Hemp Seed Oil

Hemp seed oil is harvested by cold-pressing hemp seeds. It’s a clear yellow-green oil and can have a nutty flavour.  It is rich in Omegas 3, 6 & 9 and may help with many skin conditions by calming inflammation and irritation on the skin, including acne while keeping the skin nourished and moisturised without blocking pores.  It also helps to assist with gut health and internal inflammation of the body. Hemp seed oil has been known to significantly help with joint health and mobility.

Terpenes

Terpenes are chemicals naturally found in plants, including cannabis and hemp. They contribute to the smell and flavour of plant-based foods. Natural plant terpenes are used as flavourings and fragrances in foods, cosmetics, perfumes and wellness products.

Terpenes have a wellness effect by acting on the body’s own naturally occurring endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is a complex network of cell receptors that work as chemical messengers. Terpenes are known to interact with these receptors which are located in the brain and central nervous system, in the gut, muscle, joints, skin and other organs.

Research shows that terpenes may contribute to wellness as part of healthy lifestyle management. The common wellness effects include improvements in physical aches and tension/pain, balancing mood, controlling appetite, sharper thinking, and supporting restlessness and sleep.

Terpenes are commonly found in a wide variety of plants including but not limited to cannabis, hemp, clover, rosemary, lavender, fruits and spices.

 

MYRCENE – Myrcene is the most common terpene found in cannabis plants. Myrcene concentration dictates whether a cannabis strain will have a Indica or Sativa effect. Strains containing over 0.5% myrcene produce a more “sedative” high while strains containing less than 0.5% have an “energising” effect.

Also found in mango, hops, bay leaves, eucalyptus, lemongrass and many other plants, it smells similar to cloves, with a herbal, balsamic, spicy aroma. It has an earthy undertones of red grape and musk.

Therapeutically, this terpene is most responsible for feelings of lethargy, sleep and apathy. Myrcene has chemical properties that lower resistance across the blood/brain barrier, allowing it and many other chemicals to cross the barrier more easily and quickly.

Myrcene can work in synergy with other cannabinoids to reduce inflammatory response & as an anti-mutagenic (inhibits cancer cell growth and cell mutation).  It also has antibiotic healing properties. Along with Linalool and CBD, it produces a calm, relaxation both mentally and physically.

Myrcene is the most-studied terpene in the cannabis plant and is being proven to have many benefits. However, a review of the scientific literature reveals that while the increased presence if Myrcene has been alleged to lower resistance across the blood-brain-barrier, allowing other cannabinoids more effective entry into the brain and CNS, this inference has NOT BEEN PROVEN and should not be offered as a potential therapeutic enhancement until further studies can elucidate a precise mechanism of action.

Also found in: mangoes, hops, thyme, lemongrass.

LINALOOL – Linalool gives some cannabis strains a floral aroma, reminiscent of a bouquet of Spring flowers with spicy overtones. It’s best known for the pleasant floral odour it gives hundreds of different plants including lavender, citrus, cinnamon, laurel, birch, coriander and rosewood.

Linalool has been used for thousands of years as a calmative, tranquilizing sleep aid. It possesses sedative properties and is an effective anxiety, stress reliever.

It’s also been used as an analgesic and anti-epileptic and is most often in cannabis strains that are helpful in coping with PTSD and anxiety. This terpene is favoured by medical Cannabis users who want to overcome opioid addiction.

Also found in: lavender, coriander, birch, rosewood.

LIMONENE – Limonene is the second most prevalent terpene in cannabis but not all plants have it. Limonene has a ‘citrusy’ smell that resembles lemons. This is a dominant terpene in strains with a primarily relaxing effect.

Limonene is a fresh smelling terpene that aids in the absorption of other terpenes through the skin and mucus membranes and has been used to treat anxiety and depression.

Therapeutically, limonene has been discovered to be an effective anti-fungal and can also help with things like weight loss. Used in alternative medicine, Limonene has the ability to reduce heartburn and gastric acid reflux with very low toxicity.

One study even announced that limonene may play a role in reducing tumor size.

Also found in: citrus rinds, juniper, peppermint.

CARYOPHYLLENE – Renowned as the first-ever “dietary cannabinoid” for over a decade now, β-caryophyllene (BCP) may not be as well known as other cannabis terpenes - but you would know it if you tasted it.

Born from a combination of iso- caryophyllene and α-humulene, it is known for giving strains their distinct peppery aroma. This peppery terpene has been investigated for its ability to treat neuropathic pain & inflammation.

Therapeutically, β–Caryophyllene is a common constituent of the essential oils of numerous spice and food plants and is the only known terpene that interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system to produce anti-inflammatory, analgesic effects by selectively binding to the CB2 receptor and is a functional CB2 agonist.

Besides its analgesic and anxiolytic properties, some studies have found that caryophyllene has a very promising role in alcohol rehabilitation & even recommended caryophyllene for treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Also found in basil, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, oregano and rosemary.