Have you ever walked into a room and been hit with the powerful aroma of cannabis, lavender or orange peels? Those scents are the products of terpenes. Terpenes are molecules that form compounds in many plants and fruits, including cannabis.

Terpenes play an important role in a plant’s lifecycle. In flowers, they exist to attract pollinators like bees and, in other plants, they exhibit an odor to repel foragers. Terpenes also play a role in the health of the plant, helping to heal from damage and acting against bacteria and infectious germs.

While terpenes’ role in plant life is clear, the role that they play in human lives is gaining attention as more studies become possible with legalization. It turns out that terpenes may be responsible for some of the health benefits associated with using cannabis.

Aside from the possibility of these benefits, the terpene content of a cannabis strain also very strongly impacts the aroma and flavor. This is one of the things that makes marijuana such a diverse plant. People use cannabis for everything from pain management to mental health to nausea and appetite stimulation. The terpene content of each particular cannabis plant or strain plays a large role in how the effects manifest in the user.

It’s worth noting the difference between cannabinoids and terpenes. THC and CBD are two of the most well-known cannabinoids that exist in the cannabis plant. But they are only two of well over 100. While these compounds are primarily responsible for the effects on the brain and body, removing the terpenes from the equation reduces some of the cannabinoids’ effectiveness.

This is known as the ‘entourage’ effect. When cannabinoids are isolated, their effect is weaker than when all of the terpenes and cannabinoids are present. This is similar to how you miss out on nutrients when you take a vitamin supplement instead of simply eating a carrot. All of the components work together to be more effective than simply isolating one element.

Terpenes do affect the endocannabinoid system similarly to cannabinoids but the main difference is in how the body absorbs the different kinds of compounds. Below we will examine some of the most common terpenes and take a closer look at the potential health benefits and flavor profiles that these have to offer.

Keep in mind that these are only a few of the terpenes that scientists have had a chance to study. This is by no means a comprehensive list – we are still learning more about terpenes all the time!

This terpene is very common and is present not just in cannabis but lemons, limes, and oranges. As you can probably guess, the aroma of this terpene is very citrusy. Limonene has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant properties as well as a plethora of other therapeutic benefits including possible cancer prevention.

Limonene modulates the way some cells associated with the immune system react with each other, helping protect the body from many disorders. This terpene is also available as a supplement. Limonene is what gives some popular cannabis strains a fruity and citrusy aroma.

If you’ve ever gone for a walk in the woods and found the scent of pine trees invigorating and relaxing – then you have already experienced the effects of pinene! This terpene is present in many plants from pine trees to herbs like rosemary and basil. It has anti-inflammatory properties and fights against infectious germs. Cannabis that exhibits a strong aroma of pine likely has a high degree of pinene content.

Love the smell of lavender? This is the terpene that is responsible for the scent and effects that this potent plant brings to aromatherapy. Linalool has a wide range of properties and benefits for the human body. It is an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, neuro-protective antidepressant. This terpene also has anticancer properties and works to treat anxiety. 

If you’ve ever used lavender to relax or fall asleep, then you already know about linalool’s beneficial properties. Extra floral-scented, relaxing strains of cannabis may contain a fair amount of linalool.

Myrcene has been the subject of many medical studies. It is a very effective antioxidant, and has a variety of potential health benefits. In fact, high concentrations of myrcene have proven to be a useful treatment for mice who have suffered a stroke, which is why it could contribute to treatment for stroke victims in the future. You can find myrcene in hops.

This useful terpene also has an anti-inflammatory effect and is speculated to be an effective treatment for osteoarthritis. Myrcene is very commonly present in cannabis flower strains as well as hops, thyme, and lemongrass.

This is another terpene with anti-inflammatory properties. This is a spicier smelling terpene and exists in many plants, herbs and vegetables. Black pepper and cloves contain beta-caryophyllene and it can reduce pain. 

In particular, this terpene is a good choice for people suffering from chronic pain as tolerances cause medications and treatments to become less effective towards their ailments over time, but the body doesn’t seem to be able to develop a tolerance towards beta-caryophyllene.

You will find humulene in cloves, ginger and hops. It has been attributed with having potential anti-allergic properties, particularly in airways. Because of this, it is possible that we could see humulene used as a natural treatment for asthma in the future.  

Another potential benefit of this terpene is its protective qualities at the cellular level. Although more research is required, it has been speculated that this could provide a treatment against cancer in the future. If your cannabis smells particularly skunky or hoppy, a high humulene content might be the cause.

These are just a handful of some of the most common terpenes in cannabis and the natural world. We still have so much to learn about terpenes, their health benefits, and their flavor profiles. We’ve only really just begun to explore the wonderful world of terpenes and what they – and the cannabis plant – can do for us . 

La entrada What the Heck are Terpenes? se publicó primero en Ecomeds.