Terpenes are an often overlooked but nonetheless essential part of the cannabis plant. These essential oils give each cannabis strain their unique smell, flavour and taste. Terpenes also reputedly hold therapeutic properties that can help with everything ranging from depression to infection.
Terpenes are not just unique to cannabis and can be found in nearly all plants and natural foods. More than 200 terpenes have been identified and each cannabis plant has a completely different terpene make-up – a comparative fingerprint.
Terpenes directly affect your senses; its make-up correlates to the identifiable smells and tastes of different cannabis strains. These essential oils also directly affect our endocannabinoid system, just as efficiently as THC or CBD. In fact, Terpenes interact synergistically with THC to affect the chemical outputs in the brain.
Different Terpenes have different therapeutic effects on the body. For example, Limonene can help with depression and anxiety, while Caryophyllene is a perfect remedy for inflammation.
Terpene extraction is key to the efficacy of their therapeutic properties. The ratios of these oils can be affected by outside elements including temperature, climate, maturation and more. Terpene content can also diminish over time, so it is essential that plants are stored correctly or consumed in good time.
The infographic below, created by Leafly, gives a clear indication of Terpenes, their effects and medical benefits.
Header Photo Credit: Freedom Seeds Limited.
Header Photo Credit: Freedom Seeds Limited.
