Introduction to Terpenes

As a result of the aftermath of legalization of the use of cannabis and hemp in the Canada and other parts of the world, the seemingly abundant health benefits of these CBD products are being documented and continually investigated on a daily basis.

The cannabinoids consisting of both the CBD and THC seem to be credited to both mental and physical benefits as provided by both hemp and marijuana. And in reality, the credits attributed to these compounds are well deserved.

However, cannabinoids aren’t the only known components of therapeutic compounds present in hemp and marijuana. Interestingly, there is an entirely different from a compound that is both mentally and physically beneficial, and these are known as the terpenes. In this piece, we’ll be giving you a brief on terpenes while we also reveal a few of the more popular terpenes in existence.

What are Terpenes?

According to various researches, terpenes are collectively known as a group of strong-smelling compounds produced by plants in order to ward off pests and herbivores from consuming them. These compounds are the components of essential oils derived from the plants. In fact, some of the essential oils you currently have in your home may contain these strong-smelling compounds known as terpenes.

However, terpenes aren’t only useful for their smells and flavour, but they also provide plenty of powerful healing properties that often function synergistically with other numerous cannabinoids present in hemp and cannabis. Let’s have a look at a few of the more popular terpenes in existence:

Myrcene

Interestingly, the most abundant terpene present in hemp and marijuana is no other than Myrcene. This is because it is present in almost every strain of hemp and marijuana. In fact, research studies revealed that terpenes make up to 65% of some profiles of the entire cannabis strains.

Myrcene has been attributed to the production of the smell of red grapes and cloves. Apart from that, it also possesses a musky yet fruity aroma. Strains of marijuana that contains terpene in abundance are usually the indicas and could be quite soothing. More so, this particular kind of terpenes can be found in skunk based strains, white widow, most kush strains, and many more. Myrcene, as a terpene, has been discovered to have profound effects in combatting pain and inflammation.

Limonene

After Myrcene, limonene comes second as the most abundant terpene present in cannabis and hemp. As indicated by the name of this terpene, limonene has also been discovered to be abundant in almost all citrus based fruits. This is one of the reasons why citrus fruits and cannabis strains possess a lemon-lime smell and flavor.

Many of the marijuana and hemp varieties that contain a high percentage of limonene are usually given unique names such as Citrus, Sour, Lemon. For instance, Lemon Haze, Jack Herer, Sour Diesel, Durban Poison, among others.

When it comes to therapeutic benefits, limonene has been attributed to the alleviation of anxiety while also improving moods generally. More importantly, limonene also provides robust physical benefits as an effective compound to help combat specific strains of bacteria and fungi.

Linalool

In reality, every single strain of hemp and marijuana share a consistent underlying smell and flavor that are often generally recognizable. As a cannabis user, these smells and flavors will give you a signal that weed is being smoked somewhere close to you. This infamous characteristic smell and flavors are due to the presence of the terpene linalool.

Linalool as terpene has been found to be effective in a wide range of ways including, sedative, anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, and so forth. Further research evidence has proven that linalool is effective in the management and treatment of arthritis and inflammation.

There you have it! Perhaps a bit more knowledge about terpenes and the top most popular terpene in existence. As we’ve mentioned earlier, there are more than 100 terpenes present in the cannabis flower.