Welcome to the Talking Terpenes: Cliff Notes education series. This collection of articles summarizes the science of one of the most common types of molecules in nature, terpenes, into an easy read for the average consumer. New articles will be released periodically that explore their characteristics, including many health benefits, offered by terpenes and—more specifically—terpene blends.

In this article, we will learn about a terpene blend called Grand Daddy Purple (GDP). It's made up of different terpenes that work together to give us health benefits. Our scientists who made this blend studied how each terpene works and how they work together to make us feel better. They also looked at something called the "entourage effect," which means how the terpenes interact with each other.

 

UNDERSTANDING GDP TERPENES

Our Grand Daddy Purple (GDP) blend is made with natural terpenes that give it a sweet and fruity scent, kind of like berries and grapes. Extract Consultants GDP blends comes in two forms: solvent-free or powdered. It’s made using terpenes from a plant called Purple Urkle and another one called Big Bud, to create a mix that's like the GDP plant. It's a kind of plant that makes you feel relaxed and calm.

Ratios Matter

Throughout this series, we'll learn that the way terpenes are mixed together determines how they work. Even if we use the same terpenes, if we mix them in different amounts, they'll smell different and might help our bodies in different ways. So, the amount of each terpene we use is important.

Curated Botanical Sources

To make sure everyone who tries our Grand Daddy Purple Terpene Blend has the same experience, we carefully choose the plants we get the terpenes from. We want to make sure we can keep getting those plants long-term so our product always tastes and smells the same. We also make sure we use a process that always extracts the terpenes the same, so every batch of our product is just as good as the last one.

ALPHA PINENE

Pinene is a kind of terpene that comes in two types, alpha and beta. Alpha-pinene is more common than beta-pinene, and it smells fresh, earthy, and musky. Beta-pinene smells similar, but with more spice. Pinene comes from different botanical sources, but mostly from pines and other trees with needles. It's also in things like basil, cannabis, and oranges. People use pinene to make things smell good or taste good in food and cosmetics. Some research shows that pinene might be good for people's health.

Medicinal Research on Alpha Pinene

In a 2015 study called “Gastroprotective Effect of Alpha-pinene,” the researchers looked at how alpha-pinene can help with stomach ulcers in mice. They found that alpha-pinene can help protect the stomach from getting ulcers. When the mice were given alpha-pinene before they got ulcers, they had less damage in their stomachs. The more alpha-pinene they got, the better it worked! The researchers think that alpha-pinene could be a good way to help people who have stomach problems too.

Notable Strains that Feature Alpha Pinene

BETA PINENE

Beta-pinene is a terpene that has a spicy smell and is less common than alpha-pinene. It can help treat asthma and allergies by expanding the lungs. Beta-pinene is also a painkiller, helps reduce inflammation, and may be helpful for patients with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Medicinal Research on Beta Pinene

Scientists did a study in 2011 to see how helpful alpha-pinene and beta-pinene are in fighting a sickness called infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). They found that both types of pinene have the ability to fight this sickness, which means they could be used to help make medicine to treat it.

Notable Strains that Feature Beta Pinene

BETA CARYOPHYLLENE

In 1964, a scientist named Raphael Mechoulam discovered something called Beta-caryophyllene, which is also known as BCP. It was found to have qualities that are similar to those of cannabinoids, which are chemicals found in things like cannabis. Specifically, it can attach to certain parts of our body called CB2 receptors, which can help with things like pain, inflammation, and depression. BCP is found in many different plants, including basil, cinnamon, and lavender. It smells like pepper with a hint of spice. Research has shown that BCP can also kill germs like bacteria and fungus.

Medicinal Research on Beta Caryophyllene

A group of scientists did a study in 2018 to see if β-Caryophyllene (BCP) could help protect the liver from damage caused by too much alcohol. The study showed that BCP had a positive effect on the liver, and it could help people with an illness called alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Notable Strains that Feature Beta Caryophyllene

D-LIMONENE

Limonene, also known as D-Limonene, is a smell that you can find in many types of hemp and cannabis. It smells like lemons, limes, and oranges! People like it because it can help make it easier to breathe for those with asthma, bronchitis, and allergies. Limonene is also used as a biofuel because it can burn.

Medicinal Research on D-Limonene

A 2007 study looked at how a terpene called D-Limonene could be used to help people with certain health problems. The researchers found that D-Limonene is safe for people to take, even for a long time. They also discovered that D-Limonene could help people with problems in their stomach and digestive system, like acid reflux and gallstones. Additionally, it could help fight against cancer.

Notable Strains that Feature D-Limonene

LINALOOL

Linalool is a natural scent found in some plants, including cannabis and lavender. It smells sweet and flowery, and can help people feel relaxed and calm. Linalool can also help reduce seizures for people with epilepsy and relieve pain and inflammation.

Medicinal Research on Linalool

Scientists did a study in 2015 to see if linalool can help fight inflammation caused by smoking cigarettes. They found that linalool was able to protect against inflammation in the lungs caused by cigarette smoke.

Notable Strains that Feature Linalool

MYRCENE

Myrcene is a kind of smell molecule that's often found in cannabis plants. It has a smell that's kind of fruity, earthy, and spicy. This molecule is the most common one in cannabis plants and is often found in plants that make you feel relaxed or sleepy. It's also found in other plants like chamomile, hops, lemongrass, parsley, and thyme. People use myrcene to add smells and flavors to things like perfume, food, and lotion.

Medicinal Research on Myrcene

A study from 2002 looked at three terpenes - citral, myrcene, and limonene - to see if they could be helpful in medicine. The researchers found that myrcene and limonene can make mice feel relaxed and sleepy, but myrcene needs a stronger dose than limonene to have the same effect. When given a high dose, all three terpenes helped mice sleep longer. The study found that these terpenes could be useful for relaxing muscles and making people feel sleepy.

 

Notable Strains that Feature Myrcene

CONCLUSIONS

There are 40,000 types of terpenes in nature. Cannabis and hemp have about 200 of them, but only a few show up in one plant. Unlike cannabinoids which are only found in cannabis, no terpene is unique to cannabis. The Grand Daddy Purple blends from Extract Consultants are carefully made to have just the right mix of terpenes to help people in a natural way. These terpenes can help with things like inflammation, stomach problems, anxiety, depression, and breathing issues like allergies, asthma, and bronchitis.