Of the 200 aromatic molecule varieties called terpenes that may manifest in a particular example of the cannabis herb, none is better at repairing bones and promoting their growth than delta-3 carene (also called alpha-carene or simply carene).

Beginning in the 1960s, researchers began to note the medicinal efficacy of phytochemicals from plants such as cannabis. Among these chemicals are cannabinoids (the most famous examples are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), terpenes (such as myrcene and pinene) and flavonoids.

Terpenes were first believed simply to convey a sometimes pungent aroma in plants like cannabis. From an evolutionary perspective, these molecules serve the purpose of protecting the cannabis plant from pests and predators, many of which find these chemicals offensive or toxic.

The Details of Delta-3 Carene

Delta-3 carene conveys a sweet, pungent scent composed of citrus, cypress, pine and wood. It is produced by plants other than cannabis, including rosemary, pine trees and cedar trees. Delta-3 carene is utilized by the cosmetics industry as a fragrance and is employed as an insect repellent at the industrial level (it is a natural constituent of turpentine).

Regarding medicinal efficacy, the terpene provides significant qualities to combat systemic inflammation, repair diseased and damaged bones and is said to promote mental focus and concentration. Strains of cannabis rich in the delta-3 carene have been found to benefit those with arthritis, fibromyalgia and even Alzheimer’s disease. This terpene is found most commonly in strains of cannabis, including AK-47, Arjan’s Ultra Haze, Jack Herer, OG Kush and Super Lemon Haze, among others.

Beyond the repair of bones, the terpene is unique due to its power to draw out liquids (one of its chief applications within the cosmetics industry). This drying effect makes it a candidate for use as an antihistamine and in products targeting excessive menstruation or mucus production. This quality is also responsible for anecdotal reports of dry mouth (cottonmouth) and red-eye among cannabis smokers and vapers.

The Research

Research has revealed the medicinal efficacy of terpenes such as delta 3 carene since the 1980s. A 1989 study entitled “Comparative Study of Different Essential Oils of Bupleurum Gibraltaricum Lamarck” that was published in the journal Europe PMC investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of delta-3 carene, concluding “the essential oil of the Cázulas Mountains population was most active against acute inflammation owing to its high delta-3 carene content.”

A 2007 study entitled “Low Concentration of 3‐carene Stimulates the Differentiation of Mouse Osteoblastic MC3T3‐E1 Subclone 4 Cells” published in the journal Phytotherapy Research tested 89 natural compounds for their ability to maintain bone repair, deal with bone disease and promote overall healthy bones.

Concluded the study’s researchers, “Further studies are needed to determine the precise mechanism, but the anabolic activity of 3‐carene in bone metabolism suggested that the use of natural additives to the diet, including essential oils, could have a beneficial effect on bone health.”

Originally published on https://cannabisaficionado.com.

The post Delta-3 Carene: The Terpene That Promotes Healthy Bones (& Dry Mouth) appeared first on Cannabis Now.

When the weather begins to change, it’s common for cold symptoms to start to pop up. It usually starts with a bit of congestion and little sneezing before blossoming into a full-blown mess of running or stuffy noses, high fevers, headaches and a sore throat. It can be difficult to avoid catching a cold, especially once it starts going around. It can easily spread through saliva (by sharing a drink or kissing), skin-to-skin contact (handshakes or hugs) and even through the air if someone with the virus coughs or sneezes without properly covering their mouth.

Thankfully, most people can recover from a cold in just a couple weeks with their own at-home or over-the-counter treatments. In the meantime, you can also include cannabis to help with managing symptoms. If you’re heavily congested, dealing with a sore throat or trying to avoid coughing, smoking is probably not the best option for improving your symptoms. In fact, it could exacerbate them and make you feel worse. For people who feel like they need to smoke out of preference or habit, vaping is the way to go. It will be easier on your lungs and will most likely not make you cough if you’re intentional about taking gentle, slows pulls.

You can experiment with different terpenes like pinene which can act as a powerful expectorant and antimicrobial that can improve airflow functioning in the lungs. Just look for strains that have a high pinene content to help ease respiratory issues. Just remember that during this time it is not a good idea to share any paraphernalia with another person, so you’ll need a pipe or vape that is exclusively for your own personal use during this time until your symptoms completely subside.

If necessary, you can skip smoking and vaping altogether and go for pre-packaged edibles or cannabis-infused foods and drinks made at home. Soups and hot drinks are helpful as the weather cools down and there are lots of great recipes like vegetable soup with medicated garlic croutons, kief-infused chicken soup and cannabis-infused bone broth. You can also try making your own cannabis tea made with roots and stems or make canna-honey to add to herbal tea. Tinctures are an easy way to medicate as well by taking a dose underneath your tongue or adding it to tea, soup or something else. Don’t forget that edibles will take longer to feel the effects than smoking or vaping so be patient and don’t over do it in hopes of feeling better faster.

