Terpenes play an important role in your hemp CBD products — but do you know what that role is? Well, terpenes are the reason why your CBD products have a unique smell or taste — and is likely the reason why some products work, and why many don’t.
But let’s break this down a little further.
Terpenes are organic molecules that many plants produce. You experience these molecules every day, as they’re the reason for the many smells that grace your olfactory system. They give off the distinct aroma in citrus fruits, pine trees, flowers — and more.
Here are some common terpenes that you’ve certainly experienced:
Limonene is found in citrus fruit peels and can have anxiety and stress-relief qualities.
Linalool is found in lavender alongside a wide range of cannabis products; it’s also a great immune system protector.
Myrcene is found in herbs such as basil, lemongrass, and thyme — along with mangos. It’s a great sleeping aid due to its sedative properties.
Pinene is from pine resin and has been found to increase focus and alertness — along with memory retention.
Eucalyptol is common with various tea trees and eucalyptus and has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties.
Nerolidol can be found in ginger and lemongrass as well and may have anti-fungal, antimicrobial, antioxidant properties — along with sedative effects.
In fact, this is just a short list of the terpenes that can be found in hemp CBD plants!
What About Hemp Terpenes?
When it comes to naturally occurring terpenes, there are few plants that provide the variety of aromas and medicinal value that cannabis cultivars offer. In our case, each specific strain of hemp will have its own roster of terpenes that give it an individualized taste and flavor profile. But, that’s not all they do. Terpenes actually affect the experience an individual has with a particular product. This is because cannabis researchers now believe that hemp terpenes act synergistically with cannabinoids, with the potential to strongly enhance cannabinoid effect.
However, just because hemp strains naturally produce terpenes, doesn’t mean they are found in your products. How is this possible? Well, the answer boils down to extraction. Huh?
What is Extraction?
For starters, extraction is the process of how CBD oil is made. Here at Minny Grown, our hand selected hemp plants are lightly rinsed in our custom ethanol extractor. This process of whole plant extraction has been used throughout human history and is generally how cannabis researchers and herbalists perform extractions for their medical studies.
After the hemp flowers are rinsed with alcohol, the alcohol is then evaporated or “recovered” from the hemp extract (or what we also refer to as full spectrum cbd oil). However, this stage of evaporation is extremely important, and is where many CBD companies fall short.
Although we can’t give away all our secrets, the key to capturing the full synergy of cannabinoids and terpenes during extraction all boils down to maintaining low temperatures and extreme oversight throughout the evaporation process. Because many CBD companies do not perform their own extractions, this part of the process is often overlooked, and why many CBD products are ineffective.
So, it’s important to understand that when it comes to hemp cbd, all cultivars will naturally produce terpenes when growing in the field. However, as you can see, the oversight instituted in the extraction process will determine whether or not terpenes are found in your CBD products.
CBD Products – Do Terpenes Matter?
As you have probably guessed by now – yes, terpenes absolutely matter. Over the years, researchers discovered some incredible benefits and therapeutic effects associated with the compound CBD. But, as cannabis research has progressed, studies show that whole plant extracts (the process described above) have a more pronounced biological effect than individual cannabinoids, and it’s because of terpenes.
Essentially, both cannabinoids and terpenes affect the way our brain chemistry functions, and together they form a synergistic relationship. It is what is known as the entourage effect.
Wrapping Up
So, when it comes to CBD, you want to make sure your products contain terpenes. Terpenes will greatly increase the effectiveness and therapeutic benefits you receive from your CBD oil. The best way to tell if your product has terpenes is by tasting it. Or, if you want to make sure your CBD product contains terpenes, shop our full spectrum tinctures. Our full spectrum products contain the following natural terpenes that are never removed or added back: Beta-myrcene, Alpha-bisabolol, Linalool, Beta-caryophyllene, Alpha-humulene, Alpha-pinene, D-Limonene, Cis-beta-ocimene.
“The more you know,” is all too true when it comes to CBD products. If you’re just getting started with CBD, we’d recommend taking the time to read this in-depth article: What is CBD and Why Does it Work? Here, we break down a ton of questions, concerns, and even some of the complex science of how CBD interacts with the body.
Hopefully we have been able to shed some light on the important role that Terpenes play in CBD products. As research and studies continue on “the entourage effect,” we’ll continue to learn more about how these naturally occurring chemicals work in harmony to produce both therapeutic and physiological effects. Stay tuned for more!