Terpenes in cannabis are very important as they provide aroma and flavor, and can even affect the potency and effects of weed products. Read on to learn more about terpenes and shop with Illicit Gardens!
You've probably read a lot about the psychoactive and therapeutic effects of cannabis that have changed millions of lives to date. The two primary compounds responsible for that are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), which can be extracted from the plant and used for products.
But have you ever wondered where weed extracts’ varying tastes, flavors, and colors come from? Since those elements are also crucial to weed consumption, it's important to delve into another substance called terpenes. These are the essential oils of the cannabis plant and they give flavor and aroma to your chosen weed strain.
As you explore different cannabis products in the market, terpenes are another consideration that you should look at. Terpenes can affect how you experience weed– whether you consume it for medical or recreational purposes. So, yes, you should have a basic knowledge of how these compounds are extracted and mixed into products with the right proportions. Unless you have a clear understanding of how terpenes work, you may not be able to choose the most appropriate weed products for you. This article serves as your guide in all essential facts about cannabis terpenes.
What are Cannabis Terpenes?
Terpenes are naturally occurring chemical compounds in cannabis plants that determine the aroma, flavor, and color of the cannabis flower and its extracts. Since the terpene profile is unique for every weed strain and has varying amounts of each terpene, the smell and taste differ in each product.
If you're seeking a pleasurable experience with cannabis, terpenes should be scrutinized. Some producers are transparent about all the ingredients of their cannabis items, and list their terpene profile on the package. This gives you the benefit of looking at these essential compounds, and considering how they may affect your results.. Research indicates terpenes may be valuable for treating wide-ranging conditions, from anxiety and stress to depression.
Where Do Terpenes Come From?
Terpenes are generally found in the trichomes of female cannabis plants and appear as sticky and translucent glands covering the surface of buds. Some smaller amounts of the compound are also present on leaves and stems. The resin glands in trichomes are primarily responsible for producing terpenoids, which are essential for a weed plant's growth and survival. These organic compounds can enrich the pigmentation in leaves and buds, as well as contributing to the taste and smell of cannabis. Present in all plants, terpenes enhance plants’ attractiveness to some creatures while deterring other elements that may cause damage to the plant.
Notably, many terpenes are volatile compounds that can be lost during the standard cannabis extraction process. But there are recent developments that have improved this procedure as many people have come to realize the therapeutic value of terpenes.
One terpene-protecting method is the live resin extraction process. Live resin is made from flash frozen hemp plants and maintains freezing temperatures throughout the chemical extraction process to safeguard terpenes in the plant. As a result, a more aromatically complex and flavorful cannabis experience is produced.
Types of Terpenes and their Effects
More than 400 terpenes are present in cannabis plants, but experts have only linked a few of them to specific effects. If you're exploring weed products, you must check the labels and choose the product with ideal ingredients, including any of the following terpenes:
Limonene is a common terpene with distinct citrus notes which may offer therapeutic benefits for specific medical conditions, especially cancer and anxiety. Limonene has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, antiviral, and other effects. It may also help protect your gastrointestinal system.
Myrcene if the cannabis product contains this spicy, earthy terpene, you can expect sedating effects. You may also benefit from its anti-fungal and antibacterial properties.
Linalool gives lavender its soothing aroma. For individuals battling stress daily, this terpene may prove helpful in alleviating the condition. Linalool also has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
Humulene - Want to boost your energy? This peppery, hoppy terpene is known for providing uplifting effects, especially when consumed along with THC. Humulene also may suppress appetite and has antibacterial effects.
Pinene - As its name suggests, pinene smells like an evergreen forest. Pinene helps open airways, and also seems to have anti-anxiety and memory boosting effects.
Beta-caryophyllene - Also abundant in black pepper and cloves, caryophyllene is the only terpene that is also a cannabinoid. This means that with this terpene, you may experience anti-inflammatory effects as well as some relief from anxiety and depression due to its interaction with your endocannabinoid system.
How Important are the Terpenes in Cannabis?
Without terpenes, cannabis strains would have no aroma and flavor. That's how vital this chemical compound is. Terpenes also contribute to modulating psychoactive effects, especially those produced by THC. Both terpenes and cannabinoids work in synergy to provide unique outcomes. Nevertheless, research into over 400 terpenes is still in its infancy, so no definitive claims can be made at this time.
However, consider that several other factors determine your experience with any cannabis product. Your physiology, past weed experience, and the environment where you consume the herb can primarily affect how you feel. Terpenes and cannabinoids are just one piece of the whole equation. But knowing about them provides a baseline on how to play around with different products and find what works best for your needs. Looking for premium cannabis strains? Try our Illicit Gardens marijuana products!
