Potent Healing Power Of Terpenes Found In Medical Cannabis

Katelyn Baker

Well-Known Member
Have you ever heard of terpenes? You're about to see why the pharmaceutical industry, mainstream media outlets and conventional medicine would like to see you uneducated about these powerful organic compounds found within medical cannabis.

You see, there is just no way that big pharma medications will ever replicate the complex interactions that occur naturally in plants — even though drug companies keep trying at the expense of patients' health and pocketbooks! One category of substances, called terpenes, play a major role in the healing power of not only medical cannabis but dozens of other pungent herbs and plants as well.

Exposing the wonderful truth about terpenes

Terpenes are the aromatic components in strong-smelling plants such as citrus, rosemary, frankincense, and especially cannabis. Plants use the pungent odors that terpenes produce to protect them against pathogens like fungus as well as against grazing animals.

Most healing plants like lemon and rosemary contain one or two types of terpene. For instance, lemon (and especially lemon peel) contains the monoterpene limonene, which has been found to slash some cancers by 50 percent.

The high amount of terpenes (especially limonene and pinene) found in the Mediterranean diet is one of the reasons why this way of eating has been recommended by both mainstream organizations like the Mayo Clinic and natural health experts like Dr. Andrew Weil. It is also why a modified low to no-carb version of the diet (with plenty of organic extra virgin olive oil and other healthy fats included) can be ideal for who are healing from or wanting to prevent cancer.

The terpene pinene can be found in pine nuts, oregano and peppers. Basil is a virtual powerhouse of terpene action, including linalool, cineole, eugenol, sabinene, myrcene, and limonene.

The following are just a few research studies that have connected specific terpenes to the healing and prevention of cancer:

Limonene: Since the 1990's, researchers have found evidence of the cancer-healing properties of limonene, especially on breast, prostate, skin and pancreatic cancers. One of the latest was a 2014 study published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry which found 19 novel limonene-based thiosemicarbazones that were extremely effective against ten different cancer cell lines in laboratory tests.

Pinene: Among the several studies confirming pinene's cancer healing effects was a 2013 study done by Turkish scientists that found that α-pinene had anti-tumor effects on neuroblastoma cells (cancer of the adrenal glands).

Caryophyllene: A 2014 study commissioned by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute in India found that this terpene stimulated apoptosis and tumor suppression in lymphoma as well as in neuroblastoma cells.

Besides its directly protective effects against the "big guns" — cancer and heart disease — terpenes are also anti-fungal and anti-bacteria. And because their molecular structures are so small, they are able to breach the blood-brain barrier. This is why terpene content is the basis for effective aromatherapy protocols.

Sadly, the current health crisis in the United States is caused in large part by the consumption of the "Standard American Diet," which is severely lacking in terpene-rich foods.

Terpenes are a part of the 'Entourage Effect' of medical cannabis

There are over 200 kinds of terpenes in cannabis (depending on strain), some of which give off a distinct odor while others do not. All of them interact with each other and with the over 400 known substances in cannabis, including THC, CBD, esters, lactones, ketones, fatty acids, alcohols, steroids.

These interactions produce what is now known as the "Entourage Effect" of Cannabis Therapy. The term was first coined in the late 1990's by Israeli scientists S. Ben-Shabat and Raphael Mechoulam of Hebrew University in Jerusalem and refers to how terpenes and cannabinoids in cannabis combine and interact for the treatment of specific disease conditions.

How do terpenes in cannabis trigger the healing response in the body?

One big way is how terpenes help to strengthen and boost the endocannabinoid system, a scientifically-documented system whose job it is to bring balance and homeostasis to virtually every part of the body. This includes the endocrine system, where it helps regulate stress hormones, and the immune system, where endocannabinoid receptors play a part in T-Cell production, among other things.

The use of medical cannabis to help in the healing of everything from pain to cancer is now a reality for thousands of individuals in the increasing number of states where marijuana for medicinal purposes is legal.
If you are considering cannabinoid-based healing modalities for breast cancer (or any other health condition) you need to know about the terpene content in the cannabis-based product you will be taking. This is because studies have shown that the kind of terpene in a particular cannabis strain will have an effect on the way THC reacts in the body (research also continues to show how THC, often in very small amounts, is a vital component of marijuana's healing effects).

Another reason why terpene knowledge is important is for more targeted use of medical cannabis — especially for the healing of particular kinds of cancers.

Terpenes are vital healing substances found in hundreds of herb and plants. Knowing about the terpene content in not only medical cannabis but also in the other super foods you may be consuming will help you become truly empowered on your journey towards vibrant health.

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News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Potent Healing Power Of Terpenes Found In Medical Cannabis
Author: Dr. Veronique Desaulniers
Contact: Natural Health 365
Photo Credit: Flickr
Website: Natural Health 365
 
Quote from above article:
Caryophyllene: A 2014 study commissioned by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute in India found that this terpene stimulated apoptosis and tumor suppression in lymphoma as well as in neuroblastoma cells.

Besides its directly protective effects against the “big guns” – cancer and heart disease – terpenes are also anti-fungal and anti-bacteria. And because their molecular structures are so small, they are able to breach the blood-brain barrier. This is why terpene content is the basis for effective aromatherapy protocols.

Sadly, the current health crisis in the United States is caused in large part by the consumption of the “Standard American Diet,” which is severely lacking in terpene-rich foods.

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I was learning of the blood brain barrier recently its nice to hear it works well with Terpenes and their healing properties.

When we smoke vaporize take sublingual or inject a medicine / drug the substance enters the blood brain barrier at full strength.

If the medicine or drug was ingested it gets filtered through the liver where 7/10 will never reach the brain/blood barrier.

