Wake up and smell the terpenes.
While most people would describe any aroma at first smell, it’s actually terpenes at work that gives off its fragrance. Terpenes are chemical compounds responsible for how things smell. Terpenes are abundant, most especially in hemp plants, but they are also found in other plants, herbs, even fruits, and all over in nature!
They are also used for industrial and commercial purposes and can be found in wine, aromatherapy, and perfume. Have you noticed how a particular smell stimulates your brain, or maybe a combination of two or more fragrance makes you sleepy and relaxed? Those are terpenes at work.
Currently, there are about 20,000 terpenes in nature, and more than 200 of them are in hemp plants. Most hemp strains are classified into two: Indica and Sativa. Indica strain is mainly used for relaxation and sleep promotion, while Sativa is generally a mood energizer. Recently, terpenes have become a more common way to describe a strain.
Nowadays, most hemp is a hybrid of the two. For this purpose, we will only be discussing different types of terpenes for sleep and relaxation purposes.
For centuries, hemp plants are used as a sleeping aid due to their relaxing and sedative effects. Studies have shown that hemp shortens the time it takes to fall asleep and lengthens the deep sleep cycle thanks to its active ingredient, Cannabidiol (CBD) compound that brings various effects.
Take note that some terpenes can have various effects on a person’s mood and emotion, sleep cycle, and brain cognition—some heighten and stimulate the senses, others sedate.
While both CBD in a hemp plant are said to have medical benefits, such as pain relief, nausea, migraine, and insomnia treatment or prevention, and anxiety reduction, it is still advisable to proceed with care and caution.
These are just some of the many terpene profiles of different strains of hemp. Remember that we are only talking about sedative terpenes for sleep and relaxation. Most people look at the strain name and CBD levels. Discerning users smell the pungency—the more pungent it is, the higher its potency.
Knowledge and understanding of choosing terpenes in different strains can help you achieve your health goals. When it comes to sleep, a good practice is to look for a strain that contains either relaxing or sedating terpenes—a good balance of CBD. A little too much CBD concentration might make you feel sluggish even after you wake up.
However you decide to use these powerful agents for medical treatment, it’s essential to figure out first what kind of effect you are looking to achieve to best suit you. Are muscle pains causing you to stay awake? Do you want to clear your mind with anxiety? Whatever your issues are, being clear with your objective can help you decide which terpene strain to use.
Also, consulting a medical opinion is still the best way to have a full picture of its side effects, especially if taken with other medications.
By Kalki Henrietta
who is one of the master flavor chemists at Sauce Terps and Medical Terpenes. He is the director of sales and marketing at Sauce Terps and Medical Terpenes, he is also a major contributor to research and development. Amongst creating new and exciting dank strains, he also manages the quality control of the manufacturing process in an ISO 9001:2015 and GMP compliant lab. He enjoys spice and pungent aromas with a heavy nose.
Member since March, 2021
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