What are Terpenes and How are They Beneficial?

Originally Posted On: https://www.directcbdonline.com/blogs/news/what-are-terpenes-and-how-are-they-beneficial

When you’ve been researching CBD in the past and up to now, you’ve probably come across mentions of terpenes and their benefits when included in a CBD product. But this is likely just information that you skimmed over, not really taking it in and learning anything about terpenes and how they can be beneficial to you.

You may have already learned during your research that they are commonly used together and it’s for this reason that having a solid understanding of both substances as individuals is important before using anything that contains both of them. We’re going to be largely focusing on terpenes in this article, particularly what they are and how they can be beneficial. Are you interested in learning more? Read on.

What are Terpenes?

Terpenes are the compounds found in the oils of all plants that affect the flavor and smell of that plant. They have also been found in certain animals, though this is far less common and generally located in plants.

Terpenes are something that CBD oil and essential oils have in common: They give hemp extracts and essential oils their smell and their healing properties. Most commonly, terpenes are used for creating essential oils which are known for having a number of benefits to humans.

Even though they occur in a large number of plants including citrus trees, most people come across terpenes as part of their research on CBD if they had never heard of them previously. As such, terpenes are commonly associated with cannabis as they are what provide the strong aroma. This often leads to people believing that they are specific to the cannabis plant, which is not true. There are more than 20,000 of these compounds in existence – and hemp and cannabis plants produce at least 150 of them!

Climate, weather, plant age, fertilizers, soil type, and more can affect and influence how a plant develops terpenes. It is for this reason that it’s so important to know the source of your CBD’s hemp. Some of the most common terpenes you’ll find in CBD products are Caryophyllene, Linalool, Myrcene, and Pinene.

Why Do They Occur?

The leading theory on why terpenes occur is to protect plants from harsh weather conditions and predators that may be interested in eating them. The smells, flavors and colors that they produce are different depending on the type of terpene, and these have all adapted based on what the plant needs.

Essentially, over the years they have evolved to occur when they are needed, and even sometimes when they are not. We mentioned above that the hemp and cannabis plants produce at least 150 types of terpenes, and each one of these is thought to have a different impact on humans. It’s true to say though, that the exact way that they impact humans is unknown at present.

How Do Terpenes Work?

It is believed that the terpene profile will work with the cannabinoid content to create the different experiences. The terpenes work with the endocannabinoid system to provide the therapeutic effects that people have reported noticing. This suggests that the terpenes and the cannabinoids work in harmony to change the endocannabinoid tone of the body through its own endocannabinoid system. This is what creates the varying responses to the differing compounds

Manufacturers of CBD have been using terpenes to classify their products, and attempt to predict the result of the combination. This theory makes sense considering two different strains with the same amount of cannabinoid in them can provide completely different experiences.

How Beneficial are Terpenes?

While research is still somewhat limited, terpenes have been known to have a number of benefits when they are ingested or inhaled. Of course, when they are mixed with CBD products they are usually ingested, though some terpenes when used in plant form can be inhaled. If you’re not sure what we mean by this, you’ll know in just a second.

Physical Benefits

The terpene beta-caryophyllene has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pain-relieving benefits. This terpene is found in basil, oregano, black pepper, and hemp plants. This study showed promising results in this terpene’s ability to treat Alzheimer’s disease by helping curb inflammation in the brain. It has also proved effective for treating medical issues like Crohn’s Disease and even Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Limonene and Citronellol are terpenes that are known for their fresh scents, which is why you will often find them in cleaning products. However, they are also present in some cannabis and CBD products due to their medicinal properties. Limonene is known to have antifungal and antibacterial properties, and has shown promise with positive effects when it comes to reducing tumors in some animal studies that have been conducted.

On the other hand, Citronellol has antiseptic properties which can have a number of positive impacts on your bodies.

These are just a few of the different terpenes that can be found in CBD and other products, all of which so far have been shown to have some kind of property that can enhance products and provide benefits to people.

Mental And Emotional Benefits

Research into aromatherapy has shown that inhaling certain terpenes is associated with a boost in emotional well-being. Lavender, for example, contains Linalool. This terpene has a calming effect and is great for stress or drifting off to a peaceful sleep. Limonene, found in peppermint and citrus, helps you wake up and feel more alert. Most terpenes are associated with some aromatherapy effects.

As such, when combined with CBD products, this could well be what is causing, or at the very least enhancing that calm feeling that many people report experiencing.

The Entourage Effect

What Is It?

As early as the 80s, studies have shown that terpenes work together with cannabinoids like CBD to pass through the bloodstream easier. A term that you are going to come across when doing your research is The Entourage Effect.  This theory states that cannabinoids combined with terpenes lead to more benefits than cannabinoids alone. It makes sense when you consider that more botanical strains or products tend to be more effective when it comes to producing certain feelings.

What Has This Led To?

The addition of certain terpenes helps you find the perfect CBD for your needs. If you’re looking for help relaxing, CBD extracted from a plant high in Linalool may help you feel even calmer than CBD would alone. Alternatively, beta-caryophyllene can boost the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD, making it a great choice for joint pain and other inflammation.

As we mentioned above, many manufactures of CBD now advertise the various cannabinoid ratios in their products, as well as advertising the terpene profile in the product. This helps people choose the right product for them, based on what it is that they are looking for. While The Entourage Effect has shown promising results and many believe there is a lot of truth in this, more research still needs to be completed to understand how to do so as safely as possible.

3 Common Terpenes And Their Benefits (That We Haven’t Looked At)

Myrcene

Myrcene is a common terpene and is known for being a powerful antioxidant. Studies that have been completed on mice have shown promising results that it may be able to help protect the brain from oxidative damage after a stroke. It has also been linked to potentially helping certain heart issues as well as preventing the breakdown of some cartilage cells which may be helpful in future medicine.

Pinene

This terpene does have therapeutic benefits, but is more often known for the bright colors that it creates. Having said that, it is also a bronchodilator which means that it helps to get more air into your lungs. While doing this, some have suggested that when inhaled, Pinene could also fight against some infectious germs due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Humulene

Found most commonly in the hop plant, Humulene has been suspected to have the potential to prevent common issues like allergic reactions and asthma. There have been animal models conducted with Humulene to test this hypothesis with the results looking good. The Humulene managed to reduce the allergic inflammation in the airways meaning that it may be able to be used for asthma relief and allergic reaction treatments in the future.

Overall, terpenes offer additional benefits that can help boost the effectiveness of your CBD supplements. Look into which ones your favorite CBD products have and see which extra benefits you can feel! Remember though, everyone is different, and you can’t expect to have the same reactions as other people. This is not how CBD works, and the combination of a terpene does not mean that this is going to change.

It’s true to say though that researchers need to do some more studies into terpenes to fully understand the benefits that they could have for humans both therapeutically and medicinally. The more research that is done, the more we can understand about how terpenes work, and what they may be able to do for us.