Potential Health Benefits of Terpenes
Terpenes also come with potential health benefits, which is undeniably good news for people looking to maximize the benefits of CBD and THC. Researchers claim that some terpenes may reduce general anxiety in individuals with mild to moderate stress. This therapeutic effect can be attributed to the mood-enhancing quality of terpenes which is also common in aromatherapy medicine. If the terpenes have a pleasing aroma for you, you may experience calming effects. Other terpenes may also come with the following properties:
Antidepressant: Terpenes are a significant ingredient in twenty-five percent of antidepressant drugs. Linalool and beta-pinene are typical among various plant extracts used in antidepressant medication.
Antiviral: Many researchers believe that various terpenes contain antiviral properties or can help kill viruses. Some of these compounds include beta-pinene, carvone, and camphor.
Antimicrobial: Some terpenes are known to act as antimicrobial or have the ability to suppress any harmful microorganism. These compounds include terpinolene, eucalyptol, geraniol, and menthol.
Pain Relief: In a scientific report, terpenes have been found to provide pain-relieving effects. Researchers note that such natural products may include humulene, linalool, and geraniol.
Anticancer/Anti-tumor: Recent scientific advancements have focused on the role of terpenes in inhibiting the growth or activity of cancer cells. Limonene may serve as an anticancer or anti-tumor agent.
Keep in mind that further research is needed to reach definitive conclusions about each of the terpene properties mentioned above.
How Cannabis Terpenes Affect the Body
Your body goes through several physiological responses when you consume cannabis products. Some strains or products may provide feelings of pleasure, while others may induce sleepiness.
Interestingly, terpenes play a crucial role in how you feel when you consume weed extracts or strains. These compounds provide aroma and flavor for the best sensory experience as you inhale and taste the herb. But beyond these surface effects, terpenes also provide therapeutic benefits that may help relieve numerous health conditions.
Cannabis terpenes interact with the human body like CBD and THC. Once terpenes are consumed, they penetrate the bloodstream and work with different hormones and receptors in the brain, organs, glands, immune cells, and connective tissues. Research also finds that terpenes interact with the serotonin and dopamine systems found in the brain.
As a result, terpenes may make you feel happier, more at ease, and get better quality sleep. The interaction can also influence the effects of other cannabinoids, like THC, to produce a different high. In other words, cannabis terpenes contribute to the impact of the weed you consume, like our Illicit Gardens Popcorn. It can make you feel extra energetic and creative, or induce you to sleep, depending on the cannabis strain.
Do Terpenes Have Other Effects?
Aside from aroma and flavor, is there anything else that terpenes do? It's still a mystery for many researchers as to what these chemical compounds do in humans. They are widely known as protective elements of cannabis plants, especially against weather and predators.
But terpenes also play a crucial role in helping to classify weed products and their possible effects. There's a popular theory that the terpene profile of a cannabis strain works together with the CBD content of the product. This may explain why two different strains with the same THC level produce completely unique experiences.
Can Terpenes Make You Feel High?
Terpenes aren't yet classified as psychoactive or therapeutic compounds, so it's deemed that they can't produce euphoric effects. But some researchers claim that they can affect cognitive functioning as it may impact the effects of THC. Both cannabinoids and terpenes are present in all cannabis strains, and there’s a theory that they work together to boost each other’s effectiveness. This is called the entourage effect.
Although there's still no substantial evidence about the role of terpenes in producing psychoactive effects, it's highly encouraged that they should be considered when choosing a particular strain. Many cannabis consumers and budtenders might only focus on CBD and THC contents, or an indica/sativa classification, but that's not how it should be.
Paying attention to the terpene profiles of the product may help enable you to achieve the desired effects. Interestingly, there's preliminary research suggesting that some terpenes carry the potential benefits for certain mental conditions, such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression.
What is the Entourage Effect?
Since terpenes work with other cannabinoids such as CBD and THC when you consume marijuana products, you must understand the so-called entourage effect. As already mentioned, terpenes can amplify the effects of other compounds- whether euphoric or therapeutic. This synergy with other compounds produces a more substantial impact than the latter would achieve on their own.
Certain terpenes intensify the potential effects of other herb compounds by two to four times greater than an isolated product. They can also help boost the potential benefits of any weed strain.
On their own, terpenes are a highly potent aromatic compound. These extracts are usually separated and distilled for use in aromatherapy or essential oils for their scent.Terpenes are not only found in cannabis. They are also present in other plants and plant products like tea leaves, oranges, lavender, pepper, hops, basil– think of any plant with a unique smell. It is terpenes that provide that smell!