Some people find it unpleasant to feel high when they’re under the weather, so microdosing or CBD strains and products would be a good idea. For aches and pains, a topical or infused bath salts can help you feel better. Detox baths with Epsom salt and essential oils like peppermint and eucalyptus can help speed up your recovery and the added benefits of cannabis can reduce discomfort in your body so that you can rest and relax. You can also try rubbing an infused topical into any tense areas for some relief. Some studies have shown that cannabis can help reduce inflammation, which can be helpful if you’re experiencing uncomfortable nasal pressure or throat pain, so with topicals you can still experience some of the benefits without getting any kind of buzz at all.

Keep in mind that cannabis won’t help to make your cold go away but can help you feel a little better while you recover. Whether you decide to treat your cold naturally or with over-the-counter treatments from your local drugstore, remember to pay attention to how you feel, observe your symptoms and visit a doctor if needed.

TELL US, have you ever used cannabis to support you while kicking a cold?

The post How to Combat Cold Symptoms With Cannabis appeared first on Cannabis Now.

The holidays feel like a time of year tailor made for creating wonderful sensory memories. Be it the comforting aroma of freshly baked gingerbread men wafting over the kitchen or the taste of a stiff eggnog, our various end-of-year celebrations and traditions are often packed with plenty of signature flavors and smells.

Though cannabis may not be on that list for everyone, it is a plant that relies on the very same aromatic compounds at the heart of everything from mistletoe to hot chocolate: terpenes. Today, terpenes are rapidly becoming an everyday part of the modern cannabis consumer vernacular.

Found in the essential oils of a wide variety of different plants, terpenes give cannabis strains their distinctive tastes and smells but also help in the wild by attracting pollinators and repelling invasive species. Secreted by the cannabis plant’s trichome glands, terpenes also offer any number of potential health benefits, including promising anti-inflammatory properties as well as relief from pain and anxiety.

Of course, that all depends on the terpene. Given there are over 150 of them found in cannabis alone, pinpointing precisely which terpenes can do what remains, with respect to the progress that has been made, an ongoing effort.

Fortunately, when it comes to the specific smells and tastes one can expect, we’ve gotten things down to a science. For instance, we now know that those who think of the holidays and immediately get a whiff of a pine tree echoing through their nostrils owe a debt of gratitude to pinene.

Regarded as the most common terpene in the natural world, pinene is a popular tool in aromatherapy and the pivotal player behind what we commonly refer to as “Christmas tree smell.” In fact, that particular scent has become so beloved that we now buy it by the bottleful to spray in our homes. If you are one of the many who wistfully smiles whenever a pinene-powered burst of pine hits your nose, you may be pleased to learn that this terpene also features prominently in many cannabis strains.

A terpene shared with the likes of orange peels, rosemary, parsley, turpentine, basil, pine needles, dill, and conifer trees, pinene can be found in notable amounts in such cannabis strains as Jack Herer, SFV OG, Sugar Pine and OG Ringo. Each of these four selections is renowned for their hearty notes of pine, which it should be noted will not necessarily be the case simply because a strain is packed with pinene. Instead, it is the presence of all the terpenes in a strain which work together to create a strain’s signature sensory characteristics.

In celebration of the holidays and the surplus of pine trees currently pleasing our sniffers, let’s take a closer look at four strains ready to deliver the evergreen all year round. As a bonus, we’ve paired each strain with a suggested holiday gift for any last-minute shopping on your list!

JACK HERER

Undisputed as a legend of the game, Jack Herer is a sativa-dominant strain named for the activist and author of the seminal “The Emperor Wears No Clothes.” Featuring a hybrid of Haze, Northern Lights #5, and Shiva Skunk, this strain is known for having a pine-forward, spicy quality that consumers love almost as much as its corresponding effects, which tend to induce a focused, uplifting high. Grab a jar of Jack Herer and pair it with a copy of “The Emperor Wears No Clothes” for an inspiring combo gift!

SFV OG

Southern California’s San Fernando Valley is the birthplace of SFV OG, a hybrid descendant of OG Kush that delivers big on pain relief but isn’t known for being overly potent. The terpene expression in this strain is rich with notes of pine and lemon, leading some to refer to its resulting taste as being akin to Lemon Pledge (but in a good way). Popular with those seeking relief from physical symptoms, SFV OG should be a mainstay in any showcase devoted to strains that bring the Christmas tree heat. Try pairing a gift of this flower with another SoCal-specific item (you can’t go wrong with merch from Pink’s Hot Dogs) for a geographically themed twofer.

