 Oh, the wonderful world of cannabis. Let us start with terpenes, which are aromatic compounds found in every plant, including cannabis. We know that the cannabinoids, terpenes, craft cultivars have effects and potential healing abilities. There are hundreds of different terpenes and cannabinoid combinations in the cannabis plant. While each has its own benefits, together, they have the ability to make up a potent combo. Terpenes and cannabinoids are the most important determinants of a cannabis plant’s potential. Not only its taste and smell but its medicinal properties as well. When they come together in the molecular synergistic effect, know as the entourage effect, finding the right cultivar could improve the quality of your life and state of being. I am in hopes this column can help you do just that. So let's geek out together.
Alpha-pinene, sometimes referred to just as pinene or written α-pinene, is a terpene with the aroma of a fresh, earthy scent reminiscent of an evergreen tree pine forest. Besides cannabis, Alpha-pinene can be found in olive, parsley, dill, basil, rosemary, bergamot, and some citrus varieties. Alpha-pinene has a very unusual chemical structure. There are two identical versions, known as enantiomers. These are 3D mirror images of each other and identical. The two Alpha-pinene versions are known as (+) Alpha-pinene and (-) alpha-pinene, which you may have heard of when researching this particular terpene. Another member of the pinene family also exists, known as beta-pinene. It has a different structure but the same evergreen fresh pine scent. The distinction of Alpha -pinene vs. Beta -pinene really boils down to differences in sub-types of isomers. Which is very similar to the differences between THC and CBD. Alpha-pinene potential properties or effects may include:
All information in this article is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources. Please check with your Cannabis Educated Primary Health Care Physician or Educated & Trained Cannabis Therapy Consultant before beginning any new diet or lifestyle change. Written by Dr. Pepper Hernandez ND, Ph.D., CTC, CNHP in ECS & Naturopathic Medicine, Cannabis Therapy Consultant, The Founder and Education Director of the Cannabis Holistic Institute. To find out more about her Telemedicine Consultations, Educational Programs, YouTube videos, and other creative content, you can and find her on the massive inter-webs on all platforms or at drpepperhernandez.com.
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World of Cannabinoids and Terpenes
This month we are going to explore the dense and woody terpene Trans-nerolidol. This one is a secondary terpene found mostly in flowers like rose, jasmine, lemongrass, and tea tree oil. Most popular are the ginger and neroli essential oils in which trans-nerolidol is found. The smell of trans-nerolidol reminds me of a of a mixture between flowers, lemon and earthy aromas and can be described in general as woody, citrus and floral. The trans-nerolidol terpene has been known to be beneficial in combating pests that harm humans and plants. Nerolidol has, in some cases, been effective at warding off head lice, spider mites, parasites, and certain bacteria, and fungi, in addition to exhibiting a range of other potential benefits as a scent compound and a naturally occurring component of cannabis. Perhaps one of the most remarkably study that gives this more validity is the study done by the American Society of Microbiology under the Antimicrobial Agents Chemotherapy. Were trans-nerolidol was investigated for its ability to enhance bacterial permeability and susceptibility to exogenous antimicrobial compounds. That particular study shows that the introduction of “trans-nerolidol actually sensitizes infectious bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli to antibiotics. In other words, trans-nerolidol can work together with antibiotics to destroy bacterial pathogens more effectively.” This is a power discovery because that means cannabis plants high in nerolidol could have this benefit as well if the cultivar contained enough of this terpene. Trans-nerolidol has been traditionally used for its relaxing, slightly sedative effects. Another study, which I found fascinating, was the one held by BMC Neuroscience. Their study found that “the neuroprotective effect of nerolidol is mediated through its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which strongly supports its therapeutic potential for the treatment of Parkinson Disease.” Which again, is powerful information if you are growing craft boutique cannabis for wellness and specifically as a neuroprotectant. Trans-nerolidol’s potential effects include:
All information in this article is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources. Please check with your Cannabis Educated Primary Health Care Physician or Cannabis Therapy Consultant before beginning any new diet or lifestyle change. Written by Dr. Pepper Hernandez ND, Ph.D., CTC, CNHP in ECS & Naturopathic Medicine, Cannabis Therapy Consultant, The Founder and Education Director of the Cannabis Holistic Institute. To find out more about her Telemedicine Consultations, Educational Programs, YouTube videos, and other creative content you can and find her on the massive inter-webs on all platforms or at drpepperhernandez.com. Go forth, Go Cannabis... Benefits of Micro-dosing Edibles
