About Pinene & Caryophyllene

Have you ever given much thought to what’s inside of the cannabis flower you enjoy from the Farmacy Berkeley dispensary? We certainly do, and we want to help educate our customers about what makes cannabis so special.

While cannabinoids like THC and CBD get a lot of the glory, there are other naturally occurring elements that make cannabis so beneficial. One of these is a naturally occurring oil known as a terpene. There are over 100 different terpenes, and each one brings its own unique fragrance and health benefits to cannabis strains.

This week, we’re focusing on two popular terpenes and their benefits— pinene and caryophyllene.

Cannabis Terpenes Pinene & Caryophyllene

Benefits of Pinene

Pinene is found in a wide range of cannabis strains, and has a pine-y, alpine scent. This fragrance has made pinene one of the most popular terpenes among cannabis users. And while it isn’t the most common terpene found in cannabis, it is the most common terpene found in nature generally— everywhere from pine needles to basil and rosemary.

Pinene is believed to offer benefits that include treatment for inflammation, relief for constricted airways to improve breathing capability, reduced anxiety, and even pain relief. Some research even seems to suggest that pinene can be paired with THC to help reduce the short-term memory impairment that can sometimes be brought on by THC.

Benefits of Caryophyllene

One interesting trait that separates caryophyllene from other terpenes is that it’s also a cannabinoid— a chemical compound that gives cannabis its effects. THC and CBD are the most popular cannabinoids, but there are dozens more. Because caryophyllene has the traits of both a terpene and a cannabinoid, it interacts with other terpenes and cannabinoids in beneficial ways.

Even in small amounts, research suggests that caryophyllene can reduce inflammation, serving as an antioxidant, treating bowel disease in some patients, and helping reduce stress on our genes. There’s even early research that suggests that caryophyllene could someday be used to help prolong human life.