Terpe-what? Terpe-who? Terpenes!

Up until a few years ago, terpene was one term that wasn't talked about much in the mainstream. However, it is now becoming the talk of the town. The more we study cannabis the more we realize just about how much these terpenes take their seat as the medicinal powerhouse. 

They interact with the endocannabinoid system in a superior way that still leaves scientists and doctors in awe. So.. what are they? Well for starters these terpenoids are in all plants. From lemons, pine trees, lavender, roses, lilacs, etc., terpenes are present. For thousands of years, people have been using plants that contain these sophisticated terpenes to treat several conditions and modern medicinal cannabis.

More and more studies are being conducted with promising results. “Some terpenes are relatively well known for their potential in bio-medicine and have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, while others are yet to be studied in detail… Terpenes' medicinal properties are supported by numerous in vitro, animal and clinical trials and show anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-convulsive, antidepressant, anxiolytic, anticancer, anti-tumor, neuro-protective, anti-mutagenic, anti-allergic, antibiotic and anti-diabetic attributes, among others. Because of the very low toxicity, these terpenes are already widely used as food additives and in cosmetic products. Thus, they have been proven safe and well-tolerated.” [1]

Ohiocannabis.com’s JohnnyCannabis visited the grand opening of Terrasana Dispensary in Springfield, Ohio awhile back and there he was able to "Talk Terpenes" with dispensary owner Dr. Bill Kedia. 

Dr. Kedia said, "[Terpenes are] the more active compound that provides more benefit when you combined it with the right THC CBD concentration. You know, when you look at specific terpenes and how they affect your body and mind you, you don’t find terpenes just in cannabis. They’re actually found in every plant material on Earth. If you look at an orange, it actually has the citronella. It has that terpene citronella in it that has that anti-inflammatory property to it. That’s why when you drink lemon juice mixed with water, it's really good for you. You feel better. So similarly, when you have these different terpene profiles and we can, the grower specifically,  dial in the genetics to enhance certain terpenes. That is where I view the future as cannabis as a medicine.” [2]

Check out the full interview and video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_ZjxIEWX4o

With all that being said, we believe that patients should get as familiar as possible with these terpenes, while also making sure that the strain they're purchasing from their local dispensaries correlates with the desired effect they're trying to obtain. According to Leafly, some of the most popular terpenes are Alpha-Pinene, Myrcene, Limonene, Beta-Caryophyllene, Linalool, Humulene, Ocimene, and Terpinolene. You can find an entire list of these with total descriptions of their characteristics and benefits on their website.

What terpenes are your favorite? Let us know in the comments below and find out more on our facebook or twitter or instagram!

To find out more about obtaining your medical card and more info on medicinal cannabis visit our friends at Ohio Marijuana Card.

As always, stay informed and be kind.

Sources:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30096653
2. https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/terpenes-the-flavors-of-cannabis-aromatherapy
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_ZjxIEWX4o

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