What is the Myrcene Effect - and Why It Matters To You!

AUTHOR: ZOE HUDSON

Terpenes are essential oils found in cannabis and produced by plants to communicate with the world around them. 

They help attract pollinators and repel pests by giving plants their distinct taste and aroma. Humans, animals, and insects all rely on terpenes to identify “good” or “bad” plants, and many terpenes even have therapeutic benefits. 

Aromatherapy, for instance, uses terpenes for their healing benefits and is one of the oldest medicinal practices in history. 

Hemp also gets its unique scent and effects from terpenes, which are produced in the plant’s flower. There are more than 30,000 known terpenes in nature, yet most hemp plants are made up of just 200 different terpene varieties. The terpene profile of a plant typically depends on its growing environment and genetics. 

In hemp, only a handful of “dominant terpenes” are present in high enough concentrations to impact its effects.

While there are infinite possible terpene combinations in a strain, some terpenes tend to be more common than others, and myrcene is one of them.

What is the Myrcene Effect?

As one of the most abundant terpenes in hemp, myrcene is known for its sedative and sleep-aiding effects. Over 40% of today’s cannabis strains are myrcene-dominant, meaning they have myrcene as their most prevalent terpene. 

Myrcene has a musky, earthy, and slightly peppery aroma, and its taste is reminiscent of ripe fruits. It’s found in plants such as hops, thyme, basil, cloves, or mango.

This terpene has a wide range of therapeutic properties but is typically used as a natural sedative. You'll find myrcene in many traditional sleep-aids, such as lemongrass, hops, and cannabis. 

Benefits of the Terpene Myrcene

Better Sleep

Myrcene has a long history of being used as a herbal sleep aid in folk medicine. The myrcene effect is even believed to be responsible for the sedative and relaxing effects of cannabis. 

Studies show that myrcene may be effective at improving both sleep quality and duration. Myrcene may even has longer-lasting effects than other sedative drugs such as morphine. 

Many over-the-counter sleep medications may take a toll on the quality of your sleep. Not only could you wake up feeling groggy the next morning, but you may also struggle to get to sleep naturally. 

Myrcene may help promote sleep without negatively impacting other areas of your life. Many people also find full-spectrum CBD containing myrcene may be really helpful for improving sleep, you can read about CBD for sleep here.

              

 1200mg Evening Blend CBD Hemp Extract

Pain Relief

Living with pain can take a huge toll on your quality of life. 

Whether it’s chronic or caused by an injury or inflammation, one of the first things doctors tend to prescribe is addictive opioids which might be more than most people need. 

It’s well-known that medical cannabis may be a blessing for those struggling with chronic pain, and research suggests that a great deal of its pain-relieving benefits come from the myrcene effect. 

Since hemp plants also contain high levels of myrcene, you may feel these potential pain-relieving benefits with CBD. 

Studies show that myrcene interacts with the body’s pain receptors and can influence how you perceive pain. Myrcene also has strong anti-inflammatory properties, helping to reduce pain and support the body’s healing process.

Relaxation

You’ll find that the best stress-relieving hemp flower strains are all dominant in the terpene myrcene, and for a good reason. Myrcene's soothing effects can relieve symptoms of stress, such as muscle tension and migraines. 

Studies have found that myrcene also has anti-anxiety properties. It could help reduce anxious thoughts and relieve emotional stress. You’ll often find this terpene in high-THC cannabis strains as it can reduce some of its negative effects, such as paranoia and tremors. 

Adding this terpene into your evening routine can help your mind slow down and relax to get better sleep at night. You can learn more about this in our post Stress and CBD: Here's How They Are Connected!

Antioxidant 

Myrcene is also a powerful antioxidant that can help you feel and look better by neutralizing harmful oxidants in the body. 

Oxidants, also known as “free radicals”, are reactive molecules released during oxidation processes in the body. While this is a natural process caused by everyday activities such as exercise and too much exposure to sunlight, it also causes premature aging. 

These oxidants are missing electrons and take them from surrounding cells, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Antioxidants can fight off free radicals and prevent further cell damage and inflammation.

You can get antioxidants from plant-based foods and leafy greens such as broccoli, spinach, or kale. Terpenes are also a great source of antioxidants and can be found in whole plant CBD products. 

Terpenes & The Entourage Effect

Terpenes, cannabinoids, and other compounds work together to create the “Entourage Effect”. This is where the effects of individual compounds synergistically work together to create a new effect profile. 

In other words, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

This plays a big role with CBD, as terpenes can tailor the experience by enhancing specific benefits. It’s how whole plant, full-spectrum CBD products can be more effective in different areas, such as relieving pain or promoting sleep. Terpenes help increase the therapeutic potential of CBD, which is why many people prefer full-spectrum CBD over isolates. 

Most research on CBD is also performed on groups of these compounds rather than isolating them since cannabinoids and terpenes are far less effective alone. 

To get the most out of CBD, you can look for a variety of cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other beneficial plant compounds, which should be listed in the product’s lab results.  

If you want to learn more about how terpenes and cannabinoids work, you can read all about The Endocannabinoid System here!

Best Ways to take Myrcene

You can find myrcene in many fruits and leafy greens, such as thyme, basil, cloves, or bay leaves. You can benefit from the myrcene effect by simply adding some of these foods into your daily meals.

Aromatherapy is another great way to benefit from terpenes by breathing in essential oils containing myrcene.

The most simple and popular way to add the myrcene effect into your daily routine is with the greatest myrcene source of all: The hemp plant, or whole plant CBD Oil.  

        

Our Evening Blend

Our Treadwell Farms Evening Blend is rich in myrcene and contains other beneficial plant ingredients such as chamomile, lemon balm, valerian root, and vanilla. This blend of pure organic CBD Hemp Extract is designed to promote restful sleep that will leave you feeling refreshed and well-rested in the morning. 

We recommend using our Evening Blend in your nighttime routine to promote rest and relaxation. By using our myrcene-rich CBD oil, you can benefit from the myrcene effect without any of the intoxicating effects of other cannabinoids.While most people feel the effects of CBD after their first dose, it can take a few weeks of consistent use to experience its full benefits.

If you’re unsure about what type of CBD is best for you, try our Starter Variety Pack. It comes with three varieties of CBD oil, each with a unique taste and effect profile for different areas of your wellbeing.