Why Terpenes in Full Spectrum CBD Are So Desirable

September 1, 2019

Many of our customers know we sell full spectrum CBD oil. You probably do, too. But do you know why?

If you guess "entourage effect" you are onto something.

Like a rock star who comes into town with a whole entourage, full spectrum CBD comes with all the compounds integral to Cannabis sativa—including hemp's aromatic terpenes. It is the whole plant, not just one component, that shows you the full potential of CBD.

Fast Terpene Facts:

  • Terpenes occur in many plants, fruit rinds, and herbs.
  • Terpenes give essential oils their fragrances. They give an orange its citrus zest. They give a pine forest its unique and memorable aroma.
  • Terpenes influence the medicinal qualities of herbs.
  • The Cannabis sativa plant has about 200 distinct terpenes.
  • Terpenes play significant roles in influencing the effects of cannabinoids such as CBD. This synergy is called the “entourage effect.” 

Eric Baron, of the Center for Neuro-Restoration at the Cleveland Clinic, published an article in the American Headache Society's journal Headache (July 2018), titled "Medicinal Properties of Cannabinoids, Terpenes, and Flavonoids in Cannabis, and Benefits in Migraine, Headache, and Pain: An Update on Current Evidence and Cannabis Science."

Here we list the primary cannabis terpenes, and their therapeutic effects, as Dr. Baron describes them.

Two caveats. Most of this information comes from preclinical studies and more research needs to be done involving human populations. And some effects attributed to individual terpenes came from research on whole oils or plants containing the terpene in high concentrations.

Primary Terpenes in Hemp and Their Therapeutic Traits

Without further ado, the most common primary terpenes found in cannabis are:

Beta‐caryophyllene

In black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, basil, oregano, rosemary, hops.

Effects: Pain-relieving, antioxidant, anti‐cancer.

Myrcene

Found in bay leaves and lemongrass, parsley, mangoes, hops.

Effects: Anti‐inflammatory, pain-relieving, muscle relaxing, sleep promoting, antioxidant.

Alpha‐pinene

In pine needles, sage, dill, parsley, rosemary, basil.

Effects: Antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, potentially anti‐osteoarthritic. May aid memory. Broad‐spectrum anti‐bacterial effects. Assists in countering melanoma.

Humulene

In cloves, hops, sage, basil, spearmint, ginger, ginseng.

Effects: Reduces allergic airway inflammation. Anti‐cancer. Anti‐bacterial and insecticidal. Anecdotal reports suggest it suppresses appetite and aids weight loss.

Linalool

In lavender, citrus, coriander.

Effects: Pain-relieving, anti‐anxiety, anti‐depressant, anticonvulsant. Assists sleep. Significantly lowered opioid use in gastric band patients (lavender inhalation versus placebo).

Limonene

Familiar to all of us, it's in the rinds of all citrus fruits.

Effects: Insect repellant. Pain-relieving. Antidepressant. Protective against skin cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer. Anti-malarial. Helpful in acne and asthma treatment.

Terpinolene

In apples, nutmeg, cumin, tea tree oil.

Effects: Anti‐oxidant, anti‐cancer, potentially beneficial in heart disease.

Terpineol

In pine trees, lilacs, eucalyptus.

Effects: Pain reduction in fibromyalgia. Anti‐cancer effects in small-cell lung cancer. Muscle relaxation in asthma. Anti-stress and blood pressure reduction effects.

Ocimene

In mango, mint, pepper, oregano, basil, parsley, orchids, hops, pepper, lavender.

Effects: Sweetly fragrant, it has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial benefits.

Valencene

In Valencia oranges, tangerines, grapefruits.

Effects: Anti‐inflammatory.

Geraniol

In geraniums, roses, lemongrass, citronella.

Effects: Antioxidant in inflammatory lung disease, antibacterial, and antiparasitic.

Fascinating Therapeutic Potential

For all the above reasons and more, CBD oil with terpenes is fascinating in its therapeutic potential. The more we learn about CBD terpenes, the more we're excited to share what we know with our customers. Watch this space!

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