How Cannabis Works? Pt. 1 Terpenes

This is Part 1 of a series about “How Cannabis Works?” In this series, I will discuss the working components of Cannabis terpenes, cannabinoids, endocannabinoids, photocannbinoids, cannabinoid receptors. What I hope is that you begin to see, based on how cannabis works overall, is how it may, or may not benefit you.

Terpenes

“A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet...William Shakespeare.” One of the first sensations a person may experience associated with Cannabis, is its aromatic properties. However, unlike the undeniably sweet smell of a summer blooming rose, Cannabis has many complex aromas. Some people may experience the leafy pungent smell Cannabis growing on the vine, or the mellow cured aroma of dried Cannabis, or even still, the heavy skunky smell of recently burned Cannabis. In whichever state the smell of Cannabis is experienced, it is its Terpenes medically hard at work in a way similar to aroma therapy. Terpenes-(C5H8) - are medicinal molecules and important building blocks in nature. Appropriately defined by Rev. Dr. Kymron de Cesare of Halent Laboratories; “Terpenes, the same chemical compounds that give flavor and odor to fruits, flowers, candies, and incense, are also essential elements in cannabis. They provide the tastes and aromas of the different strains, and most importantly, a wide variety of medical benefits too.”

 

These compounds are already found in a number of daily used products both edible & non-edible; for example -Delta3Carene- which is a sweet, pine, cedar, woodsy, pungent aroma. “It is a constituent of rosemary, pine and cedar resin. In aroma therapy, cypress oil, high in D-3-carene, is used to dry excess fluids, tears, running noses, excess menstrual flow and perspiration. It may contribute to the dry eye and mouth experienced by some marijuana users…”, or Caryophyllene - spicy, sweet, woody, clove, camphor, peppery. Found in black pepper (15-25%), clove (10-20%) and cotton (15-25%). It binds weakly to CB2 receptor. As a topical it is one of the constituents of clove oil, an anti-inflammatory and analgesic treatment for toothache. In high amounts, it’s a calcium and potassium ion channel blocker. As a result, it impedes the pressure exerted by heart muscles. Since THC does not have a smell, drug dogs are trained to find one, very smelly molecule called Caryophyllene-epoxide!