What are terpenes?

Terpenes are the largest and most diverse group of naturally occurring chemical compounds found in plants and play a major role in the medicinal benefits that many plants provide. The common plant sources of terpenes are cannabis, tea, thyme, Spanish sage, and citrus fruits (e.g., lemon, orange, mandarin). They contribute to the smell and flavour of plant-based foods.  Perhaps one of the best known terpenes is curcumin, which provides anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial and digestive benefits, just to name a few.

Terpenes have a wellness effect by acting on the body’s own endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is widely distributed throughout the body including the brain and central nervous system. It consists of a complex network of cell receptors that work as chemical messengers, and which are suggested to play a major role in multiple different health conditions, including anxiety and other mood disorders.

Common wellness effects demonstrated by the addition of terpenes into the diet include improvements in physical aches and pains, decreased muscle tension, a more balanced mood, enhanced calmness, a more regulated appetite, sharper thinking, and improvements in restlessness, anxiety and sleep.

Relax contains a carefully formulated blend of terpenes in a vegetable oil base to deliver the desired result. A summary of the key actions of each active constituent is outlined below:

Myrcene: Sedative, muscle relaxant, pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant.

D-limonene: Sedative, muscle relaxant, stress-reducing, anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, antispasmodic, immune-stimulant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, gastroprotective, neuroprotective.

Linalool: Sedative, anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, mood-stabilising, pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, antimicrobial, neuroprotective.

References

1. Callaway, J.C. (2004). Hempseed as a nutritional resource: An overview. Euphytica, 140: p. 65-72.
2. Nuutinen, T. (2018). Medicinal properties of terpenes found in cannabis sativa and humulus lupulus. Eur J Med Chem, 157: p. 198-228.
3. Cox-Georgian, D., Ramadoss, N., Dona, C., et al., Therapeutic and medicinal uses of terpenes In: Medicinal plants. 2019. p. 333-359.
4. Ferber, S.G., Namdar, D., Hen-Shoval, D., et al. (2020). The "entourage effect": Terpenes coupled with cannabinoids for the treatment of mood disorders and anxiety disorders. Curr Neuropharmacol, 18(2): p. 87-96.
5. Hanuš, L.O. and Hod, Y. (2020). Terpenes/terpenoids in cannabis: Are they important? Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids, 3(1): p. 25-60.
6. Goncalves, E.C.D., Baldasso, G.M., Bicca, M.A., et al. (2020). Terpenoids, cannabimimetic ligands, beyond the cannabis plant. Molecules, 25(7).