Cannabinoids and Terpenes Work Together
The diverse chemical availability in whole plant medicines
is remarkable in its own right, but research looking into how
cannabinoids and terpenoids work together adds another level
of intrigue.
As you can see, each of these therapeutic agents that
are processed out of THC and CBD only medicines
have so much to offer patients treating a wide range of
symptoms and conditions.
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You’re already familiar with the most popular “whole
plant medicine,” which is inhaling cannabis smoke or
vapor. Although most cannabis today is bred to contain a
disproportionately large amount of THC compared to other
compounds, the importance of chemical diversity is being
realized as new strains emerge.
Hopefully, we’ll soon start to see strains that not only narrow
the gap between THC and CBD profiles, but emphasize other
important cannabinoids and terpenes as well.
Instrumental in this area of science is Ethan Russo, M.D., a
neurologist who has long studied cannabis compounds and their
role in the body. In his study “Taming THC: potential cannabis
synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects,”
he details how cannabis compounds influence each other’s
mechanisms. We aren’t just talking about the well-known THC-
CBD tag team here – even small amounts of terpenes (fragrant
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