If you’ve focused primarily on THC and CBD when it comes to cannabis, it’s time to expand your knowledge. While cannabinoids like THC and CBD get most of the attention, terpenes play a crucial role in shaping the unique effects and benefits of each cannabis strain. Terpenes, the aromatic compounds found in cannabis, contribute to its fragrance and therapeutic effects, enhancing your overall experience.
In this article, we’ll dive into the top five terpenes found in cannabis, exploring their specific benefits and how they can enhance your cannabis experience. With over 150 terpenes identified, each one offers distinct properties—ranging from relaxation to increased focus. Let’s explore the most impactful ones and what they bring to the table.
What Are Terpenes?
Terpenes are naturally occurring compounds found in many plants, including cannabis. They are aromatic molecules that are responsible for the distinct smells and flavours in various cannabis strains. Terpenes are not just to provide aroma, but they also play a vital role in a plant’s defense mechanism in thwarting pests. Over the million years of evolution, terpenes have evolved also to help attract pollinators.
How Terpenes Influence Cannabis Effects
It is essential to understand the types of terpenes and their effects. It is crucial to select the right product based on your requirements. How the terpenes interact with other cannabis compounds creates what’s known as the “entourage effect.” This synergistic relationship between terpenes and cannabinoids enhances the overall therapeutic benefits of cannabis.
If you want to maximize the potential benefits of cannabis, terpene profile selection becomes crucial as it can dramatically alter the effects of cannabinoids.
Therapeutic Benefits of Terpenes
The therapeutic benefits of terpenes make them essential for cannabis products, particularly for medicinal applications. There are several health and wellness benefits of terpenes, including:
- Anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce chronic inflammation
- Calming effects from terpenes help anxiety and stress reduction
- Interacting with cannabinoids, terpenes help with pain management
- Sleep improvement and regulation of sleep cycles
- Mood enhancement and emotional balance
- Antimicrobial and antifungal properties
- Digestive health support
Examples of Therapeutic Terpenes
- Linalool is a terpene commonly found in cannabis plants that is known for its calming and anxiolytic properties. It is used in cannabis products made for stress relief.
- Caryophyllene is another therapeutic terpene offering pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits while supporting immune function.
- Limonene found in cannabis acts as a natural mood elevator, providing stress relief while potentially supporting digestive health.
Top 5 Cannabis Terpenes and Their Benefits
Five terpenes stand out for their significant therapeutic and aromatic potential when exploring the different types of terpenes.
Let’s take a closer look at these cannabis terpenes.
1. Myrcene: The Relaxing Terpene
The most abundant type of terpene in cannabis, Myrcene, can make up to 50% of the total terpene profile in some strains. It is distinguishable from other terpenes due to its earthy, musky aroma with hints of cloves.
The key effects of Myrcene include:
- Potent sedative properties through GABA pathway modulation
- Muscle relaxant effects via novel mechanisms
- Enhanced blood-brain barrier penetration for cannabinoids
All these effects make Myrcene suitable for several medical applications, such as:
- Chronic pain management as an alternative to opioids
- Sleep disorder treatment due to its adenosine pathway regulation
- Anti-inflammatory effects exploiting the prostaglandin E2 inhibition
If you are interested in trying Myrcene, then some of the cannabis strains high in this terpene include Blue Dream (0.5-1.2% myrcene content), Granddaddy Purple (1.0-2.0%), and OG Kush (0.8-1.5%).
2. Limonene: The Uplifting Terpene
Another common type of terpene found in cannabis is limonene. It is identified with its pronounced citrus aroma, and it is found to have rapid absorption and distribution throughout the body.
Critical effects of limonene:
- Elevated mood through increased serotonin and dopamine production
- Reduced anxiety via GABA receptor modulation
- Stress relief by regulating cortisol level
Most common therapeutic benefits:
- Clinically proven to offer antidepressant benefits
- Potent antifungal activity suitable to be used against various pathogens
- Offers gastric reflux relief for digestion benefits
- Potential breast cancer resistance protein modulation
Notable cannabis strains with high limonene content include Super Lemon Haze (1.0-1.5% limonene), Wedding Cake (0.8-1.2%), Do-Si-Dos (0.9-1.4%), and Quantum Kush (1.1-1.6%).
3. Pinene: The Energizing Terpene
Pinene is a family of alpha and beta-pinene terpenes named due to their distinctive pine needle aroma. It has been used in traditional medicine for centuries and has popularized terpene for therapeutic use.
