What are Terpenes?

Plants manufacture and secrete a wide variety of chemicals and compounds that play a critical role to plant health by providing natural protection from bacteria, fungus, insects, and other environmental stresses.  Increasingly, these naturally occurring chemicals and compounds are being studied for their wide-ranging uses in health and wellness applications. While the FDA and other agencies have generally recognized terpenes as “safe”, and it’s widely understood that terpenoids play a big role in boosting the therapeutic effect of plant medicine, they remain understudied today.  Altopa has created a technology that enables the precision blending of these botanical oils. As a team of technologists first, as we’ve developed the Oblend Platform, we have been amazed by the growing body of knowledge surrounding terpenes and their promise for use in natural wellness. We’ve shared an abbreviated summary for some of our more prevalent tepene ingredients to get you started. We’ll share more over time but we encourage to do your own research on the internet or send us a note and we’ll forward some of our favorite references.

Myrcene 

Myrcene is the most common and plentiful terpene in cannabis. It's also found in mango, with a flavor profile that's a mix of citrus and musk.  This terpene, known for its sedative and relaxing effect, has been studied for its analgesic properties and may be part of the reason people have historically used cannabis for pain management.  

Pinene 

Pinene smells like forest pine and fir. This relatively common terpene is used in medicine as an anti-inflammatory, expectorant, bronchodilator and even as an anti-cancer agent in Traditional Chinese Medicine.  

Limonene

As its name seems to indicate, limonene has a sweet, citrusy smell. Citrus fruits are loaded with limonene which is commonly extracted for use in foods and other consumer products. Research into limonene surrounds its potential to improve mood and promote a sense of clarity and wakefulness.  Interestingly, limonene is currently undergoing clinical trials in the treatment of breast cancer. It’s even been found to promote weight loss.

Caryophyllene

Found in a variety of basil, cloves, and black pepper, this terpene has long been used as an anti-inflammatory in creams and salves and is thought to reduce anxiety.  When combined with CBD it’s been found effective in the treatment of chronic pain, suggesting that high-caryophyllene strains of hemp may be useful in treating a number of medical issues such as arthritis and neuropathic pain.

Linalool 

Found in lavender, linalool has been used for centuries as a sleep aid. Linalool has been found to be helpful in the treatment of both psychosis and anxiety. Studies also suggest that linalool boosts the immune system, can reduce lung inflammation, and can restore cognitive and emotional function (making it a subject of many studies in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease).

Nerolidol

Naturally occurring in cannabis, ginger,  jasmine, and tea tree, studies of nerolidol have revealed multiple medicinal efficacies that could help patients with diseases as wide-ranging as bacterial infections, cancer, malaria, skin lesions, ulcers, and conditions involving systemic inflammation (including arthritis, asthma, and fibromyalgia).