You may have heard about the benefits of terpenes and their role in the entourage effect. Alpha pinene is the most common terpene, found both in cannabis and other plant sources. What are the effects of alpha-pinene and why did Dr. Russo include alpha-pinene in Daygold’s Calm Mind and Easy Relief formulas?
Based on decades of research, Dr. Russo chose specific botanical terpenes to address many common discomforts people are experiencing in their minds and bodies. Through a series of blog posts, we highlight a few of the many terpenes used in each Daygold blend including where they are found in nature and their benefits. Read all the ticles in our Terpene Effects series, explaining the reason why our CBD oil tinctures are so power-packed with beneficial compounds.
What is alpha-pinene?
The terpene alpha-pinene—which is sometimes written as α-pinene—is a plant compound with a bright, vibrant scent reminiscent of pine trees. Alpha pinene isn’t found just in Douglas fir trees. It can also be found in plants as diverse as rosemary, mint, holy basil (also known as tulsi), parsley, dill, juniper berry, wild orange and other varieties of citrus.
In fact, alpha-pinene is possibly the most widely-encountered terpene in nature. In plants, alpha-pinene functions as an insect repellant. In humans, alpha-pinene has been found to have multiple benefits.
What does alpha-pinene do?
Scientifically speaking, alpha-pinene is an acetylcholine inhibitor, meaning it inhibits the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter in the brain involved with memory. Because of this effect on the brain, Alpha-pinene can also counteract unwanted effects of THC, such as anxiety and short-term memory impairment.
Additionally, studies show that alpha-pinene has promising potential:
- as an anti-inflammatory
- as a bronchodilator to help you breathe more easily
- as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, particularly useful against MRSA
- to inhibit cancer tumor growth
Cannabinoids and terpenes blend in the human body to modify one another’s effects. In essence, they create an overall different or greater efficacy based on the same molecules present and the ratios in which they appear
—DR ETHAN RUSSO
Like a walk in the forest
Think about a time when you went for a walk in the forest, dappled sunlight warming a carpet of pine needles. That aroma—full of beneficial terpenes—can create feelings of clarity, focus, and heightened awareness. (
One of the most noticeable and important features of our unique plant blends is the distinctive, lush aromatics you’ll notice from the moment you first open a bottle of Daygold. Those complex and sophisticated aromas and flavors are due to the physician-formulated blend of terpenes we use.
Our terpenes are extracted using a steam distillation process to protect and preserve the beneficial quality of the terpenes. The alpha-pinene we use is also certified non-GMO, natural, organic and food grade for the ultimate quality, taste, and purity.
Our Calm Mind and Easy Relief tinctures feature alpha-pinene for its potential to improve your wellbeing, naturally. It’s like a walk in the forest in a bottle.
Please note: Most of the information in these articles comes from Dr Ethan Russo’s 2011 paper published in the British Journal of Pharmacology and subsequently featured in the US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. You can read the entire report, here.
† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.