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Decoding Myrcene: the Most Important Cannabis Terpene You've Never Heard Of

Have you ever wondered why some strains of cannabis make you feel relaxed while others make you feel energized? The answer lies in the terpenes. Terpenes are the potent aromatic flavor components that give cannabis its distinct smell and flavor. But they do more than just make your weed taste and smell good—they also play a big role in the effects your weed will have on your body and mind. Of all the terpenes found in cannabis, myrcene is by far the most important.

You may not have heard of myrcene before, but it's a compound that's found in a lot of different plants - including cannabis. Myrcene is a strong anti-inflammatory compound, which means it could be useful for treating conditions like arthritis and Crohn's disease. In this blog post, we'll take a look at the benefits and how it can be used to improve your health.
What is myrcene?
Myrcene is a monoterpene that's produced in several different plants, and of course, cannabis. It's responsible for the earthy, musky aroma of many popular cannabis strains, like OG Kush and Purple Haze. Myrcene is also the reason why some people say that eating a mango before smoking weed will make them higher; mangoes contain high myrcene levels, which has been shown to increase the psychoactive effects of THC.

Myrcene is a monoterpene, which means it's made up of two isoprene units. It's this molecular structure that gives this terpene its unique properties. There are two forms: beta-myrcene and alpha-myrcene. Naturally occurring beta-myrcene is the most common and is often referred to in writing as just "myrcene". Myrcene has high levels of naturally occurring antioxidants. This means that it can scavenge free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can cause oxidative damage to cells.

How is myrcene used?

Myrcene is commonly used as a food additive as a food flavoring chemical. It can also be found in many products like detergents, cosmetics and soaps. Because of its pleasant scent, high purity β-myrcene is also used as a base for some commercially available essential oil products such as menthol, nerol, geraniol, and linalool.

This terpene is also the main contributor of the green hop aroma in beer and other hop essential oils. Because of its biochemical and pharmacological properties these and other cannabinoid chemical compounds are a staple in the food and beverage industry. Thanks to an efficient and economical method to produce myrcene industrially, the main essential oil obtained can be used along with other terpenes as a flavoring and aroma agent in alcohol free functional drinks.
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The Effects of Myrcene on the Human Body

β myrcene contributes significantly to the effects of a cannabis strain. For example, a strain where high levels of β myrcene concentrations exist will be more sedative than a strain with low levels of myrcene. This is because myrcene binds to the cannabinoid receptor CB1, which is responsible for regulating pain perception, mood, memory, appetite, and other cognitive functions. Through this mechanism myrcene largely determines the effect of cannabis sativa.

Myrcene also inhibits the uptake of serotonin by binding to the serotonin transporter protein. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in mood regulation. A deficiency in serotonin has been linked to depression and anxiety. By inhibiting the uptake of serotonin, myrcene helps to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Many significant biological properties have been attributed to myrcene. These include analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antidepressive, anxiolytic and sedative effects.

Some therapeutic benefits observed in the area of aging and degenerative diseases include:

  • Reduced inflammation
  • Protection against Alzheimer's disease
  • Reduced risk of cancer
  • Chain breaking antioxidant activity
  • Improved collagen and elastin fibers

Let's take a closer look at the physical and chemical properties of myrcene.

Myrcene has a variety of effects on the human body. Perhaps the most well-known effect of β-myrcene in high doses is its sedative effect. Strains of cannabis that are high in myrcene are often used to treat insomnia and pain. This property is what makes myrcene-rich strains like blue dream so popular among cannabis consumers. The sedative effects of myrcene can help to ease anxiety and promote relaxation. Myrcene is also an antispasmodic, which means it can help to relieve muscle spasms.

In addition to its sedative and antispasmodic properties, myrcene has also been shown to increase the permeability of the blood brain barrier. This allows more THC to reach the brain enhancing psychoactive responses , which explains why myrcene-rich strains of cannabis are often more potent than those that are low in β-myrcene.

Myrcene in Health and Medical Sciences

But myrcene isn't just good for making you higher—it also has a number of other potential benefits. For starters, myrcene, common in Chinese medicine, is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Myrcene can help to reduce the swelling and pain associated with arthritis, Crohn's disease and other inflammatory conditions.

Additionally, myrcene in high doses has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancerous cells. This makes it a potential treatment for cancer, though more research is needed in this area. Finally, β-myrcene is also an effective sedative. This makes it useful for treating conditions like insomnia and anxiety.
  • Myrcene as an Antioxidant
    Myrcene is also an antioxidant. This means that it can help protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause cell damage, which can lead to a variety of health problems. By protecting your cells from free radical damage, myrcene can help you stay youthful and healthy to avoid some of these health problems.
  • Myrcene the antimicrobial
    Mrycene also has antimicrobial properties. This means that it can kill harmful bacteria and fungi. In fact, myrcene has even been shown to be effective against MRSA, a type of bacteria that's resistant to antibiotics.
  • Myrcene as an Anti-inflammatory
    Myrcene has anti-inflammatory properties, which means that it can help reduce inflammation throughout your body. Inflammation is a natural response to injury or illness, but chronic inflammation can lead to a variety of health problems. If you suffer from chronic inflammation, myrcene may be able to help reduce your symptoms and improve your overall health.

The Neuroprotective Effects of Myrcene

You may be familiar with myrcene as the terpene that will induce sedative qualities of indica strains. But did you know that this terpene also has neuroprotective effects? Myrcene is a terpene that is produced by many different plants, including lemongrass, basil, and, of course, cannabis.