SUGAR PINE

With a name that sounds like a ski resort nestled in the Sierras, Sugar Pine is the result of decades of crosses and tinkering. The worthwhile payoff is a hybrid strain featuring genetics from Skunk, Sugar Bush, Afghani, and Sweetie. That’s quite the eclectic crew, which makes its ensuing flavor profile — a fragrant bouquet of sweet pine, vanilla, and hops — such a unique delight. With a name like Sugar Pine, it seems only fitting that any gift of this soothing, yet enlivening, strain should come with a home baked confection. Pair Sugar Pine with a tray of cookies straight from your oven and you’ve got the perfect present for anyone who loves both cannabis and sweets.

OG RINGO

Another relative of the OG Kush clan, OG Ringo is named not for the Beatle but rather Lawrence Ringo: a famed CBD breeder and activist. Regardless, the headline here is OG Ringo’s potent, high-THC payoff in the form of its long-lasting euphoric effects as well as its earthy, musky aroma, highlighted once more by notes of sweet pine. This holiday season, it’s actually possible to give a loved one the gift of multiple Ringos when you combine a jar of Ringo OG with a subscription to Disney+, which is currently streaming a critically acclaimed new, three-part documentary on the Beatles!

The post If You Want to Smoke (Christmas) Trees, Ask Santa for These Strains appeared first on Cannabis Now.

As the mainstream acceptance of cannabis use rumbles ever forward across the globe, the time when families and friends can gather around the Christmas tree vaporizing top-shelf cannabis may not be as far off as it once seemed. Those who choose to honor their health and turn away from the mulled wines and spiked egg nog this year should not have to hide their enjoyment of our favorite flower.

That signature scent of most flowers and plants, including the pine tree propped in the living room, originates from terpenes. As master horticulturalist Ed Rosenthal explains in his Big Book of Buds series, terpenes are also the components of cannabis responsible for the different effects and odors of the many varieties of marijuana.

“Pinene is the familiar odor associated with pine trees and their resin,” Rosenthal writes in the Big Book of Buds, volume 4. “Pinene probably gives true skunk varieties, the ones that stink like an animal, much of their odor… The smoke seems to expand in your lungs and the high comes on very quickly since a high percentage of the substance will pass to the bloodstream and brain.”

Pinene, which is most dominantly found in cannabis as the compound alpha-pinene, is the terpene that has established a solid reputation for tasting and smelling like a pine tree. The following three strains are sure to bring on this unique flavor so often associated with the holiday season.

Jack Herer –  This world-renowned strain was named after and bred in honor of the legendary author and cannabis activist, Jack Herer. “Upon the first draw, you immediately begin to identify its complex flavors,” West says. “It’s almost as if you can roll the smoke over the different parts of your tongue and taste each one individually. After exhaling, you will enjoy the lingering taste of the haze and lemon cleaner. A single experience smoking this strain is all it takes to be able to confidently identify it in the future as well as recognize strains with which it has been bred.”

Super Silver Haze – This selection comes compliments of Strainhunter Franco Loja. Loja is the manager of Green House Seed Co. and says Super Sliver Haze offers the highest levels of alpha-pinene. This strain is an uplifting sativa and bursts with skunk-like notes alongside the sweet floral of its Haze parentage. Super Silver Haze is a great choice for keeping your energy going today.

Bubba Kush – This Green House Seed Co. offering is known for causing powerful sedative effects. Enjoy this strain after the company has left for the day. It’s a great solution towards ensuring the new year begins in a state of complete relaxation and reflection.

What are your favorite strains? Tell us in the comments below. 

The post Cannabis for Christmas: Strains to Celebrate the Season appeared first on Cannabis Now.

Cannabis vaporisers and temperature control

The increase in use of vaporisers that we’ve seen in recent years is in response to a growing demand on the part of the consuming public, not only the medicinal users, but also a growing number of recreational consumers who are more and more concerned for their health and who want to find alternatives to the traditional combustion of flowers or cannabis extractions.

As a result, the market is rapidly expanding, with the appearance of more and more devices for vaporising both dried herbs and resins, usually incorporating some kind of system to control either vaporisation temperature or battery voltage (or featuring both systems on the same device), giving the user total control over the temperature at which the product will vaporise.

This feature, which, as we discussed, is increasingly common in the majority of vaporisers, not only allows users to regulate the vaporisation temperature and, therefore, the vapour density and flavour, but also offers the possibility to have a fairly approximate idea of which compounds are reaching their boiling point and being vaporised, and those which are not.

