TERPENES AND YOU
So what's this terpene thing you keep hearing about?
The very quick and short answer: terpenes are what you smell when you smell cannabis and they hold numerous medical benefits.
Terpenes (and terpenoids) are aromatic organic compounds found in many plants and even some insects. Plants developed terpenes to ward off herbivores that might eat them and to attract helpful predators and pollinators. Cannabis has naturally high levels of terpenes. "Dank" flower gets its stank from being rich in terpenes.
So...why do terpenes matter and why should you care?
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They directly affect your high and contribute to The Entourage Effect of cannabis
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They have medical benefits
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They give cannabis, concentrates, and vape oil its natural flavor
A groundbreaking 2011 paper by neurologist and researcher Ethan Russo described the way cannabinoids and terpenes work together to boost and modulate the effects of one another in the body's endocannabinoid system (ECS). For a long time THC was considered the only chemical of psychoactive importance in cannabis. Russo and team helped reveal how other cannabinoids (like CBD) and terpenes can either increase or decrease the effects of THC and other chemicals in the body that interact with the ECS.
In the same paper by Dr. Russo, it was revealed that terpenes “could produce synergy with respect to treatment of pain, inflammation, depression, anxiety, addiction, epilepsy, cancer, fungal and bacterial infections.”
禪師的故事
有一個人問禪師，學習首要學會甚麽？禪師將水倒入眼前的杯子，滿了也不停，當杯中的水流到桌面上，那人慌忙地叫“不要再倒了！” 禪師說：“就像這隻杯子，裝滿了自己的想法與看法，甚麽也進不了。如果你先把杯子清空，那杯子便可加入新鮮的水了。”