Terpenes: What Are They, And What Are The Benefits?

Terpenes might sound familiar to those who have consumed CBD, but it is still an alien term for many people. Many are becoming more aware of CBD and its benefits, but they are still not aware of terpenes and its massive impact on CBD products. This is where the article comes into play; in this article, we will discuss all about terpenes – what it is, its benefits, and many more.

CBD: The Basics

Before we go further with terpenes, it’s essential to know the benefits of CBD. CBD is a product derived from hemp. Hemp, unlike marijuana, does not give a “high” and “stoned” feeling, therefore making it a safe option to use. 

Hemp is extracted, not without reason. Hemp contains endocannabinoids, an important compound used for the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). ECS is a necessity for us, as it helps the body to give its balance back (homeostasis). Moreover, ECS is also connected to many body functions (inflammation, pain nerve, sleeping cycle, digestive system, emotion, and many more).

Due to ECS’ function, we need to take care of it properly. We can do so by regularly consuming CBD, thanks to the external endocannabinoids CBD contains.

What are Terpenes?

If endocannabinoids are essential, what makes terpenes even more critical? Terpenes are what makes plants appealing. It is responsible for a plant’s smell, flavor, and colors. 

Terpenes also affect the quality of the said things. For example, a cuisine can taste better than the other despite it being the same kind; the taste of the cuisine depends on the spices and ingredients to make the food. The better the quality of the ingredients, the better the food will be. Terpenes are the same with the elements; it affects the quality of the plant. 

Now, terpenes become more than giving quality. Thanks to evolution, terpenes also aids plants in defending themselves or attracting more insects for pollination. There are at least 20,000 terpenes in this world, and the cannabis plant has 100 of these terpenes

Terpenes are located in glandular trichomes, glands that look like soft hairs coming out of the plants’ leaves and flowers. Keeping the glandular trichomes intact until the end of the production of CBD is no easy matter. However, if it’s done correctly, it can create the ultimate cannabis that excels in every aspect, from the smell to its flavor.

Keeping trichomes intact is not the only thing manufacturers need to do. Manufacturers need to make sure that the environment is suitable to maintain the quality of the terpenes. Some of the factors that affect the condition are light, temperature, humidity, and many others. That is why manufacturers try their best to grow cannabis in the best environment possible.

All the hard work done by manufacturers is not without reason. Terpenes are known to have a specific impact on cannabis, and each terpene gives a different kind of result on the final product.

Kinds of Terpenes

Since there are 100 kinds of terpenes found in cannabis, it makes sense for them to have different effects and varieties. Here are some examples of terpenes found in cannabis:

1. Humulene: terpenes found in kitchen products such as basil and cloves.
2. Limonene: terpenes that can be found in cleaning products, balms, and topicals.
3. Myrcene:  the most common terpenes in cannabis. It gives a relaxing side-effect, explaining the “stoned” feeling some people might go through.
4. Linalool: the most appropriate terpene for used to combat THC’s side-effects.

The Difference between Terpenes and Terpenoids

You can find terpenes in cannabis, but they change once you process the plant. Once the cannabis is dried and cured, it becomes terpenoids. Of course, the process will also change the molecules of terpenoids and its taste. 

Terpenoids are mostly used for the aroma of cannabis. They are the factors that affect the product’s smell, like how it works with essential oils and aromatics. However, it is later found out that terpenoids also contribute to the quality of each strain, increasing or decreasing the quality of the strain. Thus, terpenoids affect the uniqueness of the strain.

The Connection between Terpenes and Full-Spectrum CBD Oil

There are two main kinds of CBD products: full-spectrum CBD and isolate CBD. Isolate CBD is CBD that only contains cannabinoids while having the rest of hemp’s components removed (thus the term “isolated”). Meanwhile, full-spectrum CBD has most of the elements of hemp intact. 

The difference in component means that the two products are different in quality and benefit. After all, an isolated part doesn’t have the benefits of all components. Since isolate CBD only has one cannabinoid, it cannot go through the entourage effect. 

The entourage effect is the condition where all aspects of hemp maximize itself to give the fullest to the body. Since the entourage effect involves hemp as a whole, it can only be achieved by consuming full or broad spectrum CBD.

Since full-spectrum CBD contains most of the hemp, it means that terpenes are also included in full-spectrum CBD. So, without terpenes, the CBD will not be able to go through the most ambitious entourage effect. 

Since terpenes are necessary for the best entourage effect, manufacturers need to grow hemp that has the highest quality. Hence, manufacturers always strive to give the best environment and condition for their raw material. 

Final Thoughts 

From the analysis above, we can conclude that terpenes are more than smell and taste. Unlike what people thought, terpenes have many benefits that can significantly impact the product. In fact, terpenes can significantly affect the quality of the plant and its components, making it an essential asset for the CBD industry.

Moreover, terpenes also affect the quality of the entourage effect. If the quality of terpenes (and other raw material) decreases, the same will happen to the entourage effect. For this reason, manufacturers are conscientious when it comes to managing the raw material. By taking care of the raw materials carefully, manufacturers aim to give the best CBD product so that consumers can get the best out of CBD.