The Couch
Cannabis Terpenes – Going beyond Cannabinoids, Part 2
Now that you’ve gotten yourself acquainted with some of the more common terpenes in part one of this series, we’re going to close it off with some other important compounds, in part two. Again, these are important to take note of, when buying any cannabis or cannabis oil THC products. Not only can being aware of what you’re buying greatly affect your high, but the medicinal effects will also differ, based on the compounds involved.
Eucalyptol
The name makes it quite obvious here, but eucalyptol oil is present in eucalyptus and is the source of that wonderful minty odor. It’s typically used topically, but it’s general presence within the body has been studied as a defense against Alzheimer’s disease. It’s also great for fighting bacteria – specifically staph bacteria – in addition to being used for antifungal and antioxidant purposes.
It’s not present in many strains of cannabis, but keep your eyes out for Super Silver Haze if you want this terpene in your flower. If you’re just looking out for it in general, plenty of mouthwashes, cough suppressants, and hand creams contain this essential oil, as does cannabis essential oil.
Eucalyptus, which is a main source of eucalyptol in oils
Pinene
Pinene is another compound with a name that gives it all away. Pinene is found in many other plants and is the source of that magical pine scent. It has a lot of similar health benefits to other terpenes, but you may want to look out for this one specifically, if you’re one of those people that feels cannabis is slowing you down.
Pinene is directly associated with promoting alertness. If you feel you have a very short-term memory from your cannabis use, then you may want to ask about strains that contain this little guy. Of course, you also want to make sure that the other terpenes you find aren’t debilitating this in your flower or cannabis essential oil. For example, if the strain you’re looking at also has a high amount of myrcene, the alertness you’re looking for (from the Pinene) will be dampened by the myrcene.
You can find Pinene in strains like Jack Herer, Trainwreck, and Blue Dream, so keep your eye out for these and for edibles made from them.
Terpineol
This little terpene, which is often hidden under a ton of pinene, replicates the scent of lilac and other soft floral aromas. Terpineol can actually help with a range of specific issues, including acne and even malaria. Several studies have also come out which suggest that this terpene is essential in the research for natural remedies, including cancer, due to its role as a tumor killer. Along with CBN, terpineol is a relaxing compound, so it may turn you into a couch potato when activated in your cannabis use. However, if you’re using it to fight a major disease, that’s a minor side effect, in comparison.
Camphene
For those who love the great outdoors or miss their wet New England forests, Camphene resembles the scent of those damp woodland areas. This is similar to Myrcene, but Camphene comes with some properties that make it important to pay attention to.
Camphene actually fights cardiovascular disease, by lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the bloodstream. After a 2011 study, it was concluded that camphene is a serious compound, when it comes to our heart health. As is the case with other terpenes and cannabinoids, camphene has no negative side effects and shows serious results.
If you’re interested, you can find a good amount of camphene in strains like Ghost OG.
Carene (Delta 3 Carene)
This is another woodsy-scented terpene, but it’s also a very common one. This is definitely one to keep track of, if you’re on the “dry” side, when it comes to your cannabis intake. It’s common for people to experience dry mouth or red eyes with cannabis use, and this terpene is specifically known for drying up bodily fluids. If that’s a pet peeve of yours, I would recommend being on the lookout for strains that are specifically low in this compound instead.
Carene is known to help with bone growth, so that may be another reason to consider this terpene. Both Super Silver Haze and Super Lemon Haze are good options, if you’re looking for carene.
Essential oil bottles, where you can (perhaps surprisingly) find many of these compounds
Time to Buy
Now that you’ve read though this two-part series, you should be ready to go and buy cannabis products, like cannabis oil THC or non-THC, like a pro. Of course, you can never do enough research with terpenes, as these ten only scratch the surface of what you can find in cannabis and in other plants around the world. As a safe edibles or flower consumer, you should always know what’s in your products.
