene also works as a decongestant.
Ocimeme’s signature characteristic is it has the potential to suppress inflammatory substances released from the immune system.
How Do Terpenes Work?
Each type of terpene has unique characteristics that affect how cannabis, THC, and CBD interacts with your body.
For a long time, many believed terpenes only influenced your olfactory processing due to the aromas and scents emitted by the terpenes. Scientists believed these scents would affect your mood by triggering different olfactory sensations.
It wasn’t until recently that scientists are finding that terpenes can affect our brain. In combination with cannabinoids, the terpenes amplify this effect to create an entourage effect.
Certain types of terpenes can influence cannabinoid absorption and affect the potency of different CBD oils and cannabis plants. Some terpenes, like A-Pinene, can decrease the absorption of THC. Others can increase the amount THC absorbs making it more potent.
Some cannabis plants have a balanced combination of cannabinoids and terpenes. When this happens, the CBD or cannabis plant can help soothe symptoms of specific ailments and diseases.
CBD, Terpenes, and the Entourage Effect
Terpenes work in many different ways depending upon what chemical compounds, CBD or THC, they work with. When they work together with cannabinoids, they create a process called the entourage effect. The therapeutic properties of the terpenes and the cannabinoids become more potent and noticeable.
The synergetic effects of CBD and THC help make CBD products more effective at treating different ailments.
The cannabinoids and terpenes in CBD oil will work together to alleviate physical pain, fight bacterial infections, and reduce inflammation. This same effect also helps with mental health by easing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Terpenes Are Revolutionary
Terpenes are revolutionizing the cannabis industry. The synergetic relationship between cannabinoids and terpenes shows how the effects of different strains can affect the body. This is inspiring the idea of tailoring extracts to treat specific experiences, ailments, and conditions.
Full-spectrum CBD products are growing in popularity. Unlike CBD extracts consisting of mostly cannabinoids, full-spectrum contains higher amounts of terpenes, cannabis phytochemicals, and flavonoids. Together, these compounds create a more holistic effect offering more desirable results.
The goal for many is to start creating customized blends of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds that take advantage of the entourage effect. While they don’t exactly exist yet, tailored blends could boost therapeutic properties and offer greater relief of symptoms.
The calming properties of Linalool, for example, can work together with CBD it greatly reduces anxiety and nervous feelings.
While there’s much more research needed, the future of CBD and cannabis is looking promising.
Can Terpenes Get You High?
A benefit of terpenes is they do not get you high. They do, however, interact with other compounds in the cannabis plant, such as THC and CBD, to enhance the effects of the TCH or cannabinoids. Some terpenes can have the opposite effect, repressing the psychoactive properties of certain cannabis.
Terpenes are very similar to essential oils. But the two are not the same thing.
The main difference is essential oils contain the entire extracts from a plant. This includes terpenes along with other compounds. Terpenes only contain themselves.
Know Your CBD Products and Terpenes
As you have learned, terpenes play an important role in how your body interacts with cannabinoids. The terpenes can enhance therapeutic effects and provide you with added benefits.
The only drawback is not all CBD products contain terpenes. In most cases, the extraction process isolates the CBD and removes all other compounds including the terpenes. Some CBD producers try to preserve the terpenes but this often results in a few traces, if any at all.
Terpenes are highly volatile meaning they damage and degrade easily. The high temperatures used when processing CBD from the hemp plant destroys most of the terpenes.
This doesn’t mean CBD products don’t contain any terpenes. Many CBD manufacturers process their CBD in less time and at lower temperatures. Other brands may add terpene extract to their CBD products after processing.
If you want CBD products consisting of terpenes, look for CBD products tested by a third-party lab. The CBD product should have a certificate of analysis or COA.
This certificate generally means there’s a greater chance of the CBD product consisting of terpenes. The COA shows what terpenes are in the product along with the levels of CBD, other cannabinoids, and THC.
Can You Vape Terpenes?
Yes, ingesting terpenes by vaping is one of the best ways to enjoy them. Each time you inhale the vapor from CBD extract or the cannabis flower, you receive a variety of terpenes. Your lungs absorb these terpenes and release them into your bloodstream.
Vaping is one of the best methods of ingesting terpenes. Traditional smoking of cannabis causes carbonization which destroys cannabinoids and terpenes.
Terpenes degrade at a relatively low temperature. Modern vaporizers keep the terpenes intact and allow you to adjust temperatures based on the terpenes and extracts you’re using.
You can also find terpenes for vape in the form of hemp pods and extracts. Learning how to use hemp pods will help you make the most out of your terpene vape.
Start Looking for Terpenes in Your CBD Products Today!
What are CBD terpenes and what do they do? This is a common question more people are asking as terpene grows in popularity. These aromatic oils not only give cannabis strains their unique scent and flavor but they can enhance the desired effects of your CBD products!
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