This fact, which at first glance might seem of secondary importance, in fact directly affects the smell, taste, and effects of the cannabis we consume, so we must pay careful attention to temperature if we want to maximise the enjoyment of our vaporiser and take full advantage of its characteristics. Normally, cannabis concentrates are vaporised at somewhat higher temperatures than plant matter.

Also note that this feature is not only restricted to vaporisers, whether they are desktop or portable units, but also applies to electric nails, which usually feature a vaporisation surface of medical grade titanium or quartz that is fitted onto a bubbler and heated with an electrical element, reaching temperatures high enough to “dab” concentrates, offering total control over the temperature of the nail, where we place the resin to be vaporised.

Cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and their boiling points

As we already know, cannabis flowers and extracts both contain a large number of active compounds, the best known of which are the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, and also a very small number of toxic substances that can be vaporised at the same time if their boiling point is reached. Each of them has a different melting point and boiling point, so some compounds may not vaporise completely – or at all, if we’re operating the vaporiser at particularly low temperatures.

The melting point is the temperature at which a substance passes from a solid to a liquid state, while the boiling point is the temperature necessary for this substance to pass from a liquid to a gaseous state, that is, the temperature at which each substance will vaporise so that we can inhale it. In this way, we can have some control over the compounds that we are going to vaporise, depending on the selected temperature. For this reason, the temperature control is a vital tool in cannabis vaporisers, and it must work perfectly to give us real control over the compounds we want to inhale, particularly if we are using it for medicinal purposes.

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What follows is a list of the most important cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in cannabis, with their boiling points and main therapeutic properties, to give you a clear idea of which compounds are being vaporised at certain temperatures. We also include the main toxic substances released, also with their corresponding boiling points:

Cannabinoids:

• Delta-9-tetrahidrocannabinol, Delta-9-THC: Boiling Point: 157ºC (314ºF). Analgesic, antiemetic (combats nausea and vomiting), antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and euphoric properties. Formula: C21 H30 O2
• Cannabidiol, CBD: Boiling Point: 160-180ºC (320-356ºF). Anxiolytic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipsychotic, antioxidant and antispasmodic properties. Formula: C21 H30 O2
• Cannabigerol, CBG: Boiling Point: Unknown. Anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and antibiotic properties. Formula: C21 H32 O2
• Cannabinol, CBN: Boiling Point: 185ºC (365ºF). Antibiotic and sedative properties. Formula: C21 H26 O2
• Cannabicromene, CBC: Boiling Point: 220ºC (428ºF). Anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and antibiotic properties. Formula: C21 H30 O2
• Tetrahidrocannabivarin, THCV: Boiling Point: 220ºC (428ºF). Analgesic and euphoric properties. Formula: C19 H26 O2
• Delta-8-tetrahidrocannabinol, Delta-8-THC: Boiling Point: 175-178ºC (347-352ºF). Antiemetic properties similar to THC, but more stable and less psychoactive. Formula: C21 H30 O2

Terpenes:

• Terpineol: Boiling point: 217-218ºC (422-424ºF). Sedative, antibiotic, antioxidant, antimalarial properties, and an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Formula: C10 H18 O
• Borneol: Boiling point: 210ºC (410ºF). Antibiotic properties. Formula: C10 H18 O
• Linalool: Boiling point: 198ºC (388ºF). Sedative, antidepressant, and anxiolytic properties. Reinforces the immune system. Formula: C10 H18 O
• P-Cymene: Boiling point: 177ºC (350ºF). Antibiotic and anti-candida properties. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Formula: C10 H14
• D-Limonene: Boiling point: 177ºC (350ºF). Antidepressant and anti-mutagenic properties. Reinforces the immune system. Formula: C10 H16
• Eucalyptol (1,8-cineol): Boiling point: 176ºC (348ºF). Stimulant, antibiotic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive (pain reduction) properties. An acetylcholinesterase inhibitor increases cerebral blood flow. Formula: C10 H18 O
• 3-Carene: Boiling point: 168ºC (334ºF). Anti-inflammatory properties. Formula: C10 H16
• Myrcene: Boiling point: 166-168ºC (330-334ºF). Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, and anti-mutagenic properties. Formula: C10 H16
• Pinene: Boiling point: 156ºC (312ºF). Anti-inflammatory, stimulant, bronchodilator, antibiotic, and anti-neoplastic properties. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Formula: C10 H16
• Caryophyllene: Boiling point: 119ºC (246ºF). Anti-inflammatory, antimalarial properties. Protects gastric mucus. Formula: C15 H24
• Pulegone: Boiling point: 224ºC (435ºF). Sedative and antipyretic properties. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Formula: C10 H16 O
• Terpinen-4-ol: Boiling point: 209ºC (408ºF). Antibiotic properties, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Formula: C10 H18 O