Terpenes vs. CBD and THC
Over 100 cannabinoids in cannabis plants have been discovered, with CBD and THC being the most abundant and well studied. But the effects of cannabi strains and extracts aren't solely dependent upon these two compounds. Terpenes can also give clues about what you can expect from a weed product.
Researchers claim that there's an entourage effect when these compounds interact. It pertains to how cannabinoids and terpenes function synergistically to produce the sensations and results of cannabis. In other words, consuming whole cannabis that contains a full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes is always preferable if you seek more benefits.
Terpenes and cannabinoids have a complex relationship and are mutually necessary. Terpenes can affect the amount of THC that crosses the blood-brain barrier when you consume them together. As already emphasized, knowing about terpenes may help provide a clearer indication of what the effects of a particular cannabis product would feel like. Terpenes and cannabinoids both impact the effects of cannabis, but terpenes determine the scent and flavor of cannabis products, while cannabinoids don't.
How to Maximize the Benefits of Terpenes
Hundreds of cannabis products are sold in the market, so how do you choose the best one for you? It would be best to look beyond the CBD and THC contents to have a pleasant experience. Terpenes should be equally considered as they determine the flavor, aroma, and even the potency of weed extracts. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you explore your options out there:
Read the Product Label: Terpene profiles and concentrations are usually indicated on the product's packaging. Read through this information and examine all the ingredients closely. Make sure that you look for lab-tested brands to ensure the safety and purity of your cannabis products.
Check for Freshness: Not all brands guarantee quality and safe products, especially since the ingredients, including terpene concentration, can diminish over time. As such, it's essential to check the packaging date as it tells you how long the item would probably last. You can also give it a smell to determine the freshness of a cannabis strain.
Give it a Sniff!: Ask your budtender if you can smell the flower you’re considering for purchase. Smelling your cannabis buds not only helps you see how fresh they are, but they can give you a preview of the terpenes present. If you love how a strain smells, you will also like the flavor and chances are good that it will affect you in a positive way.
Observe Caution with Cannabis Oil: Some oil-based vaping products with added terpenes may contain synthetic terpenes, which can cause adverse reactions. These products should be taken with caution as they are used to create solvents and other household chemicals. If you can find products with natural terpenes, they will be safer and more effective than synthetic ones. Look for live resin extracts, which preserve the strain’s natural terpene profile.
Avoid Heating Synthetic Cannabis Terpenes: If you dab cannabis strains, the high heat could degrade synthetic terpenes, which may result in potentially harmful byproducts. We suggest you avoid any products with synthetic terpenes. If you cannot, stick with vaporizing flowers at a low temperature or consume edibles to avoid destroying the terpenes and producing toxic agents.
Have Your Own Journal: This helps you determine the best terpene profile for the effects you wish to experience. You have to note down the ingestion method and how you feel whenever you consume any cannabis item. If you're looking for premium weed products, try our Illicit Gardens cannabis flower products.
FAQs:
What's the best cannabis terpene?
There is no “best” terpene, but the best ones for you depend on your needs and preferences. As previously discussed, there are hundreds of cannabis terpenes, but only a few are known to have specific effects. It would help if you focused on the desired impact as you choose the best cannabis product for you. If you need more valid references, consider the shared experiences of other users in consumer or product reviews.
How do I check the terpene profile?
Reputable companies like Illicit Gardens employ third-party laboratory testing for their cannabis products. The results are provided to the customers for transparency purposes. This information can be found on the packaging labels, so check the details to determine the terpene profile of your chosen item. If this is not available, you might consider other brands.
Which cannabis products contain the best terpene?
Each cannabis product contains unique terpene profiles, which means that there's no single item that fits all users. You have to identify which terpenes best suit your needs. Once you're sure about that, it would be easier to shop for the weed products as you can check the label for their terpene contents.
How do I select cannabis terpenes for my needs?
Start by familiarizing yourself with the available cannabis terpenes. Once you have some background knowledge, you can choose the terpenes that are most appropriate for your desired experiences. It's okay to try out multiple terpenes until you determine the best product for you. And remember– the nose knows! Terpenes that are appealing to your sense of smell are probably a good fit for you.
Final Thoughts!
Cannabis products have unique terpene profiles, so your knowledge about terpenes is a huge advantage in choosing the best product or strain. Make sure you are shopping at a reputable dispensary that offers lab-tested products that contain natural terpenes..
Fortunately, you don't have to look elsewhere as our company, Illicit Gardens, offers premium cannabis extracts and strains with robust, natural terpene profiles.
With our wide selection of cannabis products, you are sure to find products that are perfect for your medical and recreational needs. It is so easy to browse our extensive product selection online.
You can also learn more about our company on our website or find a dispensary near you that offers Illicit Products. Enjoy the many benefits of natural terpenes in a quality Illicit product today!
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