How exactly do terpenes work?

By now you probably know what terpenes are. They’re responsible for the aromatic qualities we associate with many plants. While terpenes don’t get you high, they can promote some health benefits that are pretty neat. 

Linalool has been used as an anti-inflammatory, stress reducer, and as a way to ward off mosquitoes. Alpha-Pinene has even been used as a memory aid. We don’t know about you, but we think that’s pretty fascinating! These nifty little hydrocarbons have the ability to influence our everyday life. So it’s only fair to wonder...exactly HOW do terpenes have these affects on our minds and bodies?

You might not have been aware of it, but your body has been interacting with terpenes since the day you were born. And while it may have seemed like a bunch of hocus-pocus back in the day, the science behind it is surprisingly simple. 

Terpenes are all around us!

Connecting to nature has long been associated with health and mindfulness. And in 1982 Japan even went so far as to introduce a national health program for “forest bathing.”

Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is the practice of immersing yourself in the forest atmosphere. In doing so you’re able to reap the physical and mental health benefits that nature has to offer. Dr. Qing Li is the author of Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness. In his book he says that forest bathing can give your immune system a boost, make you less anxious, give you more energy, stabilize your mood, and promote relaxation. But how does spending time in nature have this effect?

First, let me ask you a question?

Have you ever noticed how when you try to visualize a calming setting it’s often oriented around nature? Maybe it’s a calming walk through a garden, fishing at the lake, or even sipping a tropical drink by the ocean. Well, just like the Japanese practice of forest bathing, all of these scenarios involve terpenes!

Some common terpenes you’re likely to come across in the forest are alpha-pinene, limonene, myrcene, and b-caryophyllene. On their own, these terpenes have benefits ranging from congestion relief and soothed airways to pain-relief and elevated moods.

However, because you’re spending time in nature, you’re exposed to many different terpenes at once. This allows different terpenes to work in harmony, giving you even more benefits. 

All you have to do is take a walk in the woods and breathe in that fresh forest air. That’s it! 

So now we know that terpenes are natural and that they can be good for us. We even know that all it takes is just some nice, deep breaths to get them into our system. But that still doesn’t answer the question of exactly HOW terpenes are interacting with our bodies to give us these awesome benefits. 

Well, get your notepad out because terpenes interact with our bodies in a LOT of ways.

How Terpenes Work

The original belief was that terpenes worked because our sense of smell is tied to the parts of the brain that control emotion. Following that line of reasoning, it makes sense that certain scents can affect our mood. But there’s actually a lot more involved than that.

Each terpene interacts with specific receptors in your brain to have different effects. Beyond that, each terpene can actually affect multiple parts of your brain and nervous system at the same time. That’s why some terpenes have multiple effects!

Let’s look at a few common examples.

Linalool

Myrcene

Alpha-Pinene

That’s why we love terpenes!

It’s only been within the last handful of years that terpenes have been in the public eye, and before that the research was still limited. That’s why all of the new research coming out about terpenes and their benefits is so exciting. That’s why WE keep conducting research too!

We want to keep exploring terpenes because they have amazing potential to improve our quality of life. Happiness and health are the natural state, so it only makes sense that we would work as closely as possible with nature to find solutions. 

One of our favorite phrases is, “Made by nature. Perfected by science.” Not everyone has the time or ability to go forest bathing and connect with nature. That’s where science comes in. Using terpene blends in innovative ways allows you to create products that give consumers a specific experience. And knowing exactly how those terpenes are interacting with the human body helps you determine what products will be most effective.

If you have questions about specific terpenes or terpene blends then be sure to follow us on social media to stay up to date with our blogs and products. And as always, feel free to contact us when you’re ready to enhance your products with terpenes.