Flavonoids:

• Quercetin: Boiling point: 250ºC (482ºF). Antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, antiviral, and anti-neoplastic properties. Formula: C15 H10 O7
• Cannaflavine A: Boiling point: 182ºC (359ºF). Cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor. Formula: C21 H20 O6
• Apigenin: Boiling point: 178ºC (352ºF). Anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, and oestrogenic properties. Formula: C15 H10 O5
• Sitosterol: Boiling point: 134ºC (273ºF). Anti-inflammatory properties, an inhibitor of 5-alpha-reductase. Formula: C29 H50 O

Toxins:

• Toluene: Boiling point: 110.6ºC (231ºF). It can cause drowsiness, loss of appetite, nausea, and mild dizziness. It is much less toxic than benzene. Formula: C6 H5 – C H3
• Benzene: Boiling point: 200ºC (392ºF). Carcinogenic substance. Formula: C6 H6
• Naphthalene: Boiling point: 218ºC (424ºF). It can cause drowsiness, loss of appetite, nausea, paleness, and mild dizziness. Possible carcinogenic substance. Formula: C10 H8
• Carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke tars: Boiling point: 230ºC (446ºF), in other words, at the point of combustion. These are carcinogenic substances.

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Important aspects when vaporising cannabis

If we want to make the most of our vaporiser and take advantage of the properties of the substances that cannabis contains, then we must start with top-quality plant material. We can break it up with a grinder to achieve more homogeneous and efficient vaporisation, although we must also take into account the moisture content of the flower material.

Normally, if the material is very dry, somewhat lower temperatures are used, while in the case of being too wet, it can be difficult to vaporise the cannabinoids correctly. Advanced users then perform an initial heating of the material at about 138-148°C, at which temperature basically only flavonoids are vaporised while the plant material will dry considerably. In this way, it can be heated again to a higher temperature to vaporise all the cannabinoids and terpenes (which have, as we have seen, a higher boiling point), now with the correct texture and humidity to allow uniform and effective vaporisation.

Another current vaping practice has to do with the type of effect being sought. Many users will vaporise Sativa-dominant cannabis strains during the day to obtain a stimulating, cerebral effect. Those who are aware of the different boiling points of the cannabinoids will already know that vaporising at lower temperatures (about 155-160°C) evaporates THC but not the other compounds with sedative and relaxing properties, so a cleaner, energising effect is achieved.

In contrast, those who consume to relax (usually in the evening) tend to prefer Indica-dominant varieties, which have a more narcotic and sedative effect than Sativas. To further enhance this particular characteristic of the Indica chemotype, these users will increase the vaporisation temperature (up to about 205-210ºC) to ensure that the compounds with relaxing properties will also be released.

Although this list can be very helpful when choosing the vaporisation temperature that suits us, we must remember that there are several factors that can cause boiling points to vary slightly. To begin with, these temperatures are taken at a certain atmospheric pressure, so it’s not the same to vaporise at sea level as at 4,000 meters. Another important aspect is the precision of the heating element of the vaporizer or electric nail that we are using. These devices (like almost any type of measuring instrument) have a range of precision; in other words, they always have a small margin of error of a few tenths of a degree (in quality devices) or of some degrees (in lower range devices). Logically, the more precise we want to be, the more we will strive to make this margin of error as small as possible.

Also, don’t forget that at temperatures above 200°C, cannabis can begin to release traces of benzene, a carcinogenic substance that many users prefer to avoid by working at lower temperatures. Above this temperature, the plant material can begin to burn, depending to a large extent on the degree of humidity present in the flowers. At 230ºC, we can already see evidence of combustion, as plant tissues are burned and the toxic substances we talked about – like toluene, benzene, naphthalene, carbon monoxide, and tar – are released.

We hope that this article will help you to leave combustion behind you, put aside your pipe, bong, hookah, etc., and start to take full advantage of your vaporiser, which will allow you to benefit from the therapeutic properties of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids without the health risks that combustion involves.

Happy vaping!

The post Temperatures for vaporising Cannabis appeared first on Alchimia blog.

One of the most challenging aspects of cannabis consumption is determining how specific strains will affect each individual. This is largely because everyone’s endocannabinoid system is unique, leading to varying interactions with cannabis. For instance, one strain might induce drowsiness in one person while sparking creativity in another. Traditionally, cannabis consumers classified strains based on […]

The post Understanding Terpenes and the Effects of Cannabis Strains on the Body appeared first on The Weed Blog.