Cannabinoids & Terpenes: Relationship And Differences
Some of the more popular and well-known Cannabinoids Including THC & CBD.
What are Cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are a group of chemicals found in Cannabis that produce drug-like effects in various regions of the body. Common bodily reactions include central nervous system & immune system responses. The primary Cannabinoid found in Cannabis (Marijuana) is THC or Delta-9. Other Cannabinoids include CBD, CBG, CBN & over 100 others.
Has The FDA or Government approved Cannabis for medical use?
Although Cannabis as a plant has not received approval from either entities, specific Cannabinoids (Like CBD) have been approved and released as prescription-only medication to treat multiple conditions including but not limited to epilepsy.
What health conditions is Cannabis or Cannabinoids useful in treating?
Common health conditions found to respond well to Cannabis & Cannabinoid treatment include epilepsy, nausea & vomiting brought on from chemotherapy, loss of appetite & weight loss in those suffering from HIV/AIDS and chronic pain associated with a wide range of genetic disorders. Although Cannabis will undoubtedly be found to help and possibly cure other medical conditions in the future, research regarding these other use cases are still in the early stages or working through legal restrictions.
What sorts of Cannabinoid experiments & research is being conducted?
2015 & 2018 studies including chronic pain’s relationship with THC / CBD
2017 study related to reduced opioid use when paired with specific cannabinoids
Ongoing studies involving CBD and it’s reduction of social anxiety
2015 study reviewing THC effects on Tourette syndrome tic severity
Multiple 2014 studies pertaining to Multiple Sclerosis & its response to specific cannabinoids
Recent studies dedicated to symptom reduction in patients suffering from PTSD
What are Terpenes & how are they associated with Cannabis?
Simply put, Terpenes are the chemical compounds that give Cannabis and many other plants their pungent smells & flavoring. With over 150 different Terpenes, Cannabis can come in an wide arrange of combinations leading to very differentiating side effects.
What are some medical benefits of Terpenes & how do they affect the human body?
Terpenes have an abundance of medical uses including antiviral (virus killing ability), anti-cancerous (inhibiting the growth of cancer) & antimicrobial (ability to slow or stop microorganisms). Up until recently, medical benefits & therapeutics have been reserved to THC / CBD. Recent discoveries involving Terpenes & Cannabinoids have led to minor & small abundance chemicals coming into the spotlight. The same effects that Terpenes have on Cannabis (Fighting of pathogens & microbes) are commonly found to function similarly inside the Human body.
Sources :
Cannabis (Cannabinoids) - NCCIH
Cannabinoid - Cancer.gov
What are Cannabis Terpenes - Leafly