This terpene is known for its sedative effects and its ability to help people sleep. But recent studies have shown that myrcene also has neuroprotective effects. In other words, it helps to protect your brain cells from damage. Here's a closer look at the science behind myrcene and its neuroprotective qualities.

One study in particular looked at the neuroprotective effects of myrcene in rats. The rats were given myrcene and then subjected to a variety of tests designed to measure their cognitive function. The results of the study showed that myrcene was able to significantly improve the rats' cognitive function.

Studies in rats have shown that myrcene can help protect the brain from damage caused by alcohol and other toxins, along with other central nervous system effects. In addition, myrcene appears to be a potent antidepressant. One study found that myrcene was as effective as imipramine—a common tricyclic antidepressant—in reducing depressive symptoms in rats.

Another study looked at the effect of myrcene on mouse hippocampal neurons. This study found that myrcene was able to protect the mouse hippocampal neurons from damage caused by oxidative stress. The study also found that myrcene was able to improve the viability of these neurons.

These studies suggest that myrcene has neuroprotective effects in both rats and mice. These findings are preliminary, but they suggest that this terpene may help to protect your brain cells from damage.

Is myrcene an antidepressant?

Myrcene was first isolated in 1866 by French chemist Henri Victor Broley. It wasn't until 1973 that scientists discovered that myrcene was present in cannabis. Cannabis strains with high levels of myrcene are often Indica-dominant or Indica-leaning hybrids. When consumed, myrcene acts as a muscle relaxant, sedative, and analgesic. These effects are due to myrcene's ability to interact with the body's endocannabinoid system.

Endocannabinoids are molecules that bind to cannabinoid receptors and modulate various physiological processes. These processes include pain perception, inflammation, appetite, digestion, sleep, immunity, reproduction, and anxiety. The two most well-known endocannabinoids are THC and CBD. However, there are over 100 different cannabinoids found in cannabis.
The most abundant cannabinoid after THC is CBG (cannabigerol), which makes up about 1% of the plant's cannabinoid content. However, CBG's psychoactive properties are negligible at best. This means that CBG is non-intoxicating and does not produce the "high" typically associated with cannabis use.

CBG works as an antagonist of the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. This means that it blocks these receptors from binding with THC and CBD. As a result, CBG can counteract some of the negative side effects of THC such as anxiety and paranoia. It can also reduce the intoxicating effects of THC while still providing pain relief. For this reason, CBG is sometimes referred to as "the mother of all cannabinoids."

Myrcene also interacts with the endocannabinoid system but does so differently than CBG. Myrcene binds to the cannabinoid receptor CB1 which is responsible for regulating pain perception, mood, memory, appetite, and other cognitive functions. By binding to this receptor, myrcene produces antidepressant effects.

In addition to its interaction with the endocannabinoid system, myrcene also inhibits the uptake of serotonin by binding to the serotonin transporter protein. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in mood regulation. A deficiency in serotonin has been linked to depression and anxiety. By inhibiting the uptake of serotonin, myrcene helps to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

The Many Uses of Myrcene

Myrcene is the most abundant terpene in cannabis, and it's thought to be responsible for the "couch-lock" effect that some indica strains are known for. But myrcene is more than just a sedative; this compound also has antibacterial, antioxidant, and antifungal properties. In addition, myrcene has been shown to be an effective insecticide.

Myrcene as an Insecticide

In addition to its effects on humans, myrcene has also been shown to be toxic to some insects. For this reason, myrcene has been used as an insecticide in some parts of the world. Myrcene can be used as an insecticide. In fact, it's been used as an insecticide in Southeast Asia for centuries. This terpene is toxic to many common household pests, including ants, cockroaches, and dust mites. So, if you're looking for a natural way to get rid of these pesky critters, myrcene might be the answer.

The Power of Myrcene

Cannabinoids like THC and CBD get a lot of attention, but there are other compounds in cannabis that are just as important. Take myrcene, for example. This monoterpene is produced in several different plants, including cannabis. Myrcene has a host of benefits, ranging from anti-inflammatory to antidepressant properties.

Myrcene is produced by a variety of plants, including Cannabis sativa. The largest concentration of myrcene is found in the leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant. However, myrcene is also found in smaller concentrations in other plant species, such as lemongrass, hops, basil, and Lycopodium caclulatum.

Myrcene is a potent terpene that has a variety of effects on the human body. Myrcene is the most abundant terpene in cannabis and can make up over 50% of a strains terpene content. Myrcene has potent effects on the human body , including sedation , antispasmodic , and increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier.

The Bottom Line

There's still a lot we don't know about myrcene, but the research that has been done so far is very promising. Myrcene is a powerful compound with a host of benefits ranging from sedative to antidepressant effects.

Myrcene has a potent chemical composition with a wide range of potential health benefits. If you're looking for a natural way to treat conditions like inflammation, cancer, and anxiety, myrcene could be the answer you're looking for. Talk to your doctor about whether myrcene could be right for you.

So what does all this mean for you? If you're looking for a relaxing strain to help you unwind after a long day, look for one that's high in myrcene. If you're looking for cannabis strains high in myrcene, try White Widow, Master Kush, or OG Kush. Some of our favorite myrcene-rich strains include Blue Dream, Granddaddy Purple, and Northern Lights. Or if you want to try something new, try Granddaddy Purple or OG Kush.

So there you have it: everything you need to know about myrcene! This wonderous terpene has many benefits, both for your mind and your body. So next time you're at the dispensary, be sure to ask for a strain that's high in myrcene!