Terpenes. Whether you are new to the hemp industry or have been around for a while, the odds are you’ve heard of these little things before. And while you know that they are part of the cannabis family of plants, you may not know exactly what they are, what they do, or why they’re significant.

And while there is still research being done on terpenes, how they work, and what their benefits are, there is a lot that researchers have been able to discover about them. They are much more important to hemp than you might know. And you’ve actually had more experience with terpenes than you probably realize.

What’s the Talk on Terpenes?

What are they and what do they do exactly?

Terpenes are chemicals found in plants that determine how things smell. For instance, terpenes are what give oranges their citrus-y scent, lavender their relaxing aroma, and pine trees the iconic smell that we associate with Christmas.

While they are most commonly known when associated with cannabis and hemp, terpenes can be found in many different plants. In fact, there are at least 20,000 different terpenes that have been discovered, over 100 of which have been found in cannabis at different concentration levels.

The involvement of terpenes in determining a plant’s scent isn’t just superficial; these scents play vital roles like attracting pollinators and repelling predators. Terpenes can also benefit plants by helping them recover from damage they incur or protect the plants from diseases.

Many terpenes are bioactive, meaning that–depending on the concentration levels consumed–they can have an affect on the body. 

Within hemp specifically, terpenes also provide an important function: they work alongside cannabinoids to better promote hemp’s natural therapeutic benefits. This is known as the entourage effect. Different hemp compounds can each have beneficial properties of their own, but when they are introduced into the same environment together, they can affect each other in a way that helps to better deliver the plant’s overall health benefits.

The Most Common Terpenes Found in Hemp

When it comes to selecting which strain of hemp is right for you and your desired therapeutic benefits, look at the terpene content of the different strains. 

While there have been over 100 different terpenes found in hemp, there are just a few that show up as the most prominently present, and they can each have different therapeutic benefits. 

According to Leafly, each terpene has its own therapeutic benefits that range on a scale from calming to energizing. Here are some of the most commonly seen terpenes in hemp and their therapeutic properties.

Myrcene

Myrcene is the primary terpene found in hemp, and it can also be found in mangoes. In fact, myrene can make up to 65% of the terpene profile in many plants. 

Myrcene is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and it’s believed to have powerful antioxidant properties and the ability to treat insomnia.

Pinene

It’s pretty easy to identify the scent that pinene creates just from its name. Pinene is found most abundantly in pine trees and gives them their distinct smell. It can be found in two distinct varieties: the alpha, which is what creates the wonderful pine aroma, and the beta, which lends to the scents of rosemary, dill, and parsley.

Pinene is a strong bronchodilator and has strong anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects that people have used for centuries in herbal medicine. It has the potential to help in the treatment of ailments like asthma, pain, inflammation, ulcers, anxiety, and cancer.

Linalool

Linalool is widely known for its stress-relieving, anti-anxiety, and antidepressant properties. It can help balance out the anxious side effects that sometimes come with THC. Linalool is mostly found in the lavender plant.

Not only is Linalool known for its calming and relaxing effects, but studies show that it’s also got  potential benefits to the body as an anti-inflammatory, an antimicrobial, a neuroprotective, an antidepressant, an anticancer, and an anti-anxietal.

Caryophyllene

Caryophyllene is actually the only terpene that can also be considered a cannabinoid because it engages with the endocannabinoid system to provide anti-inflammatory relief.

Caryophyllene has a spicy, woody, peppery aroma and can be found in cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper. It has been known to provide stress and anxiety relief as well as relief for pain and ulcers due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

The Benefits of Buying Terpene-Rich Hemp Flower

If you are buying hemp flower for therapeutic reasons, making sure it’s rich in terpenes is important.

As we’ve seen above, different terpenes have different therapeutic benefits. So selecting the right strain of hemp flower will better help you achieve the results that you are looking for.

Secondly, choosing a terpene-rich hemp flower will help because of the entourage effect. The entourage effect happens when cannabinoids and terpenes are all present together and can affect each other to help bring out a particular outcome more efficiently. Research shows that consuming hemp flower that’s full of therapeutic terpenes versus just a pure CBD product, for instance, brings about a more effective outcome than CBD or any other particular element of hemp could do by itself. 

The entourage effect perfectly emulates the phrase, “We are stronger together.”

Conclusion

Terpenes play a vital role, not only for the hemp plant itself, but also for the therapeutic treatment of our bodies. Without terpenes, the benefits that we look to reap wouldn’t be as strong or effective.

This is why making sure the hemp flower that you buy is rich in terpenes and has the specific terpenes to help you is so important.

If you have more questions about terpenes, hemp or need help selecting the right hemp flower for you, please reach out to us and we would be happy to help you!