If you are an avid vaper, or just someone who smokes a vape occasionally, you may have heard the term terpenes used when describing a cbd oil or strain of plant.
What are Terpenes?
Terpenes are a natural organic compound that are found in many different types of plants. The scent of terpenes help these plants repel harmful animals from eating them while also attracting bees and other insects that pollinate. Many common household items include terpenes, including essential oils and any sort of pine-based product. Additionally, lemons also have high levels of terpenes. Terpenes help give these different plants their distinct smell. Another popular plant (and the main reason you are probably reading this) that contains high levels of terpenes is the cannabis plant. Terpenes are located in the bud of the cannabis plant, which is the part that you smoke and inhale. It is also the part of the cannabis plant that is extracted into CBD oil.
Terpenes are responsible for giving cannabis some of its most well-known characteristics. In fact, you can thank terpenes for giving cannabis its distinct “loud” smell. There are over 100 different strains of terpenes that have been found in the cannabis plant.
What Terpenes do they do and why are they important
Aside from giving cannabis its distinctive smell, terpenes actually play an integral part in getting someone “high.” While combining with the chemical THC, terpenes help provide many therapeutically effects. Terpenes help promote sleep and decrease inflammation. Terpene’s relaxing qualities have been found to help relieve stress. By increasing dopamine levels in our blood stream, terpenes mimic certain processes that are performed by anti-depressants. Additionally, terpenes can be combined to give certain plant strands their distinctive taste.
Since terpenes have so many positive effects, many people in the cannabis industry have started testing the levels of terpenes in strands of plants (similar to how they test for THC levels). As the industry continues to develop and expand, Cannabis stores will likely start providing “terpene profiles” for the plants they sell. Since terpenes can be manipulated at the molecular level, many plant growers and sellers are now experimenting with creating endless combinations of terpenes in their strains.
What is Myrcene and how common is it in cannabis?
The most common terpene is Myrcene. On average, a cannabis plant’s terpene profile will contain around 20% myrcene. Myrcene is what gives the plant it’s earthy and skunky smell. Myrcene is one of the strongest terpenes when it comes to promoting muscle relaxation, which is why it is so popular. The following popular strands contain high levels of myrcene: OG Kush, Remedy, and Grandaddy Purple.
What products contain terpenes?
As mentioned above, many plants naturally contain terpene in their biological makeup. However, due to all the therapeutic benefits, companies are now exploring the possibility of synthetically putting terpenes in common household products. As of now, there are already companies that have inserted terpene into hand creams, make up, food, and candles. Terpenes recently made headlines when it was revealed that Kim Kardashian had a terpene tea company cater her baby shower.
While there are many unknowns surrounding the effects of cannabis and the industry as a whole, one thing is clear: terpenes offer a wide range of therapeutic effects with no downside.