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Which Terpenes are Best for Pain?

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You may be familiar with the fact that cannabis has many different cannabinoids that may affect you in different ways. However, another type of compound commonly found in cannabis is known as a terpene. Many different terpenes may be present in cannabis strains. Exactly which terpenes are present depends on the cannabis strain in question. Unlike some of the cannabinoids found in cannabis, terpenes will not get you high, but they may have other benefits. One of these potential benefits is that terpenes may be able to help alleviate pain and inflammation. If you’re suffering from pain and inflammation, consuming terpene-rich cannabis strains, with the right terpenes, may be the best solution for you, especially when compared to addictive and dangerous painkillers. Today, we’re going to find the best terpenes that help with pain, as well as the best terpene for nerve pain.

What Are Terpenes in Cannabis?

If you have ever smelled sage, lemons, or pine needles, you have already smelled terpenes before. Terpenes are naturally occurring compounds that are present in many different plants and fruits. These are the compounds that produce the fragrances that we are familiar with when we smell these objects. Terpenes are very closely related to essential oils, as these are the chemical substances primarily found in essential oils that give them their fragrance. In simplest terms, terpenes are the chemical compounds that produce aroma. Terpenes are most commonly present in citrus fruits, herbs, and flowering plants, which includes cannabis. Besides producing aromas, terpenes may also have other benefits, particularly medical benefits. They may have anti-allergic, antidepressant, analgesic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, and other benefits. Terpenes have dozens of potential benefits for the human mind and body. As you may have noticed, we said that terpenes may act as both analgesics and anti-inflammatories, which means that they help to relieve pain.

Are There Terpenes That Help with Pain?

There are dozens of terpenes that may be present in various cannabis strains, but not all of them help to relieve pain. Some of the best terpenes for pain include but are not limited to, myrcene, pinene, linalool, limonene, caryophyllene, and humulene. Exactly how each of these terpenes helps with pain will be discussed further below.

How Terpenes May Help with Pain

There are a few different ways in which terpenes are thought to help with pain. First and foremost, some terpenes are viewed as analgesics. Analgesic compounds by nature are pain relieving. Another example of an analgesic painkiller would be Tylenol. Terpenes may in some ways act like classic painkillers, therefore helping to relieve a variety of pains, such as headaches. Analgesic painkillers work by blocking pain signals from getting to your brain, therefore reducing or eliminating your perception of pain. In other words, analgesics don't actually remove your pain, but they do reduce your perception of it. Another way in which terpenes are thought to help with pain is because they are anti-inflammatories. When your body is injured, your body causes inflammation to happen to help protect those tissues. However, that inflammation can also press on nerves in the surrounding area, thus causing pain. Terpenes may be able to help relieve inflammation, and therefore relieve pain in this way. It is also thought that terpenes may have a so-called entourage effect with THC. This means that they work together in combination with THC to increase the overall effect that THC has on the body and mind. THC in itself is also thought to be a pain killer of sorts, and various terpenes may help to increase the efficacy of THC on this front.

Best Terpenes for Pain

Let’s now take a look at some of the best terpenes that help with pain, starting with myrcene.

Myrcene

Myrcene is also known as beta-myrcene. This is one of the most commonly found terpenes in cannabis. It has smells that can be described as earthy, musky, woody, peppery, and spicy. This is a terpene that is also commonly found in many other plants and fruits, including hops, lemongrass, mangoes, and eucalyptus. Myrcene is often found in Indica strains. It is thought that this Terpene may be able to activate the anti-anxiety receptors in your brain. It is also thought that it may be able to cause sedation. Not only does this terpene supposedly help reduce anxiety, but it also works as an analgesic painkiller, blocking pain signals from getting to your brain. It is also thought that this terpene works best when taken in combination with THC, as it produces that entourage effect that we discussed above. This is likely the best terpene for pain of all.

High Myrcene Strains

Pinene

Pinene, also known as alpha-pinene, is one of the most commonly found terpenes in the world, and it can be found in many plants including oranges, saffron, rosemary, mint, pine needles, and cannabis. Pinene is thought to have fairly powerful pain-relieving benefits independent of your cannabinoid receptors. It is thought to be able to help reduce pain and inflammation by working in combination with your GABA and opioid receptors. Some research indicates that strains of cannabis that contain this terpene could be effective at relieving neuropathic and migraine pain. In other words, this terpene may be able to help relieve nerve pain. This is generally the second most common terpene found in cannabis. Some research would indicate that this terpene also has many other benefits for the body.

