INTRO TO TERPENES
Imagine walking through the forest after a short afternoon rain shower. Aromas are emitted from the forest floor and trees above creating this blissful moment as you take deeper breaths just soaking it all in. Terpenes are all around us. The sour, bitter, sweet, succulent, piney, earthy, citrusy and other words that describe a flavor or scents stemming from the fruits, vegetables, flowers, and trees.
Terpenes can be found in various other fruits, plants and common legal herbs and are mostly responsible for the aroma, flavor, and fragrance of many more living things. They focus on receptors and neurotransmitters which can be combined with or can be dissolved in fats.
Actively stimulating serotonin inhibitors, terpenes enhance dopamine activity in your brain. There’s a dire need for more specific research to prove, through tests, that would more accurately describe and predict how terpenes in all living things can be used for medicinal applications to help treat specific medical conditions.
ALL TERPENES IN ALL THINGS
But what exactly are terpenes? Did you know household herbs and flowers actually contain many of the same terpenes found in the cannabis plant? Most of you have heard or tried various therapeutic benefits from vaping aromatherapy herbs like rosemary for relief from muscle pain and of course, lavender for relaxation.
Now that does not mean terpenes were discovered and believe to be the next best thing to mankind. Haha, It’s just really important to note that terpenes provide the distinctive smell not only in cannabis but also all legal herbs, all flowers, plants, and trees in nature. Terpenes are also a plant’s way of defending itself from harmful insects, as well to withstand high temperatures.
DAVINCI VAPORIZER TERPENE FAVORITES
Limonene - takes its name from the lemon, as the rind of the lemon, like other citrus fruits, contains considerable amounts of this terpene which also has an overwhelmingly pleasant aroma.
- Boiling Point: 348.8°F (176°C)
- Citrus Aromas and Flavors
- Boosts: Weight Loss, Prevention and Treatment of Cancer, Bronchitis, Ointment Effectiveness
- Most Commonly Found In: Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Some Types of Oranges
- Recommended Strain: Super Lemon Haze
Myrcene
- Boiling Point: 330°F (166°C)
- Earthy and Musky w/ Fruitful Flavors
- Boosts: Muscle Relief, Anti-Inflammatory, Sedative
- Most Commonly Found In: Mangos, Lemongrass, Thyme, Hops
- Recommended Strain: White Widow
Alpha Bisabolol
- Boiling Point: 307°F (153°C)
- Floral Aromas
- Boosts: Healing Wounds, Fights Bacteria, Deodorizer, Treats Various Inflammations
- Most Commonly Found in: Chamomile
- Recommended Strain: Ghost OG
Linalool
- Boiling Point: 388°F (198°C)
- Floral Aromas with a Hint of Sage
- Boosts: Anti-inflammatory, Modulate Motor Movement, Helps Treat Liver Cancer
- Most Commonly Found In: Flowers, Mint, Cinnamon, Some Fungi
- Recommended Strain: LA Confidential
Delta 3 Carene
- Boiling Point: 334°F (168°C)
- Sweet and Pungent
- Boosts: Anti-Inflammatory, Arthritis Relief, Alzheimer's treatment, Bone Repair
- Most Commonly Found In: Bell Pepper, Cedar, Rosemary
- Recommended Strain: Super Lemon Haze
Borneol
- Boiling Point: 415°F (213°C)
- Earthy and Camphor
- Boosts: Analgesic Properties, Anti-Insomnia, Anti-Septic, Anti-Bronchodilator
- Most Commonly Found In: Rosemary, Mint
- Recommended Strain: Skywalker OG
Alpha Pinene/Beta-Pinene
- Boiling Point: 311 °F (155°C)
- Piney (Pine Trees)
- Boosts: Cough Suppressant, Alertness, Memory Retention
- Most Commonly Found In: Pine Needles, Rosemary, Basil, Parsely, Dill
- Recommended Strain: Jack Herer
Caryophyllene
- Boiling Point: 311°F (155°C)
- Hoppy and Hops Aroma
- Boosts: Anxiety Relief, Reduce Depression, Relieves Arthritis
- Most Commonly Found In: Black Pepper, Cloves, Cotton
- Recommended Strain: Hash Plant
Camphene
- Boiling Point: 318°F (159°C)
- Herbal Aroma
- Boosts: Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Oxidant, Anti- Fungal
- Most Commonly Found In: Ginger, Sage, Oregano, Cilantro
- Recommended Strain: Ghost OG
DAVINCI IQ FLAVOR CHAMBER
Want to add some extra kick to the herb that you’re already vaping? Enter, the DAVINCI IQ flavor chamber. While some use it simply as a way to cool their vapor, or as a storage chamber, it has so many more under explored possibilities. This little zirconia ceramic chamber, which is easily removable, can be stuffed full of any type of herbs to add a terpene profile to your vapables. Warm air is traveling over the material, allowing terpenes to be extracted. Had a hard day? Add some lavender to the flavor chamber and some LA Confidential to your oven and prepare to relax. Want to mix it up? Add some lemon grass to your flavor chamber and some Jack Herer into the oven to create an uplifting, yet focused work session.
All in all, terpenes matter because as we start to further research and expand our knowledge of cannabis, we are finding they may have a great role in understanding medicinal benefits and potency. Not only do terpenes enhance flavor, but also contribute to the effects of cannabis and have been known to increase THC absorption therefore enhancing your high, while others are what gives certain sativas that alertness.
Knowing this I tend to drift towards mood uplifting and energetic strains, I’m a personal fan of strains heavy in limonene, like Tangy and Durban Poison. These strains tend to have a citrusy aroma and are subtly sweet.
Beer brewers have been inserting terpenes into beer for a long time for flavor profiles. Just think about all of the popular beers that contain orange peel, coriander and other herbs. I think the difference will be that the terpenes are going to be marketed as derived from cannabis instead of other plants. Personally, I’m all for maximizing the benefits of the plant, but with anything that people are putting into their body, I caution each to do their research on the effects prior to consumption.