All about Terpenes and the Potential of Cannabis
Legalizing cannabis has been one of the most important events in the history of ending prohibition within the recent years in the United States. Although it is not recreationally legal throughout the whole country, we are well on our way to machining it legal within the next decade. Alongside with this legalization of cannabis we have been able to learn a tremendous amount about the plant and the effects that it causes on us as users of this plant. This plant has been used to save lives and we have seen this happen over and over again so it is very obvious that we are underestimating the effects that cannabis can do for us as humans.
Cannabis therapy is a relatively new and unknown thing; there are only a few outfits in the country advertising it on the Internet, mostly in hippie places like Boulder and Berkley. They say a similar thing: weed is underestimated.
When looking at cannabis we need to see how it interacts with the brain and the human psyche to find out what is really going on when you consume cannabis. These patients that use cannabis therapy for their PTSD is one thing, but cannabis has such a wide range of effects that can help us as humans we need to understand what we are using and putting in our bodies.
Secreted in the same glands that produce cannabinoids like THC and CBD, terpenes are aromatic oils that color cannabis varieties with distinctive flavors like citrus, berry, mint, and pine.
We know that cannabinoids like THC and CBD are already produced and present in our brains and when one smokes or consumes cannabis in any form is when you add these cannabinoids to our receptors and active them. This causes the flow of dopamine through the body with is also accompanied by the different effects that the cannabis terpenes may cause. We have learned with science and technology that there is a lot more to the effects of cannabis than just the cannabinoids. Terpenes are the different aromas that come with cannabis that work in our brains alongside with the cannabinoids. These terpenes can be found in the trichomes on the cannabis plants. This is why when consuming different kinds of cannabis, strains, we can see different effects in our bodies.
Terpenes play a key role in differentiating the effects of various cannabis strains. Some terpenes promote relaxation and stress-relief, while others promote focus and acuity.
Terpenes have been around for ages and they have been used in aromatherapy for many years. There are many different types of terpenes found in different strains of cannabis. A few of these terpenes that we see a lot of and that are very present in cannabis are Alpha-Pinene, Myrcene, Limonene, Beta-Caryophyllene, Linalool, Humulene, Ocimene, and Terpinolene each with their own expected potential effects and potential medical benefits.
Alpha-Pinene is the aroma, pine. Other than cannabis we can also find this terpene in pine needles, rosemary, basil, parsley, and dill. We have learned that the compounds for Alpha-Pinene terpenes have potential medical values in the treatment of asthma, pain, ulcers, anxiety, and cancer. It is an anti-inflammatory and also a bronchodilator, which helps open up airways. Some other potential effects from this terpene is helping with one’s alertness and also memory retention. Alpha-Pine has also been seen to counteract some of the effects of THC in regard to the short-term memory impairment that comes with the THC.
Some cannabis strains that are known to have high levels of Alpha-Pinene are Jack Herer, Dutch Treat, Romulan, Blue Dream, Island Sweet Skunk, OG Kush, and Strawberry Cough. You can read more about each individual strain here:
The terpene Myrcene has a cardamom, cloves, musky, earth, and herbal aroma. We can also find compounds for these terpenes in mangos, lemongrass, thyme, and hops. These terpenes are associated with your expected potential effects such as the sedating “couchlock” effect and overall creates a very relaxing sensation. Some potential medical benefits that we have seen with Myrcene are that it can be used in treatments of insomnia, pain, and inflammation. Myrcene is also a very strong antioxidant for the body.
Myrcene plays a very important role in determining whether a strain is indica or sativa. Per the Steep Hill Labs based in Berkeley, California, this terpene’s percent dictates species: if the plant has more than .5 percent myrcene, it’s will produce indica-like effects. In other words, fluff up those cushions on your couch. If the strain has less than .5 percent myrcene, it’ll produce sativa effects.
Some strains with high levels of Myrcene are Mango Kush, Blackberry Kush, and U Pink Kush. You can read more about each individual strain here:
Limonene is the terpene with the popular aroma of citrus. You can find this terpene in many fruits and the fruit rinds and also in rosemary, juniper, and peppermint. Limonene is usually associated with parental feelings such as elevating your mood or can be used as a good stress relief. This terpene has the potential medical value in treatment of anxiety, depression, inflammation, pain, and cancer. Limonene has also been seen to help heartburn and gastric reflux.
It remains unclear how limonene achieves its therapeutic effects. Inhalation of limonene vapor increases serotonin and dopamine levels in key regions of the brain that are associated with anxiety, depression, and OCD.
If Limonene interests you some strains with high levels of this terpene are Cinex, Strawberry Cough, Sunset Sherbet, White Fire OG, Lemon G, Purple Punch, and Strawberry Diesel. You can learn more about Limonene here:
Beta-Caryophyllene is the terpene found in the aroma of pepper, spicy, woody, and cloves. We can also find this in black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon. B-Caryophyllene has been known to be a major help in stress relief aroma therapy. It potentially has the medical value of helping with treatment of pain, anxiety, depression, and ulcers.
Over the last decade, β-caryophyllene has gained the attention of scientists when it was discovered to be one of the first non-cannabinoids to directly activate cannabinoid receptors. Beta-caryophyllene-rich cannabis strains may therefore have specific medicinal effects due to this terpene’s effect on our endocannabinoid system.
Cannabis strains that have the highest presence of Beta-Caryophyllene are Death Star, Sour Bubble, Candyland, Girl Scout Cookie, and Moon Cookies. You can read more about this here:
Linalool which is arguably my favorite of the terpenes can be found in the aromas of lavender and other floral plants. Linalool is known to be a very relaxing terpene. It can be expected to help with mood enhancement and sedation. Some known potential medical values of Linalool are in the treatment of anxiety, depression, insomnia, pain, inflammation, and neurodegenerative disease. Some strains with high levels of Linalool are Amnesia Haze, Lavender, LA Confidential, Master Kush, Pink Kush, and OG Shark.
Linalool also makes the immune system more resilient to the destructive effects of stress. Stress causes a shift in the distribution of white blood cells in the body (i.e., the cells of the immune system); the percent of lymphocytes decrease, and neutrophils increase.
These are just a few of the known terpenes and there are many others that have many potential benefits that we are just now learning about. With the growing science and technology in the cannabis industry we can now work towards developing was to pick our best strain for us and what terpenes would be the best for our own consumption. Nobody wants increased anxiety when smoking cannabis and there are some strains that help with this and other strains that do not help with paranoia. When you find the perfect strain based off of the cannabinoids and the terpenes that will interact in your body you can then help treat your depression, anxiety, mood swings, insomnia, ADD/ADHD, fatigue, PTSD, autism, eating disorders. We have come such a long way since the days before cannabis was legal that we are just discovering the potential benefits of this medical plant.