Key effects of pinene:
- It can cause acetylcholinesterase inhibition, resulting in enhanced alertness
- Improved memory formation via brain-derived neurotrophic factor increase
- Increased mental clarity and focus
Health benefits of pinene:
- It has broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory properties
- Powerful bronchodilation effects help with respiratory problems
- Potential neuroprotective properties
- Bacterial resistance modulation
Prominent cannabis strains with high pinene profile include Jack Herer (0.4-1.0% pinene), Island Sweet Skunk (0.5-1.1%), and Dutch Treat (0.4-0.9%).
4. Linalool: The Calming Terpene
This lavender-scented terpene demonstrates significant therapeutic potential. Linalool is known for its calming effects.
Key effects of linalool:
- Powerful anxiolytic properties through serotonin receptor modulation
- Sedative effects resulting from its glutamate regulation
- Stress reduction through cortisol modulation
Medical benefits of linalool:
- A natural anti-anxiety terpene used in psychoactive medication
- Anticonvulsant properties through ion channel regulation
- Mood stabilization and sleep quality improvement
- Pain management
Lavender Jones (0.3-0.7% linalool), LA Confidential (0.4-0.8%), Amnesia Haze (0.3-0.6%), and Zkittlez (0.2-0.5%) are some of the significant strains with high linalool.
5. Caryophyllene: The Spicy Terpene
It is the most unique type of terpene on the list. β-caryophyllene is the only terpene known to activate cannabinoid receptors, specifically CB2 directly. Cannabis strains with caryophyllene have a spicy and peppery aroma.
Key effects:
- Targeted pain relief through CB2 receptor activation
- Significant anti-inflammatory action
- Anxiety reduction and gastroprotective properties
CB2 Receptor Interaction:
The unique property of caryophyllene to function as a full CB2 receptor agonist demonstrates selective binding properties. This is how it enhances the therapeutic effects of cannabinoids without any psychoactive effects.
Notable cannabis strains with caryophyllene include GSC (0.3-0.8% caryophyllene), Original Glue (0.4-0.9%), and Purple Punch (0.3-0.7%).
How to Choose the Right Terpene Profile for Your Needs
Now that you have an understanding of the types of terpenes and their effects, the next is to know how to select the right cannabis strain.
Consider these factors:
1. Pain management: If you are looking to try cannabis for pain management, consider strains high in β-caryophyllene and Myrcene. These terpenes result in inflammation reduction.
2. Anxiety and stress: Focus on linalool and limonene for natural anxiety relief. Also, consider the time of day for usage, as they can have psychoactive effects.
3. Sleep issues: Prioritize myrcene-dominant strains for sleep-related issues. You can also consider complementary terpenes like linalool for enhanced effect.
4. Aroma: As highlighted, different types of terpenes have different aromas. Depending on your preference, choose one that matches your requirements.
Tips for beginners to identify and experiment with terpene profiles
Beginners should start with a single dominant strain of cannabis. As you experience it, you can move on to more complex profiles. Also, learn to identify the type of terpene with smell. For quick reference:
- Myrcene: Earthy, musky
- Limonene: Citrusy
- Pinene: Pine, Forest
- Linalool: Lavender
- Caryophyllene: Peppery, spicy
Additionally, lab test results of the terpene content can provide valuable information that you can use. These reports include total terpene content, terpene ratios, and individual terpene percentages.
Other Terpenes to Know
Apart from these five types of terpenes, there are others too. The commonly preferred ones include:
- Terpinolene: It is the dominant terpene found in the Jack Herer strain. It provides uplifting effects and helps with anxiety.
- Humulene is another popular terpene that is known for its appetite-suppression properties. It is abundant in Sour Kush.
- Ocimene is commonly found in Dutch Treat and Strawberry Cough. It offers antiviral and antifungal benefits.
How Terpene Profiles Influence Cannabis Strain Selection
Terpene profile has a deeper impact on the overall influence of the cannabis strain. It not only affects its aroma but also its psychoactive and therapeutic effects. Also, different growing conditions and methods affect terpene expression in cannabis.
Several factors can impact the terpene profile. For instance, indoor vs. outdoor cultivation can reduce terpene profile because several terpenes are highly volatile. Outdoor cultivation destroys such terpenes. Additionally, soil quality nutrients and harvest timing also impact the terpene profile.
The Science Behind Terpenes and Their Effects
Terpenes and their effects on the human body have long been a subject of study. How a terpene affects the human body depends on its interaction with our endocannabinoid system.
Current studies show that terpenes result in receptor interactions, which result in synergistic effects with cannabinoids. This makes them suitable for therapeutic applications as their novel delivery methods are known to enhance bioavailability.
Conclusion
Understanding different types of terpenes and their effects is essential for maximizing the benefits of cannabis use. As the research in the cannabis industry is progressing, we are unearthing several aspects of terpenes beyond relief from specific symptoms and recreational use. Consumers’ knowledge of terpenes can help them make more informed choices about cannabis products.
