What are Terpenes?
Have you ever wondered where cannabis gets all of its valuable medicinal properties from? Although cannabinoids like CBD and THC have much to do with it, there's another essential element involved known as terpenes.
What are Terpenes?
Basically, terpenes are natural compounds in plants, including the cannabis and hemp plants, that provide a unique scent, and are found in CBD oils. They create a plant defense and immune system against fungi, bacteria, herbivores, birds, and insects. Their scents lure pollinators to the plants.
Terpenes are the aromatic oils that give cannabis its incredibly unique scent. Just about any fruit or plant you can think of has terpenes in it. They're what makes mint smell like mint, and citrus smell like citrus, and so forth.
Terpenes change more than simply the scent of cannabis, they also give each strain it's own unique physiologic effects. Also, every strain contains a different combination of terpenes. You should smell the different strains before buying them since those scents you like the most could very well help the best for treating your symptoms.
As mentioned, terpenes provide plants natural protection. Since plants don't have limbs for moving around or defending with, they ward off their enemies with chemicals. Many terpenes act as microbial or insect repellents. One terpene, Linalool, was approved by the EPA as a pesticide.
What Terpenes in Cannabis Are Used For
Like cannabinoids, terpenes bind to your brain's receptors, and produce certain effects. They work in tandem to either activate or inhibit the effects of other compounds within the cannabis plant.
Because of the variances in growing and curing methods, different harvests might exhibit unique terpenoid profiles. Lab testing is the only true way of knowing the terpene potency of a strain. However, you don't have to be a cannabis grower, botanist or scientist to identify the terpene that will provide you with your desired effect. Your nose is extremely effective for this job.
Simply by smelling certain strains, you can quickly identify when they contain a high concentration of certain terpenes.
For instance:
- Strains that smell like musk or clove usually deliver sedative, relaxing effects
- Strains that smell like lemon usually produce an uplift in mood and attitude
- Strains that smell piney usually deliver mental alertness and memory retention
Beneficial Terpenes
Here are some terpenes you may benefit from:
- Myrcene: Myrcene might smell slightly sour, like citrus or mango. It may even smell a little like hops. It can act as an anti-inflammatory agent, sedative, pain reliever, and muscle relaxant.
- Linalool: This terpene is going to smell floral - like sage, flowers, and hops. It can act as an anticonvulsant, anti-anxiety, pain-reliever, and sedative.
- Caryophyllene: Caryophyllene smells very earthy, like clove, pepper, wood, or spice. It can act as a sedative, anti-inflammatory, or anti-nausea medicine.
- Limonene: This smells citrusy, like grapefruit, lemon, or orange. It could also have a peppery scent, like bergamot. Limonene can act as an anti-anxiety, relaxant, anti-nausea, anti-cancer, or an antidepressant agent.
- Pinene: Pinene comes with a fresh, sharp pine scent. It can help you be more alert, focus, and have a better memory. It's also an anti-inflammatory.
- Eucalyptol: This terpene is another earthy one. It has scents of woods, spice, rosemary, and camphor, but it is also very refreshing. It's another memory-enhancer, and can also be stimulating, alerting, and be used as a sinus decongestant.
- Pulegone: Pulegone is an icy, minty, refreshing, and cooling terpene. It can enhance your memory capabilities, and also acts as a chest decongestant and sedative.
- Nerolidol: This terpene is woodsy and flowery. It acts as an anti-anxiety agent, and is also sedating and relaxing.
Terpenes and their effects are an interesting topic where growers, researchers, and the medical community may want to explore more of, to identify any further benefits.
Take Advantage of the Benefits of a Comfortable CBD-Infused Pillow
To enjoy the benefits of terpenes and CBD, try a CBD-infused pillow. CBD-infused pillows can help with:
- Stress
- Pain
- Anxiety
- Sleep
- and more
If you're struggling to sleep or simply would like to take advantage of the healing properties of CBD and terpenes, buy your own CBD-infused pillow today.