Terpenes are the chemical compounds in hemp and cannabis flower that provide many effects. Aromas you find elsewhere in nature, like the smell of lemon and pine, also jump out in a good number of strains because hemp/cannabis contains some of the same terpenes as many other plants. The more we learn about terpenes, the more beneficial we realize they are. Naturally, growers and extractors are pursuing the possibilities of high-terpene flower and terpene-rich concentrates. Consumers, however, might not understand the hype surrounding terpene extraction. A unique company called Zero+ Nutraceuticals, Inc. adds terpenes to its organic and natural Botanical extract products to enhance the bioavailability and provide higher product efficacy.
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Why Bother with Terpenes?
We're constantly learning more about the range of benefits conferred by terpenes. To date, scientists have identified about 200 varieties, a few of which are very common. Here are six prominent terpenes that Zro+'s team has identified as particularly effective and utilized in their products:
- Alpha-Pinene: You can find this terpene in – you guessed it – pine trees.
- Myrcene: In large doses, myrcene can cause sleepiness. Strains containing more than 0.05 percent myrcene are generally classed as indicas and provide the "couchlock" effects you might expect.
- Beta-Caryophyllene: You'll find this terpene in black pepper, cinnamon, and clove. Caryophyllene can interact directly with the CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
- Limonene: Limonene is the most easily identified terpene since it smells like lemons (surprise!). Limonene's mood-boosting effects hit quickly after consumption.
- Linalool: Linalool smells like a Lavender field in Spring with a less pronounced aroma of spice. It's common in a wide array of flowers and plants.
- Terpinolene: Terpinolene's aroma is not easily specified but falls somewhere in between piney, woody, floral, and citrusy. It can have calming, sedative-like effects. There is also talk of Terpinolene's potential anticancer properties.
In short, terpenes have huge potential to help consumers enhance their experiences based on a product's terpene profile. CBD oil is a common target for added terpenes. Effective oils have specially-curated blends of terpenes.
"The integration of the right combination of terpenes is one of the reasons why the results Zro+ customers realize in our different products is so noticeable," said Robert Mordini, Co-founder of Zro+.
Enhancing Products with Food-Grade Terpenes
One of the easiest ways to avoid the complexities of terpene extraction from the cannabis plant is to go with terpenes extracted from plants unrelated to cannabis. Adding terps to products is expensive, but for companies like Zro+, producing specific blends of terpenes allows a wide range of conditions to be addressed more effectively. Is there really a difference in quality based on where the terpene extraction came from? There are two main schools of thought to contend with.
Flavor
The most common beef people have with food-grade terpenes added to concentrates is the flavor. Consumers often complain about cannabis concentrates with added terpene extraction with the claim they add harsh, chemical, or obviously artificial taste to the finished product. In reality, those harsh flavors are almost always caused by artificial terpenes.
Blueberry, a common flavor in vape cartridges, contains the chemical isoamyl butrate.
This compound appears frequently in many fruit aromas, including mango and melon. Maltol, another chemical additive, is meant to replicate a sweet aroma. Both compounds are known to result in that fake-fruit taste, and they themselves are not terpenes.
When manufacturers add a food-grade terpene extraction to a batch of oil, they're usually doing so to enhance a flavor and effects a person may feel from the product. Luckily, Zro+ adds only the highest quality, true terpenes to its botanical extract product line.
The Entourage Effect
The Entourage Effect is when the effects of the cannabinoids culminate into the synergistic partnering of all the plant's compounds. Many consumers are convinced food-grade terpenes are somehow different from Hemp/cannabis-derived terpenes, and therefore can't play the same roles in the Entourage Effect.
The truth is chemical compounds are the same, no matter what they came from. The myrcene terpene extraction from cannabis for example, is chemically the same as an extract from any other source.
Zro+'s leading toxicologist and PhD., Dr. Z., states, "The proper combination of natural and organic terpenes adds significant enhancement to the overall efficacy of our topicals and sublingual products."
Fortunately for purists, Zro+ focuses on honing in on each individual's needs and providing him or her with the perfect terpene balance.
By eschewing any additives whatsoever, extractors can make a product more faithful to its source material.
Zero+ Nutraceuticals, Inc. is a proud partner of Leafbuyer Technologies, Inc.
