Understanding terpinolene terpenes and associated CBD health benefits
Although you may not recognise the word, you have probably encountered many terpenes throughout your life. For example, terpenes are present in many commercial products including soap and shampoo. It is terpenes that give these products their distinctive scents of orange, lemon, lavender and rose, for example. But terpenes are more than just nice fragrances. Terpinolene is a terpene and this article will help increase your understanding of terpinolene terpenes and the associated CBD health benefits.
And, as you may have guessed, terpinolene terpenes is what causes that particular smell we encounter when we smoke cannabis. There are more than 20,000 terpenes to be found in nature with about 200 of them being found in the cannabis plant. Terpinolene is one of the least common terpenes in cannabis, but it still plays a key role in taste and fragrance even in small quantities. But why have terpinolene terpenes been gaining popularity when it comes to achieving health benefits, and how it is related to CBD?
Understanding terpenes
Although terpenes are linked to cannabis strains, they are present in many plants. They are compounds composed of hydrocarbons that carry aroma and taste. Thus, they dictate the flavour and scent of a plant or fruit with some of the most instantly recognisable terpenes being lemon, mint, and lavender.
In plants, terpenes are also an intrinsic part of the reproduction and defence systems, since they attract insects that support pollination but, conversely, repulse potential predators.
Terpenes are often extracted from plants and combined with carriers for commercial uses. A lot of people use essential oils filled with terpenes for aromatherapy purposes.
Terpinolene is a specific terpene which can be found in many plants including cannabis.
The terpinolene terpene
Terpinolene has a complex profile of aroma and flavour and this is what provides it with its unique personality. Terpinolene can be found in tea tree, conifers, apple, cumin, sage, rosemary, and lilac. The distinctive earthy, woody tones are the reason this terpene is often linked to cannabis as mentioned here: https://cheefbotanicals.com/terpinolene/, giving cannabis strains a very distinctive presence.
Although terpinolene can be found in many personal and household products, it is normally combined with other terpenes, just as one would blend essential oils to make the most exquisite perfumes. Similarly, terpinolene is often combined with other terpenes such as lilac and lavender to treat certain sleep disorders. A 2013 study published in the Journal of Natural Medicines showed terpinolene to be an effective central nervous system sedative.
This, and some of the other properties detailed below, is why terpinolene is a popular compound in CBD products.
Health benefits of terpinolene terpenes in CBD
As you may be aware, medical cannabis has been legally approved in many places all around the world. Its uses, though, may depend on each country or state. With that said, it is commonly used for:
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- Dealing with stress and anxiety
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- Dealing with sleeping disorders
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- Relieving pain and inflammation
In the UK, medicinal cannabis is only prescribed by the NHS in very limited circumstances.
Medicinal cannabis is known for containing a compound known as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a compound that can affect our senses, making us feel intoxicated. In short, THC is the compound that makes us high when we consumed cannabis-related products, either smoked or consumed through mouth. It is illegal to take medicinal cannabis (cannabis containing high levels of THC) in the UK for recreational use.
The legal alternative to medicinal cannabis in the UK is CBD, which only contains a minute percentage of THC. CBD is derived from hemp as opposed to marijuana. Both are plants of the same species, Cannabis Sativa, but hemp plants have less than 0.3 percent THC
Many hemp plants also contain the terpinolene compound. This makes it a much more reliable form of treatment for a lot of people, and since it can contain terpinolene, you can also benefit not only from its health benefits but the taste and scent of this terpene.
As well as effectiveness for as a mild sedative, as already detailed, other studies indicate that terpinolene is antifungal and antibacterial meaning it inhibits bacteria growth and fungi propagation. It is also a natural antiseptic and has great antioxidant properties, some of the many reasons that this compound increases the effectiveness of CBD.
If consuming CBD before sleeping, for example, it can help you relax and get high-quality sleep without causing any other side effects.
You can also find flavoured CBD strains or flowers to smoke, which contain the amazing flavour of certain fruits, like grapefruit, with the added scent of terpinolene. It is more common to find essential oils, though, and they can be used for the same purposes.
Why many people prefer CBD to prescribed medications
The reason why CBD has gained a lot of popularity is that it has been shown to help people with pain-inducing diseases, sleeping disorders, and anxiety or stress problems, without causing harmful side-effects.
Unfortunately, the side-effects of long-term use of more traditional prescribed forms of medicine for pain relief and/or depression are widely known and a lot of people fear using them for long periods as they can have extensive side effects and are often extremely addictive. CBD, on the other hand, is considered much safer when it comes to side-effects and, ironically, appears to be less addictive from some of the medications your GP may prescribe.
Image credits:
Hemp buds photo by Sharon McCutcheon from Pexels