Why does medical cannabis alleviate pain, relieve nausea, and reduce anxiety? The answer is science! The cannabis plant is made up of a variety of chemical components that scientific research has proven provide a variety of therapeutic effects.
Specifically, the 100+ cannabinoids (including THC and CBD) and the 100+ terpenes found in the cannabis plant have their own therapeutic properties, and when combined, they can become even more effective or provide different medicinal effects. This is referred to as the entourage effect, which means a cultivator can produce strains that deliver different effects by manipulating terpenes.
What Are Cannabis Terpenes?
A terpene is a molecule that is made up of hydrogen and carbon only. The two main types of terpenes are monoterpenes (which include 10 carbon atoms) and sesquiterpenes (which include 15 carbon atoms). Terpenes are aromatic and can affect the smell of a cannabis strain as well as the therapeutic properties.
What Are the Therapeutic Effects of Terpenes?
Aromatherapists leverage the chemistry of essential oils and the chemical components of those oils to create a wide variety of blends that are targeted to support specific conditions and problems. Fortunately, their work has prompted a great deal of research related to the therapeutic effects of the primary terpenes found in plants, including the cannabis plant.
Therapeutic Effects of Monoterpenes
In general, monoterpenes are excellent airborne deodorizers. They can also be decongesting for both the respiratory and muscular systems, and they are often rubifacient (warming). They’re also excellent at enhancing skin penetration, which means topical cannabis products can be more effective when they contain the right monoterpenes.
Following is an overview of the most common monoterpenes found in the Cannabis sativa plant and in popular cannabis strains as well as the therapeutic properties of each based on completed scientific studies:
Camphene: Antioxidant and mucolytic
Carene: Anti-inflammatory, mucolytic, can help prevent bone loss
Cymene: Antibacterial, antiviral, analgesic
Limonene: Antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, analgesic, immunostimulant, enhances skin penetration, antiobesity, antiulcerogenic, activates white blood cells
Myrcene: Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, sedative (Mycerne is the terpene thought to be responsible for the sedate, “couch lock” effect caused by some strains of cannabis.)
Ocimene: Antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antifungal
Phellandrene: Anti-inflammatory, antifungal, analgesic
Pinene (a-pinene): Antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antispasmodic, helps to prevent bone loss
Pinene (b-pinene): Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antispasmodic, helps prevent bone loss
Sabinene: Antibacterial, antioxidant
Terpinolene: Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, antispasmodic, sedative
Therapeutic Effects of Sesquiterpenes
In general, sesquiterpenes are anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and cicatrisant (skin/wound healing and cell regenerating), but the therapeutic effects produced by sesquiterpenes can be more varied than monoterpenes (remember, there are five more carbons to create more chemical bonding variety).
Following is an overview of the most common sesquiterpenes found in the Cannabis sativa plant and in popular cannabis strains as well as the therapeutic properties of each based on completed scientific studies:
Caryophyllene (b-caryophyllene): Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiviral, antitumoral, antispasmodic, immunostimulant
Cedrene: Antibacterial, astringent, antitumoral, enhances skin penetration
Humulene: Anti-inflammatory, antitumoral
Other Chemical Components in Cannabis
As you surf the web to learn more about terpenes, it’s important to understand that not all of the chemical components of the cannabis plant that are often described as “terpenes” are actually terpenes. Remember, it’s chemistry that tells us what chemical family a molecule belongs to, and terpenes only include carbon and hydrogen.
Monoterpenols
While monoterpenes are made up of just hydrogen and carbon (forming the 10-carbon backbone), a functional group called hydroxyl (-OH) is also present in monoterpenols (i.e., alcohols). The therapeutic properties of each molecule changes based on where the -OH is located on the molecule.
In general, monoterpenols are anti-infectious, excellent immune system stimulants (over time), skin healing, and great for emotional balance.
Following is an overview of the most common monoterpenols found in the Cannabis sativa plant and in popular cannabis strains as well as the therapeutic properties of each based on completed scientific studies:
Borneol: Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antispasmodic, cicatrisant, central nervous system depressant, neuroprotective, can prevent bone lose, sedative
Citronellol: Antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antioxidant, antianxiety, central nervous system depressant, hypotensive
Fenchol: Antimicrobial, antibacterial, antioxidant, analgesic
Geraniol: Airborne antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, cooling
Linalool: Airborne antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, antiviral, analgesic, anticonvulsant, antispasmodic, hypotensive, immunostimulant, sedative
Menthol: Antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticoagulant, antispasmodic, antipruritic, antitumoral, antitussive, central nervous system stimulant, choleretic, hypotensive, dopaminergic, cooling
Terpineol: Airborne antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, antiviral, analgesic, hypotensive, cicatrisant, sedative
Sesquiterpenols
Sesquiterpenols are made up of hydrogen and carbon that form the 15-carbon backbone of sesquiterpenes, but sesquiterpenols also include a hydroxyl (-OH) functional group making them alcohols.
In general, sesquiterpenols are anti-inflammatory and cooling.
Following is an overview of the most common sesquiterpenols found in the Cannabis sativa plant and in popular cannabis strains as well as the therapeutic properties of each based on completed scientific studies:
Bisabobol: Antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antispasmodic, antiulcerogenic, antitumoral, cicatrisant, skin penetration enhancer
Guaiol: Antibacterial
Nerolidol: Antibacterial, antifungal, antianxiety, sedative
Ketones
Ketones have an oxygen atom that is double-bonded to a carbon atom, and the carbon atom is always bonded to two other carbon atoms.
In general, ketones are highly mucolytic, pain-relieving, and great for circulation.
Following is an overview of the most common ketone found in the Cannabis sativa plant and in popular cannabis strains as well as the therapeutic properties based on completed scientific studies:
Pulegone: Antianxiety, psychostimulant
Key Takeaways About Cannabis Terpenes
Different strains of cannabis provide different medicinal benefits. It’s essential that manufacturers use the right terpenes and other chemical components to develop products that will deliver the benefits promoted to consumers, and it’s critical that budtenders are trained to understand the ingredients in every product sold in their dispensaries.
In addition, budtenders must receive advanced training and learn how to ask patients a variety of questions in order to help them select the best products that will support their individual needs.
If you or your employees need training on cannabis, terpenes, and more, check out our seminar registration page to see when classes will be held in your area.
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