Have you ever wondered why you light a lavender candle when you want to relax, drink green tea when feeling under the weather or eat peppermint candy to settle heartburn? It’s the terpenes in lavender, green tea and peppermint providing the relief as you will see below.
Over 100 terpenes are naturally found in the Cannabinoid (“CBD”) plant; however, they account for less than 2% terpene content. CBD in its pure, powder form is tasteless and odorless. Terpenes are what gives many plants, herbs, spices and flowers its unique smell; but they also have many therapeutic benefits. Terpenes are also known as “essential oils”.
Let’s look at some of the widely talked about terpenes in CBD.
Myrcene has an earthy, cloves and herbal aroma and is found in mango, hops, by leaves and eucalyptus. It is considered sedating and relaxing and helps with inflammation and spasms. It is the primary terpene found in cannabis plants with some plants having up to 65% of the entire terpene profile coming from myrcene.
Limonene has a citrus aroma. It’s found in citrus, juniper and peppermint. It helps to elevate your mood and reduces stress, and is used to fight depression, anxiety, gastric reflux and is anti-fungal.
Linalool provides a floral, citrus and spice aroma. It’s found in lavender, citrus, and birch. It also has a soothing, calming effect on the body, and is used to combat insomnia, stress, depression, anxiety, and pain.
Terpinolene has a pine, floral and herbal aroma and is found is oregano, cumin and lilac. It is considered to be sedating and is antibacterial, anti-fungal and helps with insomnia.
Phytol has a floral, berry, balsamic aroma and is found in green tea. It is considered an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Citral is has a lemony aroma and found naturally in lemon, orange, lime, and lemongrass. It is considered an antioxidant and helps with insomnia.
Carnene has a sweet and earthy aroma with piney undertones. It is found in rosemary, basil, bell pepper, cedar and turpentine. It is considered to be an anti-inflammatory and is helpful with arthritis, bursitis, fibromyalgia, stimulate memory as well as promotes rest and relaxation.
Caryophyllene has a peppery, spicy, woody and cloves aroma and is found is black pepper, cloves and rosemary. It is considered an antioxidant, and helps with inflammation, muscle spasms, pain and insomnia.
Humulene is found in hops, clove and basil. It helps to increase appetite and inflammation.
Pinene has a sharply sweet aroma found in pine needles, orange rind and parsley. It helps with memory and alertness, inflammation and asthma.
You will hear the terms full spectrum, broad spectrum when researching and purchasing CBD. These products contain CBD and terpenes. Besides the CBD having its own therapeutic benefits, the terpenes also add to these benefits. This is called the “entourage effect” where the CBD and terpenes work together to give you the best benefits.
GIOJOSO’s products are unique because they are made with pure CBD. (The terpenes have been removed leaving the pure, strongest form of CBD.) Then we blend back in select terpenes and specific amounts of those terpenes along with other ingredients and organics to give the product it’s intended benefit. In other words, we control which terpenes are added to our products as well as the amount.
For example, our Sleep Aid tincture has pure CBD, Valerian root, melatonin and the terpenes limonene, carnene, and citral.