“Are Terpenes just smells? No!” The opening lines of today’s Riley Dee clip couldn’t be further from fiction! This proud declaration speaks to the all around complex nature of hemp in general. Many of its various aspects are multi-layered, and often serve many beneficial purposes.
Arbor Vita8 is the largest hemp processor in the Southeastern United States. But we seek to be more than mere extractions or sales. Our goal is to be an all out hemp powerhouse, serving as a support for interested parties of all backgrounds. Be sure to visit our blog page for thorough breakdowns of the many aspects of hemp!
Terpenes
Terpenes are oils produced by cannabis. As stated, they are what gives hemp its respective odor. These smells vary from strain to strain, and are often used in the strain’s naming convention. Some are fruity, some are earthy, and some are more pungent than others.
Terpenes are diverse, and can be found well beyond hemp plants. Vegetation, fruits, and more are rich in terps. How they appear in a specific setting depends on how they were cultivated. This means that even the same strain may show different effects if it was cured differently.
The Entourage Effect
While the ability to produce intriguing smells is unique on its own, that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Once in your system, terpenes connect to the body’s receptors. These are located in the brain. Once connected, the effects produced can range from psychological to physical, and both!
This is an example of the entourage effect. What this concept suggests about the versatility of hemp is insane to think about! As Riley denotes, the concept states that there “are hundreds of molecules in cannabis. They all are kind of capable of producing different changes in your body”. So what do these effects look like?
Types of Terpenes
There are several cannabinoids that come from our favorite plant. Of these, there are some popular terpenes that come about. One is Myrcene. This terp can act as antibiotic, and help with inflammation. Then there’s Caryophylene. This is good for pain and muscle discomfort.
Another popular selection is Linalool. This errs more on the psychological side, addressing sleep issues, stress, and more. Pinene is a terpene with significant beneficial effects on the respiratory system. Humulene is yet another support for anti-inflammation, while Limonene helps target mood.
Hemp: A Versatile Crop
Keep in mind this is a very general view of terpenes and the entourage effect. There’s so much more to cover! Each has its own deeper set of traits. We encourage you to visit our blogs section, which takes a closer look at all the wonderful aspects of hemp.
Still have more questions? Do you know someone in the field that’s looking to take their industrial hemp efforts to the next level? Have them reach out to us today! Our network of credentialed associates are here to help you. Head over to our contact page now for more information.
Clip Transcript
Riley Dee:
Aren’t terpenes just smells? No, they’re so much more than just smells, although they are responsible for why our weed smells so good. Terpenes alone by themselves can actually cause physiological changes in our body by activating receptors. You may have heard of the entourage effect before, and the entourage effect is essentially saying that there are hundreds of molecules in cannabis and they all are kind of capable of producing different changes in your body.
So depending on the strain of cannabis that you’re using, it could be high in specific terpenes that might be good for inflammation or sleep or anxiety. So just remember, when we think of cannabis, you think of a huge mixture of molecules that can interact with your body in different ways. In the next video, I’m going to talk about my favorite terpene, beta-caryophyllene.
