Terpene Tuesday: Phellandrene
Why does cannabis taste SO good? What are those intoxicating aromas that make you want to dive in and bring out your inner sommelier? All those enticing notes come from terpenes, a naturally occurring isomer compound found within the cannabis plant that enhance not only the taste and scent profiles, but the overall effect of your cultivar as well – want to up the intensity of your high? Myrcene is your go to, want to add a lemony kick? Limonene. Invoke the calming effects of lavender? Linalool.
If you’re thirsty for cannabis knowledge, terpenes and their associated effects are an interesting rabbit hole to dive into. This week we’re talking about a lesser known terpene, but its taste profile and effects are definitely worth note.
PHELLANDRENE
Nomenclature
Phellandrene can be denoted as both alpha and beta-phellandrene, though alpha will be the most commonly found in cannabis strains.
Scent and taste
Phellandrene has a predominantly minty, slightly woody and mildly citrus aromatic profile. As the terpene degrades, the scent notes will shift slightly which often makes it hard to detect, especially in the presence of terpenes such as limonene or pinene.
Phellandrene is often derived from eucalyptus species but can also be found in a variety of plants including: mint, dill, parsley, pine, lavender and water fennel.
Effects and applications
Phellandrene is easily absorbed, making it a great additive to topical products. Similar to its mint counterpart, phellandrene can help to settle the stomach, which can be very complimentary to the properties of THC.
Phellandrene is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial and has been used as a staple in Eastern medicine for centuries because of this. Since phellandrene is a lesser known terpene, studies on the full benefits of the plant are limited. However, one compilation of research suggested the following additional benefits as: stimulant, antiviral, decongestant and hepatoprotective, while another suggests the compound is a antihyperalgesic (reduced pain sensitivity).
Phellandrene can be a tough terpene to track down, but let us know if it has popped up in any of your favourite strains!
