TERPINES-The Essential Oils (Taken from the Spring Issue of H.T.'s Medical Mj issue)

GanjaGod420000

Well-Known Member
Lately there was a thread about odorless pot... And I thought to myself, THC and Trichomes that contain THC don't have a smell, but the oils do.... So, I did a lil bit of research in my cannabis "vault", that I thought Id share with some of the less knowledgable crowd. Just to name off several of these terpines that are very necessary to be present in good, wholesome, medicinal pot are as follows:
1. Beta-caryophyllene. This is found also in black pepper, and is often, the most frequently found of the terpinoids in marijuana. It has been shown to act as an anti-inflammatory, as well as to protect the stomach lining, which might be a good thing if you suffer from frequent heartburn or sour stomach, from all of those tasty late night munchies we get because of our affinity with Mary Jane..
2. Limonene. This one is found in lemons. It is responsible for some of those lovely fruity smells we have on many of our most endeared strains. It has been shown to decrease anxiety in lab mice, via their seratonin receptors. It has also been tested in Japan, on a group of severly depressed hospital patients, whose moods improved when they were merely only exposed to a citrus fragrence. Of the 12 patients, 9 of them were able to get of of the antidepressants they were on. It has also been shown to stimulate the immune system, and in lab experiments, to kill breast cancer cells and acne bacteria. It also shows potential as a treatment for gastroesophageal reflux. So, look out Nexium and Prilosec!
3. Alpha-pinene. This is also found in pine needles. It possesses antibacterial and antibiotic properties, and also inhibits the enzyme that breaks down acetycholine, which is a neurotransmitter involved in memory. This could actually counteract the short-term memory deficits induced by THC-intoxication...which might help you remember where your damned lighter went to...lol...
4. Myrcene. Also found in the flowers of the hops vine. It is an anti-inflammatory and also a sedative... It acted as a muscle relaxant in mice, and potentiated barbituate-like sleep time at higher doses. This may be one onf the oils that causes that "coughlock" effect we sometimes get from madicine that has been allowed to flower longer, resulting in more amber trichomes. It is certainly appreciated by a wide range of users for differsnt reasons, like sleep aid, or just getting lost in one's own world...
5. Linalool. This is also found in Lavender. It affects seratonin neurotransmission, counters anxiety, has sedative and anticonvulsant properties, and also is suspect in the remarkable therapeutic capsbilities of the essential oil of Lavender's capabilities to alleviate skin burns without scarring...
6. Nerolidol. Found in citrus, also. May have sedative ans anti-fungal effects.
7.Caryophyllene Oxide. Found in herb lemon-balm. Repels insects.
8.Phytol. Results in a breakdown of chlorophyll with relaxant properties, and may be the reason that green tea-despite it's caffeine content-doesn't jangle the nerves.
This info was gathered by Ethan Russo and John McPartland in 2001, when the idea that cannabis had only two active ingredients-THC and CBD, which we now know isn't the case at all, with CBN as well as these other essential properties of different strains... It should also be noted that with the drying, storing, and curing of cannabis, that the medicine tends to lose myrcene, pinene, and limonene(all monoterpines) in proportion to beta-caryphyllene(a sesquiterpine) There are 15-carbon terpenoids in the fan leaves which repel grazing animals, and the predominantly monoterpene mix in the flowers is unappealing to insects. And since it is sticky, it sometimes traps them when their curiosity gets the better of them. But in all, there have been over 200 terpenoids, ans 100 cannabinoids identified in cannabis... The lighter 10-carbon monoterpines are more volitile than the 15-carbon sesquiterpines, I mentioned that seem to degrade as the curing process occurs... So, the common pharmacological belief that a plant has only one active compound, like morphine in papaver somniferum, and quinine from cinchona, acetylsalicylic acid in willow bark, nicotine in tobacco, and the active substance found in the coca leaves just doesn't ring true for cannabis... I think it suffices to say that cannabis is truely a wonderous plant, with so many different qualities, it is a miracle of nature and quite a gift from God... Hope this helps someone out there...
 

Medical420MI

Active Member
Very good information! Might indicate why the smelliest bud has the best high? Cuz THC has no smell I believe.
 

growone

Well-Known Member
without getting to 'deep' into the specific chemical compounds, i have become a believer in good terpenoids and not so good terpenoids
better odor/taste usually mean a better effect
i've had a recent experience with a genetic frankenstein - my own creation , just bad luck
anyhow, it had the most foul taste i've yet encountered in cannabis, and that's a lot of years of cannabis
and with the foul taste it had a foul effect, strong but nauseating, crap nearly made me puke, and i've never puked from weed
so terpenoids are a big part of the story, perhaps too subtle to be fully captured in a chemical description
 

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
recent studies suggest that terpines also interact with the cannabinoids to "flavor" the high as well.
 

unohu69

Well-Known Member
I love a good bouquet of turpines. I actually dont like pot thats cured to smooth. i like flavor.
 

GanjaGod420000

Well-Known Member
Spot on! Different terpines in different combos/ratios produce a wide range of medicinal effects... You are most correct with this statement, sir...
recent studies suggest that terpines also interact with the cannabinoids to "flavor" the high as well.
 

GanjaGod420000

Well-Known Member
I'm right with you. I love taking two different terpine-producing strains and crossing them to produce a pleasing combination of both attributes! And, as growone mentioned, there are the "freak" crosses that just aren't good combos, and should thusly be bred-out, or not bred at all...
I love a good bouquet of turpines. I actually dont like pot thats cured to smooth. i like flavor.
 

unohu69

Well-Known Member
yeah, i dont care how nice the bud looks in a bag, if it dont have a sweet aroma, it isnt for me. bag appeal is so much more than color, and stickiness.
 

GanjaGod420000

Well-Known Member
Agreed unohu69! I don't like medicine that doesn't tell me anything about itself through scent... And I've seen some knarley lookin', triched-out nugs before, that didn't smell like anything... Granted they got me stoned, but I STILL prefer to have the aromas of the oils to add to the alure of my medicine! It can tell u alot about the effects that lie in store for you when selecting a strain...
 
about these terpines I got this stuff the other day grotek mm2000 from the shop I was trying to get protek this is wat they had as sub he said ive look ed up bout it nit much found but wat I did find says its all organic helps build terpines and vig. growth but its under leaf polish anyone no wat it is I was just trying to get the shit to mix with neem oil instead of dish soap?? anyone heard or use before
 
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