The Benefits of Terpenes in Cannabis Medicine
Unlocking the Therapeutic Benefits of Terpenes in Modern Medicine
Unveiling the Hidden Potential of Terpenes in Cannabis Medicine
Cannabis has long been celebrated for its therapeutic benefits, with most attributing its effects to the most popular of the cannabinoids, THC and CBD. However, there exists a class of compounds within the cannabis plant that has been present since the dawn of time and holds amazing biological potential yet remains mostly under-appreciated by both the medical establishment and the general public—terpenes. These aromatic compounds, numbering in the hundreds, not only contribute to the distinctive smell and flavor of cannabis but also exhibit promising medicinal properties, including pain relief, anti-inflammatory effects, anti-anxiety and stress relief, antimicrobial properties, and antioxidant activity. A recent study, titled "Terpenes from Cannabis sativa induce antinociception in a mouse model of chronic neuropathic pain via activation of adenosine A2A receptors," highlights the powerful antinociceptive (pain relieving) effects of terpenes, and provides some truly remarkable insights into their potential therapeutic applications.
Understanding Terpenes and The Current Realities
Terpenes are volatile compounds found in nearly all plants, but they are especially abundant in cannabis. Most people who know of them are aware that they are responsible for the distinctive aromas of different cannabis strains and have been used in traditional medicine for centuries. When you smell skunk, blueberry notes, pine needles, citrus, or lavender, what you are inhaling are these terpene molecules. Once consumed, these molecules enter your bloodstream, where they have the opportunity to bind to cells and receptors, activating systems in the body that have been poorly understood for centuries. Unfortunately, the medical world has historically held pharmaceutical discoveries and creations in higher esteem than naturally produced plant products.
Despite their historical use over centuries, and likely millennia, the modern medical establishment has largely overlooked the therapeutic potential of terpenes, focusing primarily on pharmaceuticals. This oversight may be due to economic reasons and perhaps a degree of hubris, but that’s not the topic of this blog. Not all cultures abandoned natural medicine; many native cultures have embraced the medical benefits of terpenes, even without knowing the science behind their efficacy.
We are fortunate to be living in a time when modern medicine is beginning to take natural medicine more seriously. In the last decade, the U.S. government has launched a division to explore the science and medicinal value of botanicals, perhaps in preparation for the broader acceptance of cannabis and botanical medicine that has gained momentum over the last 20 years. Now, more and more research is beginning to uncover the significant role that plant medicine, particularly terpenes, can play in pain management and other therapeutic areas.
Key Takeaways from this Study on Terpenes
The study "Terpenes from Cannabis sativa induce antinociception in a mouse model of chronic neuropathic pain via activation of adenosine A2A receptors" brings us several key findings:
Pain Relief Comparable to Morphine: Terpenes from Cannabis sativa, including geraniol, linalool, α-pinene, α-humulene, and β-caryophyllene, have shown remarkable pain relief in both humans and animals. In mice with chronic pain, these terpenes provided pain relief that was on par with morphine and the synthetic cannabinoid WIN55,212.
Enhanced with Morphine: When terpenes were used together with low doses of morphine, they provided even better pain relief. This suggests that combining them could reduce the need for higher doses of opioids and their side effects.
No High: Unlike opioids, terpenes didn't cause a "high" or addictive behavior in the tests, indicating a lower potential for abuse.
Multiple Targets: The pain-relieving effects of terpenes were blocked when the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) was inhibited, showing that terpenes work on multiple important receptors to relieve pain.
Wait a Minute, This is About Mice? What about Humans?
While the study provides valuable preclinical insights, it doesn’t discuss in detail how these findings apply to humans. More research, including studies on how the body processes terpenes and clinical trials, is needed to understand their potential benefits in human pain management. That doesn’t mean that it’s worthless, though.
Mice are commonly used in scientific studies due to their consistent and well-understood genetics. Animal models allow scientists to control variables and gather valuable information before human testing, aiding in the development of potential treatments like those involving terpenes for pain relief.
