If sativa and indica are the reds and whites of cannabis, terpenes are more like the different varieties of grapes found in wine. Once you have an initial understanding of Sativa vs. Indica, learning about terpenes is a good next stop on becoming an true epicurean of cannabis.
Similar to how certain wines pair better with certain foods, knowing what the main terpenes are and what they do will help you pair your favorite top shelf cannabis strains with different foods and alcoholic beverages to greatly enhance your overall consumption experience.
There are multiple levels to explore here as smoking while eating isn’t the only way to pair cannabis with food and beverages. The actual food and berates you consume can be made with different types of cannabis containing different terpenes as well.
Learning the main types of terpenes is straightforward and you’ll have a much better understanding of what you’re smoking beyond the strain and THC content. Welcome to Terpenes 101. School is in session.
Terpenes are organic compounds that occur naturally in plants and certain animals. They play a vital role in providing distinct aromas, flavors, and colors to different types of vegetation. When it comes to cannabis, terpenes are responsible for the unique smells and tastes that differentiate one strain from another.
In addition to their presence in plants, terpenes can also be utilized in the production of various products such as cleaning solvents, pesticides, and dyes. Furthermore, certain terpenes possess therapeutic properties.
Although terpenes are found in almost all plants, people often come across them more frequently in the following common sources:
- cannabis
- aromatic herbs, like sage and thyme
- citrus fruits
Terpenes do not induce a traditional “high” feeling. However, certain terpenes are considered psychoactive because they can influence the brain.
Although terpenes do not have intoxicating effects on their own, some believe they may interact with THC, the cannabinoid responsible for the euphoric sensation associated with cannabis.
Many enthusiasts of cannabis and knowledgeable budtenders argue that consumers often place excessive importance on THC levels when selecting a strain. Instead, they recommend paying more attention to specific terpene profiles to achieve the desired effects.
For instance, early research indicates that certain terpenes may hold potential benefits for specific mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
THC and CBD are two of the more than 100 cannabinoids present in cannabis, and they happen to be the most abundant and extensively researched ones.
While both cannabinoids and terpenes provide insights into what to expect from a cannabis product, it’s crucial to understand that they are distinct compounds.
That being said, all these compounds interact with each other in what experts refer to as the “entourage effect.” This hypothesis suggests that the comprehensive combination of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds found in cannabis work synergistically to produce the sensations and effects associated with cannabis.
In simpler terms, it implies that a balanced combination of various elements might offer more benefits than an excessive concentration of a single component.
For instance, a study from 2010 demonstrated that a combination of CBD and THC was more effective for pain management compared to THC alone.
Similarly, a study conducted in 2018 showed that a cannabis extract had a more favorable response in inhibiting breast cancer tumors in a Petri dish when compared to pure THC alone. However, these synergistic effects were primarily attributed to other cannabinoids rather than terpenes.
This aspect becomes significant when considering the therapeutic use of CBD. If you try a CBD isolate (a product containing only CBD) and find that it doesn’t produce the desired effects, it might be worthwhile to explore a full-spectrum CBD product. Full-spectrum CBD contains terpenes and other cannabinoids, including small amounts of THC.
To delve deeper into the topic, you can learn more about the differences between isolate and full-spectrum CBD.
There are about 400 known terpenes in cannabis, but experts have only linked a handful of them to specific effects.
Here are some common terpenes and their potential effects:
- Beta-caryophyllene. A major ingredient in cloves, rosemary, and hops, beta-caryophyllene could beTrusted Source beneficial for managing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Beta-pinene. If you’ve strolled through a coniferous forest, you know the smell of beta-pinene, which could also have potentially both anti-depressantTrusted Source and anti-cancerTrusted Sourceproperties.
- Humulene. This terpene is found in ginseng, which has long been used in folk medicine for energizing effects.
- Limonene. One of the most commonly found terpenes, limonene has distinct citrus notes and may potentially haveTrusted Source anti-cancer properties. In mice, it’s been shown Trusted Sourceto have anti-anxiety properties.
- Linalool. Lovers of lavender as aromatherapy may want to seek out cannabis with linalool, which may helpTrusted Source alleviate stress.
- Myrcene. Found in mangoes, myrcene hasTrusted Source antifungal and antibacterial properties and could alsoTrusted Source have sedating effects.
Keep in mind that much of the research around terpenes is still in early stages. More high quality studies in humans are needed to fully understand the health impacts of different terpene profiles.
Things to Watch Out For
- Use caution with cannabis oil. Oil-based vaping products often have added synthetic terpenes. It’s not clear if synthetic terpenes are less effective than natural ones, but they’re often used to create solvents and other household chemicals. Proceed with caution, and be wary of marketing materials that make promises about what they’ll do.
- Lay off the heat. There’s some evidenceTrusted Source that dabbing, which involves high heat, could degrade synthetic terpenes, resulting in potentially harmful byproducts. Until experts understand more about how heat affects terpenes, you may want to stick with vaporizing flower at a low temperature or consuming edibles.