I was reading that people suffering with liver failure will pass 7/10 of their medicine / drug dose threw their stomach and liver to the blood brain barrier for the same effect as someone else injecting it intravenously or sublingual so their doses must be modified if taken orally.

To elaborate on the blood brain barrier

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a protective barrier which is designed to keep the environment in the brain as stable as possible. It prevents many dangerous substances from entering the brain, protecting the brain from an assortment of potential risks, ranging from infection to elevated levels of hormones in the body. Of course, the BBB also hinders some helpful things, making the administration of some medications to treat brain and central nervous conditions rather challenging.

In a sense, the blood-brain barrier is like a protective moat with the drawbridge left permanently up. It is found in the capillaries which lead to the brain. Normally, the walls of the capillaries are highly permeable, allowing a variety of water-soluble components of blood to pass through them and into the body. In the brain, the capillary walls are very compact and dense, allowing few substances through to the brain.

This means that when toxins and infectious materials are floating around in the blood, they cannot reach the brain. For the brain, this is very good news, because the brain is a very fragile organ, and damage from an infection could be devastating. However, some harmful substances can still get through: viruses, for example, can hitch a ride right through the BBB.
 
Thanks very much Katelyn. Researching for my own benefit led me to 420Magazine. This plant needs to have more of the right attention by those serious in maintaining the integrity in using the whole plant. There is a reason it exists. Big Pharma will just screw it up.
 
One of the challenges of taking advantage of the awesome benefits of terpenes is delivery method. Smoking and vaping don't deliver All that cannabis has to offer in significant enough quantity to address many diseases such as cancer. Concentrates are where it's at and terpenes are lost in all extraction processes... some more than others.

I've done a fair amount of research into terpene preservation in making FECO. Cannabis oil has been a life changer for myself and numerous friends and family. However, I'm actively looking for the best extraction methods for preserving the terpenes. Anyone with info on this please share. Greatly appreciated.

Great thread! Thanks!
 
Try making BHO Budder or shatter if you dare both have excellent Terpene retention.

Remember when its harvest time that its best to dry and cure the Bud below 70* as many Terpenes evaporate at warmer temps.

Alternatively make the oil as normal and set it to evaporate off instead of boiling it

And lastly enjoy
 
Try making BHO Budder or shatter if you dare both have excellent Terpene retention.

Remember when its harvest time that its best to dry and cure the Bud below 70* as many Terpenes evaporate at warmer temps.

Alternatively make the oil as normal and set it to evaporate off instead of boiling it

And lastly enjoy

Thanks for that. Evaporate off as in no heat or low heat? And what method of decarb would you recommend?
 
Heat releases the terpenes to the atmosphere which is why BHO works so well at retaining them.
Use no heat until use via vaporizing or smoking and don't decarb instead vaporize or smoke it

Personally i find vaporizing to give the strongest Terpene taste
 
hello to all ,can anyone help me out with best oil to get for cancer from tumbleweed despencery in paracute co??indo sativa ratio??

There is not, and never will be, an exact guide as to which strain is best for a given disease or person... just a baseline or starting point. There are too many variables, starting with strain.

Every strain, to become stable, must be bred back to one or both parent numerous times. This is different for every strain. At different stages in the hybriding process different phenotypes can emerge and one plant can have 20% THC/ 5% CBD and another plant can be the reverse of that. Also, a northern lights strain from one breeder or seed bank can be different than the same name strain from another. In other words not only can strains with same name have different cannabinoid profiles, two plants from the same mother can as well.

Every persons body is different as well. Our body's and minds react differently to different stimuli. What works for pain for me may not work for another person with the same health issue and pain.

When looking for strains, it's a good idea to spend time in the forums looking at what people are growing and the effects they are achieving. Look up the strains at places like Leafly.com and the various seed banks. Google strain names and read descriptions on various sites. Places like Seedsman.com allow you to search high CBD strains or high THC strains.

As a general rule, indicas are good for nighttime as they promote deep recuperative sleep. Sativas are better for daytime as they are more upbeat and energizing. But going by indica vs sativa doesn't tell the whole story as hybrids can claim more or less of the individual characteristics. It's better to look at the THC:CBD ratios.

For cancer, high THC is needed to cause apoptosis of the cancer cells(cell death). CBD and other cannabinoids are also needed as they work synergistically with the THC. For those concerned with the psychoactive effects of THC, it's recommended to use a high THC strain before bed and a high CBD strain for daytime. I blend my oils once I experience their effects to give me the best of both worlds.

When it comes down to it, any full extract cannabis oil will work. Just get the cannabinoids in you and then research all you can to narrow down what strains work for you.

When buying from dispensaries, look for 1:1 tHC to CBD strains for cancer. That's a good starting point. Start with half a grain of size under the tongue and increase by the tiniest little bit until you feel as though you've chugged a tall glass of wine. Stay with that or a bit less for 4 or 5 days and then increase dose size again by tiny amount. Also try to work up to dosing 3 times a day... morning, midday, and heavier dose as you're getting into bed.

If you are exacting in your dosing and keep pushing the limits, you will build tolerance relatively quickly. For cancer you want to get to a gram a day by month two. Cancer protocol general rule is 60 grams in 90 days.

Wordy, but hope it helps.
 
This is probably a dumb sounding question but is smell/odor the only way to tell a product's terp profile, aside from lab testing? I don't see much difference in the taste, it's either a full-bodied or light smoke taste and feel in my mouth.
 
When you use a vaporizer with Cannabis the array of terpene flavors becomes apparent I find its the best way to enjoy them.
Some people prefer Bubble hash's flavor , bubble hash is cold extracted which maintains the terpenes.

You must try vaporizing it taste great and is a healthy way to get it in ya
 
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