However, mice differ physiologically and genetically from (most) humans <joke>, so results in mice don’t always translate directly. A compound effective in mice might not work the same in humans or could have different side effects. Moreover, mice can't fully replicate the complexity of human diseases, especially chronic conditions and multifaceted pain. These differences underscore the need for further human research and clinical trials to confirm findings and ensure treatments are safe and effective for people.
Some Important Study Limitations
The study acknowledges several limitations, including:
Pain Relief Tolerance: We haven't directly measured how well A2AR agonists maintain their pain-relieving effects over time.
Practical Use: We need to look more into how we give these treatments and how well the body absorbs them.
Addiction Risk: There's not much research on whether terpenes might have addictive properties. I know a lot of people who seem addicted to Patchouli. Or smelling roses. <joke>
Real-World Testing: We need more clinical studies to see if these treatments are safe and effective for people.
Wrapping This Up
This study highlights the often-overlooked potential of terpenes in cannabis medicine. By demonstrating their synergistic effects with morphine, this research paves the way for developing novel pain management therapies that could reduce opioid dependency and improve patient outcomes. As the medical community continues to explore the therapeutic applications of cannabis, terpenes may emerge as a critical component in the future of pain management and beyond.
If you like this material, and want to dive way deeper - into the study and the potential of terpenes in cannabis medicine - I wrote up a much longer version in this free CED Clinic blog.
This work is already making the news!
The longer blog offers comprehensive details, including in-depth explanations of precisely how the terpenes seem to be working, detailed examples and analogies, references for more reading, and how this material nicely cues future research and possible therapeutic applications. It also provides a longer discussion of the study’s limitations and detailed descriptions of the details of the study itself, which this one does not include.
If you like reading about this and want a more comprehensive overview of cannabis terpenes available today, and what their known medical benefits are, consider picking up a copy of The Cannabis Handbook from your local library, or owning your own.
Here’s an intro to terpenes from page 34:
Terpene is a descriptive term used to categorize a particular type of molecular cluster. Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in all plants, and cannabis contains exceptionally high concentrations of them. Interestingly, foods that are high in ter- penes are also thought to be healthy for you. For example, the foods featured in a Mediterranean-style diet—olive oil, lemons, red wine—are high in terpenes and thought to be cardioprotective, prevent diabetes, and help keep a consistent weight.
Most of the smells we are familiar with from the natural world—from lemon to cinnamon to pine—are terpenes. Their rich aromas span the gamut: sweet, tangy, citrus sour, woody pungent, and hundreds more. All of these scents can be found in cannabis plants, and where they are grown or what they are grown with will determine which terpenes they contain. What’s more, each terpene has a powerful function beyond its scent, driving wellness and enriching the activity of cannabinoid molecules. Some of the common smells of cannabis—fruity, woody, skunky—are terpenes that naturally attract and repel certain wildlife.
The unusual high presence of diverse terpenes is one of the major reasons that cannabis has maintained its popularity (in nature and in human consumption) for millennia. In different regions with different climates, the cannabis plant has adapted to thrive by producing an array of terpenes that optimizes the plant’s ability to flourish. For example, in sunny climates, the plant has more terpenes that protect it from harmful UV light exposure; it has also evolutionarily adjusted its composition of terpenes to attract local pollinating insects and repel predators. This innate survival mechanism has meant that it is essentially impossible to find two plants that produce identical chemical profiles. Even within a single plant, the terpene compounds produced at the top of the plant will differ from those at the bottom.
Terpenes have beneficial effects when isolated as well as when they are used in conjunction with cannabinoids. For instance, one terpene called beta- caryophyllene is a molecule that not only has a musky, spicy odor (like cracked pepper), but it also has calming properties. When used at the same time as cannabinoids, either in edible form or in a lotion, the mixture of the two amplifies each compound’s effect. This can be useful if you want a pain reliever that will also calm you down.
Pages 14-21 cover the basics of terpenes, their effects, and the big terpene list with details about specific terpenes and their uses.
Page 85 discusses the extraction of terpenes in the section about "Do-It-Yourself Products, Edibles, and Topicals".
Page 219 mentions terpenes in the context of treating skin conditions.
Page 239 includes information about terpenes enhancing sexual function and health.
