What are terpenes?

Terpenes describe a group of chemical compounds that give both flavor and aroma to a variety of plants. This includes conifers, pines and the plants within the Cannabaceae family, or cannabis. In cannabis alone, there are hundreds of such components, although only a few feature prominently in most strains.

Terpenes serve an important purpose in plants. They are the first line of defense against predation. Although the smell of lavender, rose, and other scents may smell great to humans, for many organisms they function as a repellent. A terpene in this instance is commonly known to humans is citronella.

Terpenes are defined by most researchers as unsaturated hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons are typically found in the resin that coats female cannabis plants, known as trichomes. Terpenes make up the essential oils of the cannabis plant.

Hydrocarbons are a class of molecular compounds that contain both hydrogen and carbon. Many thousands of terpenes occur naturally. The main types of terpenes found in cannabis include the following:

• Myrcene
• Humulene
• Linalool
• Limonene
• α-pinene ( and also β-pinene)
• Eucalyptol
• Delta-III Carene

Many of these major terpenes can’t get you “high” on their own. Instead, that’s a distinction given to a more psychoactive ingredient in cannabis: THC. Although these components don’t get you high, they have an impact on how cannabis functions. They not only provide the flavors and aromas, but they work alongside THC, CBD, and a host of other phytochemicals and cannabinoids. This is known as the “entourage effect.”

The term was first coined by researchers S. Ben-Shabat and Raphael Mechoulam in 1998 during their research on the body’s endocannabinoid system, or ECS. They noticed that certain substances amplified the effects of some others in the body.

He states that terpenes work together to decrease the cognitive side effects that may be induced by THC while amplifying the medicinal benefits. He further contends that many of the cannabinoids – including terpenes – come together to reduce psychological side effects.The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is the body’s regulatory system. It is responsible for ensuring that basic functions stay within an acceptable range. The ECS includes much of the nervous system, some immune cells, and the brain. The brain uses signals from chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters.

Think of the ECS as a delivery system. The nerve cells are intricate transport systems, the neurotransmitters function as delivery operators and the brain is the central processing hub. These components work together to interpret and translate signals associated with pain, memory, temperature, and movement.

Cannabis mimics many of the body’s chemicals. These chemicals are known as endocannabinoids. Due to this similarity, cannabinoids, including terpenes, assist the body with residual side effects. Terpenes can be useful in a variety of ways.

They don’t simply provide smell and flavor. They may have therapeutic effects of their own. They have been historically used to treat a host of afflictions and maladies and each major terpene has its own set of chemical attributes that may support many bodily processes. Check out this great video!