With cannabis being legalized and decriminalized all over the world, more laboratories are able to research in the hope to understand a bit more about the plant we all love.
With these researches, scientists have found out that the most known compounds (aka THC and CBD) are not the only ones responsible for the effects we get when consuming cannabis and are now studying the terpenes which are said to be responsible for the “entourage effect”.
So, what are terpenes?
Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in a lot of plants all over the world and are definitely not exclusive to cannabis, despite being something relatively new, you definitely have come across this compound because they are responsible for the smell and taste of plants and you can easily grow them yourself by getting a couple of feminized cannabis seeds.
So, if you smelled a bouquet of roses or have eaten an orange, you definitely know what terpenes are.
Now, as you may know, back in the days cannabis strains were either Indica or Sativa and this would indicate the type of effect you would get, either a couch-lock effect or a racy cerebral effect but nowadays, research has proven that rather than the genetic heritage, the terpene profile dictates the type of effect you experience and the benefits it provides, and this is known as the entourage effect.
The entourage effect: properties and therapeutic benefits
In addition to dictating the type of effect, which can enhance mood and energy levels, terpenes can also provide several benefits, so it’s not that they only modify the effect you’ll feel but it’s also about how these compounds, combined with cannabinoids, interact with the endocannabinoids system, providing several benefits.
By now you might be wondering what benefits terpenes provide? Well, there are a lot.
A certain strain’s terpene profile consists of several different terpenes, as mentioned before, these terpenes are responsible for the smell (and in part for the flavor) that you would associate with cannabis.
Just like eating chocolate that is said to give you a burst of happiness, terpenes have therapeutic benefits that not only complement but also enhance the effects of cannabis and can be used in the treatment of chronic pain, inflammation, depression, anxiety, epilepsy, and bacterial or fungal infections, for example.
To be able to know exactly which strain will help alleviate the symptoms you’re dealing with, you will have to know which terpenes works best so here are the most common terpenes nowadays:
Myrcene
Myrcene is one of the most common terpenes in cannabis, also found in mangoes, bay leaves, and lemongrass. This terpene is well-known for its use in the treatment of pain and inflammation but when mixed with THC, results in a more relaxing and analgesic effect both mentally and physically.
Limonene
Limonene is also one of the most prominent terpenes in cannabis, also found in citrus peels (orange, lemon, lime, tangerine, etc..) and some flowers. This terpene is said to help in the treatment of depression, anxiety and also has immunostimulant, antitumor, and antibacterial properties but, when combined with THC and CBD, can help treat gastric reflux, heartburn, and aid in weight loss.
Pinene
Pinene is very common in gassy strains and can be found in plants such as pine, spruce, rosemary, and sage. This terpene is known to be an expectorant, bronchodilator, aunty-inflammatory, and antiseptic but when combined with the effects of THC, can enhance the antitumor properties.
So now that you know a bit more about the role that terpenes play in cannabis, you can start looking for what you need. Depending on where you live it can be hard to find the specific terpene profile in your local dispensary so we recommend taking a look at
Fast Buds’ catalog and get growing your own medicine bush.
https://2fast4buds.com/autoflowering-cannabis-seeds
Just make sure you are in compliance with the law before starting your grow cycle.