Cannabis has many compounds, and Terpenes is one of them. Every plant has them, but usually, people associate them with Cannabis. Terpenes are also known as terpenoids or terps, and nowadays, these are part of many consumer and alternative therapeutic products.
They are responsible for specific scents associated with that particular plant, such as lavender, Cannabis, oregano, orange peel, etc. The smell and aroma of that plants are due to a combination of different Terpenes in varying concentrations. Cannabis contains its heights amount, and researchers are trying to explore the more potential benefits of Cannabis and its compounds. Moreover, they play an essential role in plants’ protection from predators, insects and help them in pollination by attracting pollinators. Let’s explore more about Terpenes.
What Are Terpenes?
These are aromatic compounds that make specific smells or aromas of some plants and herbs. These fragrant molecules are mostly oils that release a therapeutic and calming scent; their concentrations in plants decide the strength of smell or aroma. Terpenes also release smell or fragrance in their natural state, but smell becomes stronger when they undergo the process of aerosolization at high temperatures. Different Terpenes are present in Cannabis in the highest concentration. Linalool, limonene, and caryophyllene are some Terpenes present in the cannabis plant. Terpenes also offer some health benefits and especially play an important role in mood elevation. There are several products in the market which have them as the main ingredient. Usually, these products are stress relievers.
How Terpenes Can Affect Your Mood?
You are feeling low or bad day Terpenes can alleviate your mood. In fact, Terpenes are bioactive and can affect the body and brain. Their effects vary from person to person and are mostly based on the concentration of the Terpenes themselves. Moreover, effects also depend upon their usage. Due to their pulsating smells, Terpenes are part of many essential oils and part of Aromatherapy.
According to some studies inhaling the scents from some plants and essential oils may affect a person’s mood and reduce stress levels.
They affect differently from CBD. Many people confuse them with Cannabinoids such as THC.
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds in Cannabis that affect our endocannabinoid system and make people high. Terpenes are also Cannabinoids that affect our endocannabinoid system, but our body uses them differently as compared to other Cannabinoids. they also work alone or also enhance the effect of other CBD compounds. It can also improve the entourage effect for a person who is using Cannabis.
The entourage effect means that chemical compounds in Cannabis produce a better effect together as compared to their usage separately. It means that they enhance or alter the effects of THC and CBD in the body. You can discover many scientific pieces of evidence in its support and their enhancing entourage effect. Moreover, some studies also suggest that Terpenes may affect how the body uses CBD. Some people or researchers support that CBD affects better in the presence of Terpenes.
How Do Different Kinds of Terpenes Work?
Each type of Terpenes interacts with specific brain receptors to affect differently. Moreover, each kind of Terpenes can actually affect multiple parts of the brain, endocannabinoid system, and nervous system at the same time. That’s why some Terpenes have multiple effects, including stress relieving and calming nerves.
– linalool
There are hundreds of Terpenes are present in nature, but researchers study only a few for their effects on the body, such as linalool (present in lavender and cannabis plants). It is part of alternative therapeutic medicines and uses in aromatherapy too. It is responsible for a calming effect and smelling it soothes the nerves and refreshes the mood.
– Alpha-Pinene
These are present in rosemary, pine leaves, eucalyptus, and orange peels. It also affects different receptors in our brain. It inhibits the sites related to stress receptors and shows improvement in mood and cognition.
– Myrcene
These are other important Terpenes that interact with the brain in a particularly interesting way. This makes Myrcene one of the most powerful Terpenes when it comes to the entourage effect. So if you’re looking for a product to seek pleasure and soothe your nerves, then you must check the ingredient list for it, especially Myrcene. The presence of Myrcene can boost its effectiveness!
Moreover, Myrcene’s ability to affect the blood-brain barrier helps to perk up other Terpenes’ efficiency! This makes Myrcene the first choice to enhance the effectiveness of any of its blends.
– Limonene
Remember one thing either you consume Terpenes, inhale, or topically apply. It will affect your brain and neurotransmitters. Limonene has anti-stress properties and improves mood. It is present mostly in citrus fruits like lemon, orange grapefruit.
Forest Bathing, Terpenes and Their Effect on Mood
Many emotional and physical benefits of certain Terpenes can be felt after forest bathing.
Forest bathing does not involve any water, and actually, it means spending enough time in nature to soak up the naturally occurring Terpenes from the plants around you.
Many plants naturally emit it. These have a lot of benefits, and calmly walking around in the woods is a great way to get them in your system. Forest bathing allows you to spend time in nature; you are exposing too many different simultaneously. This allows different Terpenes to work in synchronization to make you relax. During Forest, bathing absorbing it affect your mood and help you to relieve the stress. You forget your worries and feel fresher while forest bathing.
Wrapping up the Things
It affects the mood and soothes the nerves. There are different ways to use Terpenes like aromatherapy, forest bathing, topical application to elevate the mood, reduce depression and anxiety. Moreover, when Terpenes and Cannabinoids combine together then a stronger entourage effect will produce. Still, more research and studies are required to explore more potential benefits of Terpenes and how these compounds are effective for mood alleviation.