Let us first start by explaining what micro-dosing is. It's a technique that involves taking minimal amounts of cannabis on a disciplined regular schedule. The point of this activity is to find your body’s THC perfection point. One can do this by only taking enough THC to barely perceive the effects on your mind and body without getting too altered. Why would someone want to do this? If you are a newbie and want to get familiar with cannabinoids and or terpenes, this could be a preferred method for you. Micro-dosing helps people get the light, therapeutic effects of cannabis without achieving a heavy, uncomfortable high and feel more comfortable with the plant itself. The art of micro-dosing requires discipline, patience and mindfulness. Finding your Minimum Effective Dose - MED In this sphere of medicine, the MED [minimum effective dose] is something patients and health care providers need more understanding of. Cannabis is biphasic, so you have this wonderful anti-inflammatory, relaxing properties with little to no side effects in small amounts. In large amounts, there is the possibility of unwanted effects of being too altered. Many people who try edibles for the first time become overwhelmed by the experience. That is because everyone has a different tolerance level. For example, a 10 mg piece of chocolate will affect each person differently. Also, edibles are much different than smoking cannabis. Why do cannabis edibles feel so different? The human body processes cannabis through the liver and GI tract. The effects of the potent metabolic byproduct are called 11-hydroxy-THC. This compound resulted in a faster onset and a more intense psychoactive experience than simply THC. Micro-dosing with 2.5-milligram products allows the consumer to ingest the initial THC and then gradually eat more the following day until they find their preferred comfort level. Most people who are interested in micro-dosing cannabis typically start with about 2.5mg or less. One can start with various teas, mints or chocolates with THC concentrations starting at 2.5 milligrams suitable for micro-dosing. It can take over an hour to feel some edibles' effects, so I suggest waiting a day and trying an increased amount the following day. The reason is that some edibles if taken properly, like a tincture, can be held under the tongue goes directly into the bloodstream. Simultaneously, others are digested in the stomach and can take hours to feel the effects depending on a person's digestive system. So it is important when micro-dosing to chart the amount and wait for results. Cannabis is a medicine that should be tailored to each patient’s individual make-up. Not all people are the same, and not all products are created equal. Cultivate an understanding of your endocannabinoid system by keeping a journal to track the cannabis farmer or grower, cultivar type, consumption method, dosage and side effects. Take your time and be patient when figuring out what dosage and consumption method works best for you. Be mindful of other elements that may impact the outcome of your experience when micro-dosing. Such as your nutrition, hydration, environment or even state of mind. As these can all affect your experience. Beneficial in Resetting Your Tolerance Like in all other forms of medicine, you want to treat yourself with the lowest effective dose. For those cannabis connoisseurs, micro-dosing can help you identify the perfection point you may need to reset your THC tolerance. Maybe you needed higher doses of THC for treating a past condition. Maybe you have to consume larger amounts of cannabis edibles to achieve any helpful high than you once did. You have built a tolerance to the effect and may need to take a small break. If this is the case, you can try to reset your tolerance to the effects of cannabis products by micro-dosing. The length of a tolerance break depends on your consumption patterns. In general, it works to stop or slow down consumption for 48 hours. After that time frame, you can start again with small doses of 1 to 2 mg of THC slowly building yourself back up. I encourage my patients to do this at least once a month to reset their tolerance levels. Micro-dosing Studies on the Rise In Israel on July 1, 2020, PRNewswire.com -- Israeli med-tech company Syqe Medical has conducted the first clinical trial to demonstrate that extremely low and precise doses of inhaled THC – the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis – can effectively relieve pain while avoiding the common side effects associated with cannabis use. The study, published in the European Journal of Pain, is the first scientific confirmation that micro-dosing – the process of using extremely low doses of active drug compounds to treat various conditions – actually works with cannabis. According to GetFluent.com, medical card users with these conditions have seen success with micro-dosing: • Cancer • Epilepsy • Glaucoma • HIV/Aids • Seizures • Crohn’s Disease • PTSD • ALS • Chronic Muscle Spasms • Parkinson’s Disease • Multiple Sclerosis • Chronic Pain • Sleep Disorders • Tourette Syndrome • Autism • Anxiety Disorders Micro-dosing can help people get therapeutic effects of cannabis without achieving a heavy, uncomfortable altered state and generally feel more comfortable with cannabis products. Micro-dosing can also help one achieve the perfect amount for their specific healing process. If you or someone you know requires help or would like more information, contact your Cannabis Therapy Consultant for more guidance. All information in this article is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources. Please check with your Cannabis Educated Primary Health Care Physician or Cannabis Therapy Consultant before beginning any new diet or lifestyle change. Written by Dr. Pepper Hernandez ND, Ph.D., CTC, CNHP in ECS & Naturopathic Medicine, Cannabis Therapy Consultant, The Founder and Education Director of the Cannabis Holistic Institute. To find out more about her Telemedicine Consultations, Educational Programs, YouTube videos, and other creative content, you can find her on the massive inter-webs on all platforms or at drpepperhernandez.com. |
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