It is important to discuss a few other points before getting into what CBD terpenes are and what benefits they provide. First of all, you should know that there are a variety of different terpenes. Additionally, these terpenes provide different benefits. There is one key point that you should keep in mind when evaluating all of these products. That is, that some purification and extraction processes are better than others.
Terpenes 101:
Terpenes are a natural chemical that exists in some animals and the vast majority of plants. You can also find them in abundance in flowers, vegetables, and fruits. Terpenes provide plants with their own taste and aroma, but they also provide health benefits, too. Some examples of the health benefits of terpenes are anxiety relief and pain treatment.
Simply put, terpenes are responsible for how people perceive plants, since they provide taste and aroma. Terpenes can also act as a repellent. This is due to the fact that if terpenes are highly concentrated, they can become toxic. Therefore, high concentrations of terpenes can protect a plant from both pathogens and herbivores. In total, approximately 20,000 known terpenes exist. However, the marijuana plant creates a minimum of 200 of the known terpenes.
What Are The Benefits of Cannabis Terpenes?
There have been various studies conducted on the benefits of cannabis terpenes. One of them, a study performed by Dr. Russo, discovered that "phytocannabinoid-terpenoid preparation" may be able to help treat addiction, anxiety, depression, and even improve cognitive function. You can find out more information about this study here. Terpene myrcene is the cannabis terpene that is most commonly found in both hemp and cannabis strains. Terpene myrcene can increase the potency of cannabinoids.
However, other cannabis terpenes provide medical benefits, as well. Compounds of beta-caryophyllene lemon and caryophyllene can help treat stress, cancer, and neurogenerative disorders. Beta-pinene and alpha-pinene are two more cannabis terpenes and these provide anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial benefits. Alpha-pinene and beta-pinene also help deal with heartburn, improve your mood, and relieve pain. Alpha humulene is another cannabis terpene and there is some evidence to suggest that it is a useful anti-inflammatory agent.
How Do Terpenes Function?
There are essentially two schools of thought on how terpenes work. According to a 2009 study that the International Journal of Neuroscience published, the psychological aspect or the pharmacological aspect explains how terpenes work. The pharmacological aspect states that terpenes function by directly affecting and interacting with your endocrine system, central nervous system, and nervous system. Contrastingly, the psychological aspect states that terpenes function by odors exerting their effects via belief/expectations, conscious perception, and emotional learning. The psychological aspect opposes the viewpoint that terpenes work by directly interacting with your body's systems.
How Can You Tell If Terpenes Are in a Certain CBD Product?
You should go with broad spectrum or full spectrum CBD products if you want a product with terpenes. However, even with a broad spectrum or full spectrum label, this doesn't always mean the product contains terpenes. You have to check the company's third-party lab reports and take a look at their terpene profile test. These test results will tell you if the CBD product contains terpenes or not.
Maitreya Loving-Kindness