Full Spectrum Terpenes

What are Terpenes?

Terpenes are organic compounds (hydrocarbons) that are found in a variety of plants that contribute to their flavour and scent. There are more than 20,000 terpenes that exist in nature which are recognized by the FDA and Health Canada as safe, food-grade additives. As a source for terpenes, cannabis is unique because it contains so many—more than 200 scientists believe. This is one of the reasons that every cannabis strain is unique, and depending on its terpene profile, a strain can smell like pine, berry or lemon.

In addition to flavour and aroma, these potent compounds have a wide range of medicinal properties on their own. However, when terpenes are consumed with cannabis molecules, they work together to ‘amplify’ and direct the medicinal properties of cannabis giving you better results. We call this the “entourage effect” and it’s the reason terpenes have become such a critical piece of research. Simply put, when terpenes work with cannabinoids, they form a synergy that creates a greater effect than each would achieve on their own. This symbiosis between cannabinoids and terpenes improves the absorption of cannabinoids, overcomes bacterial defence mechanisms and minimizes side effects.

It’s now known that the human body also produces its own natural cannabis-like molecules or endocannabinoids. Terpenes on their own have been shown to have a significant impact on the endocannabinoid system, along with the endocrine system and the neuroendocrine system. All of these systems are responsible for maintaining homeostasis – the body’s ability to maintain a state of equilibrium.

Why Hemp and Hops?
The hemp plant (Cannabis sativa L.) contains over 120 identified terpenes but under 0.3% Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, which the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis). Hemp terpenes have many benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. We extract our full spectrum terpenes from hemp grown in our Organic farm in Meaford, ON and Agassiz, BC, as well as from hops (Humulus Lupulus), another member of the cannabis family. Through our unique, environment-friendly and fully sustainable processes, we capture the full spectrum of terpenes represented in the plant without the need to dry our material.

The diversity and range of the bioactive compounds that are found in full spectrum terpenes do not exist in terpene ‘isolates’ produced just from single botanical sources. Instead of taking THC or CBD extracts in isolation, you can optimize the health and wellness effects you get from Cannabis by taking advantage of the synergistic ‘Hemptourage Effect’ of these hemp-derived compounds.

Ongoing research in this field shows great promise.

• According to A September 2011 report by Dr. Ethan Russo in the British Journal of Pharmacology. Terpenes are healthy for people as well as plants. There are wide-ranging therapeutic attributes of terpenoids, which are typically lacking in “CBD-only” products.
• The cannabinoid-terpene interaction is described as a “synergy with respect to treatment of pain, inflammation, depression, anxiety, addiction, epilepsy, cancer, fungal and bacterial infections” by Dr. Russo