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How Terpenes Assist The Entourage Effect

How Terpenes Assist The Entourage Effect

, by Vivimu Blog, 4 min reading time

Terpenes are essential for the entourage effect. They work with cannabinoids to provide therapeutic benefits. Terpenes are fragrant essential oils found in many plants, including cannabis. Each terpene has a different scent and flavor, and they all interact with the cannabinoids to create the entourage effect.

What Is The Entourage Effect?

The entourage effect is a term used by scientists to describe how cannabinoids and terpenes combine to produce the therapeutic effects of cannabis. This synergy is refered to as the entourage effect. The entourage effect can boost the medical benefits of marijuana while lowering its psychoactivity, which might be overpowering if a person takes in too much-isolated THC, for example.

When you consume cannabis compounds alone, they aren't nearly as potent as the whole plant extract. Terpenes play a significant role in this because they assist in making cannabinoids more bioavailable. They do this by interacting with the endocannabinoid system, which regulates many of the body's functions.

Terpenes And The Endocannabinoid System

First, some cannabis terminology, THC and CBD are cannabinoids that bind to receptors in the human body's endocannabinoid system, specifically the CB1 and CB2 receptors. THC is primarily the psychoactive compound in marijuana and is responsible for the "high" that users experience. On the other hand, CBD is non-psychoactive, thought to provide many of the plant's therapeutic benefits.

In the early 1990s was it discovered that these cannabinoid receptors exist. The endocannabinoid system helps regulate many of the body's functions, including pain, appetite, mood, and memory. Cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant mimic those found in our bodies.

The endocannabinoid system consists of receptors found throughout the body. When terpenes and cannabinoids bind to these receptors, they create an entourage effect that helps to improve the body's overall health. Terpenes also protect the cannabinoids from degradation, which can be stored in the body for extended periods.

Terps For Daze

There are many different types of terpenes, and each one offers its unique benefits. For example, linalool is a terpene known for its relaxation properties. It can also help to reduce anxiety and stress levels. Limonene is another terpene known for its ability to boost the immune system.

Terpenes are considered a class of organic compounds produced by various plants, including cannabis. They are responsible for the unique smells and flavors of different strains of marijuana. For example, the terpene myrcene is responsible for the earthy smell of indica strains, while limonene is associated with citrus strains.

While most people associate terpenes with the fragrance and flavor they produce in herbs, they play a critical role in cannabis. Pineapple Express is an excellent example of how terpenes work with other cannabinoids to create a specific effect. Thanks to its high concentration of terpene myrcene, this strain gets its name because it smells like fresh pineapple. 

Myrcene is also found in mangoes, which is why some people say they can taste a hint of mango when they smoke or eat Pineapple Express. Myrcene, known for its sedative effects, is thought to be responsible for the couch-locking high that many people experience when they smoke or eat Pineapple Express.

How Do Terpenes Assist The Entourage Effect?

So, how do terpenes interact with other cannabinoids to produce specific effects? It's still not entirely clear, but scientists believe that terpenes modulate how cannabinoids bind to receptors in the brain, which means that they can increase or decrease the effects of specific cannabinoids. For example, myrcene is thought to increase the binding of THC to receptors in the brain, which is why it's associated with a couch-locking high.

At thistime, more research needs to be done to understand the entourage effect fully, it's clear that terpenes play a vital role in this phenomenon. Understanding how terpenes work can better understand how cannabis produces specific effects. And by understanding the entourage effect, we can create cannabis strains specifically tailored to have desired effects.

Don't Leave Terpenes Off The Table

Terps are just one of the many compounds that make up cannabis. When these compounds work together, they create a powerful entourage effect that can offer many health benefits. If you're looking for additional ways to improve your overall health, consider using cannabis products that contain all of the compounds, including the terpenes. Or better yet, you can use Cannabis Derived Terpenes, which allow you to explore these effects in greater detail and with higher precision in how you consume them.


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