High Pinene Strains

Linalool

Linalool is a terpene that has a citrusy, woodsy, and very light scent. This is a terpene that is most commonly found in fungi, citrus fruits, rosewood, mint, lavender, and cannabis. It is thought that this terpene has excellent anti-anxiety benefits that help calm you down. It is also thought to be an extremely strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. It can therefore help reduce inflammation in your body, pain, and reduce damage caused by free radicals and oxidative agents. Linalool may also have the ability to block pain through both peripheral and central mechanisms, and it may also have a specific synergy with opioids by acting with your opioid receptors. In other words, it may be able to help decrease pain in more ways than just one. It is also thought to reduce the transmission of pain signals from your spinal cord to your brain. Linalool may also help with sex!

High Linalool Strains

  • LA Confidential
  • Amnesia Haze
  • Lavender
  • Special Kush
  • Diamond Girl
  • Trainwreck
  • Fire OG
  • OG Shark

Limonene

Limonene is a citrusy terpene that can be bitter and is usually found in the peels of various citrus fruits like lemons and oranges. This is also a very common occurring terpene found in the world. Limonene is thought to be able to help relieve depressive thoughts, anxious thoughts, stress, and inflammation. It may also be able to help stimulate the immune system. There is some pretty strong research that confirms that limonene has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, both of which may be able to help relieve pain. This is not the number one terpene in terms of pain relief, especially when compared to the others discussed above. However, it may have some anti-inflammatory properties, and it may also be able to help relieve stress, both of which can be important when it comes to pain relief and management.

High Limonene Strains

  • Berry White
  • Do-Si-Dos
  • Banana OG
  • Super Lemon Haze
  • Bruce Banner
  • Sour Diesel – Check out our own Botany Farms HHC Lemon Diesel CBG strain!
  • OG Glue
  • Animal Cookies
  • Marionberry

Best Terpene for Nerve Pain

Nerve pain is a beast of its own. It often takes much more powerful substances to take care of nerve pain than it does with other forms of pain. There are however some terpenes that are thought to be able to help relieve nerve pain, so let's take a look.

Caryophyllene

One of the terpenes thought to be able to help with nerve pain is Caryophyllene, otherwise known as beta-caryophyllene. Caryophyllene has a peppery and spicy scent, and some people say that it also smells kind of like cinnamon. This terpene is most commonly found in black pepper, clothes, hops, Rosemary, and cannabis. What is interesting about caryophyllene as a terpene is that it is thought to activate CB2 receptors directly, which are located in your central nervous system and the peripheral immune system. This then leads to theories that caryophyllene may be able to help relieve stress, impact your mood, and reduce pain. This is a terpene that is known for having both anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Some research indicates that this terpene can help reduce pain and that it also enhances the pain-relieving properties of morphine. It may also be able to help increase the effects of other pain relievers. There is also research that indicates that caryophyllene may have neuropathic pain management properties. In simplest terms, it can help relieve nerve pain.

High Caryophyllene Strains

  • Candyland
  • Gelato
  • Bubba Kush
  • Sour Diesel
  • Girl Scout Cookies

Humulene

Humulene, also known as alpha-humulene, features a spicy, pungent, and earthy scent. It can be found in cloves, basil, black pepper, hops, sage, and cannabis. It has been shown by research that humulene can reduce inflammation in the human body. This same research also says that humulene acts as a very potent analgesic agent that can help block pain signals from getting to the brain. It is also confirmed that this terpene is a strong antibacterial agent.

High Humulene Strains

  • Girl Scout Cookies
  • White Widow
  • Candyland
  • Headband
  • Original Glue

Where to Find These Terpenes Online

If you are looking for these terpenes then look no further than right here at Botany Farms. We have a massive selection of terpene-rich strains, vapes, and more, with two popular options being our Botany Farms CBN Live Resin + Delta 8 THC Pine Walker Vape Cartridge and this Live Resin Delta-8 THC Tincture. Thanks for stopping by. Why not give something from our Farm a try?

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