Everything You Need to Know About the Terpenes in Your Prescription Natural Medicine

What are terpenes? 

Terpenes (pronounced tur-peens) are the organic, aromatic compounds found in plants in the form of oils. Essentially, they are what give a plant its unique flavour and aroma. 

When it comes to prescription natural medicine plants, terpenes are contained in the trichomes plants in the form of sticky resin glands. Prescription natural medicine plants contain more than 150 types of terpenes, each responsible for the aromatic diversity of the wide range of natural medicines available.

Until recently, much of the prescription natural medicine industry has been focused almost solely on the therapeutic qualities of a select few active ingredients. But, as our knowledge of terpenes continues to grow and science expands, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that these aromatic compounds are medicinal powerhouses in their own right. 

Beyond just influencing the unique taste and smell of different prescription natural medications, terpenes play a significant role in the therapeutic effects of your medication.

It all comes down to synergy. That is, multiple elements of the medication working together to amplify each element’s effect. This allows for the overall effect of the medicine to be greater than the sum of its individual parts (this phenomenon is known as the ‘entourage effect’¹). 

When active ingredients are paired with other compounds within the medication (such as terpenes), they create particular medical effects that open up a world of therapeutic combinations and medicinal purposes that researchers are beginning to explore. 

What Do Terpenes Do? (Terpene Effects)

Throughout history, humans have been harnessing the wide range of aromas and properties of terpenes for various purposes, including their medicinal benefits. Different terpenes have different effects on the mind and body, with potential capabilities ranging from antibacterial and antifungal to anticancer and pain relieving², to name a few. 

The potential medicinal properties of these aromatic compounds and the way terpenes interact with our bodies are still being explored and we hope to see more medical research in the near future.

Ever used the scent of lavender to help you drift off to sleep? You have the terpene linalool to thank for that effect! 

Studies have shown that linalool aids sedation and relaxation while reducing aggression and hostility. 

Does the smell of citrus have an uplifting effect on your mood? That’s thanks to the terpene limonene, which is known as a natural antidepressant (among its many other medicinal properties)2.

These are just some of the potential therapeutic effects and benefits of terpenes, many of which can be found in prescription natural medicines:

• Antiviral: there are a number of terpenes that demonstrate antiviral capabilities, including beta-pinene and limonene⁴, as well as caryophyllene, camphor, and carvone⁵.
• Antidepressant: 25% of modern-day antidepressant drugs are formulated using herbal extracts that contain terpenes, including linalool and beta-pinene².
• Pain relieving: like some active ingredients, terpenes including humulene, geraniol, linalool, and β-pinene are capable of activating the body’s CB1 receptors (a component of the endocannabinoid system that influences pain perception). One 2021 study combined these terpenes with other active ingredients found within prescription natural medicines and found the pain-relieving effects of the active ingredients to be amplified without an increase in negative side effects. These findings support the entourage effect theory mentioned earlier⁶.
• Antimicrobial: terpenes like alpha-bisabolol, geraniol, menthol, eucalyptol, and terpinolene may display antimicrobial activity⁹ which could help in stopping the progression of harmful microorganisms.

Much more research is needed (especially in humans) to uncover the full therapeutic potential of terpenes¹⁰. However, preliminary research on medicinal properties and a longstanding history of terpenes being used in traditional medicine indicates that these compounds may have powerful health benefits yet to be explored.

Do Terpenes Have an Intoxicating Effect?

Terpenes found in prescription natural medicine plants aren’t intoxicating on their own, and they won’t make you feel high in the way that other active ingredients can. However, some terpenes are still considered to be psychoactive because they have an effect on the brain. 

These effects can include feeling: 

• Relaxed
• Uplifted 
• Less anxious 

While the terpenes found in prescription natural medicine won’t get you high on their own, these aromatic compounds may still alter the effects of intoxicating active ingredients, and more specifically, the active ingredients responsible for the “high” feeling many experience with prescription natural medicine use. 

Some theories support the idea that different combinations of active ingredients may have the ability to ater and even mitigate the undesirable effects that some prescription natural medicine users experience, such as anxiety and intoxication. 

There is also some evidence that terpenes enhance the existing therapeutic properties of the active ingredients found within prescription natural medicine – such as pain relieving⁶ and antidepressant² effects – when they are taken together.

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How Do Terpenes Differ From Other Active Ingredients in Your Prescription Natural Medicine?

Active ingredients and terpenes are both organic compounds found in prescription natural medicine plants – and both have varying effects on the mind and body. Let’s explore the differences between the two:

Active Ingredients 

• Active ingredients are a diverse array of molecules found within prescription natural medicine plants, some other plants, and the human body. 
• Some of the more common active ingredients are largely responsible for the effects you experience when you consume prescription natural medicines, including psychoactive, therapeutic, and other effects. 
• Active ingredients interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system in varying ways to produce effects within the mind and body.
• Active ingredients are heavily regulated in Australia and require a prescription in most cases.
• Some active ingredients can be capable of producing an intoxicating effect on the user.

Terpenes

• Terpenes are also organic compounds found within prescription natural medicine plants that have different effects and properties to active ingredients. 
• Terpenes influence the aroma and flavour of plants(alongside Volatile Sulphur Compounds (VSCs)¹¹) while active ingredients do not. 
• Terpenes are found in abundance in almost all plants, while active ingredients can typically only be found in prescription natural medicine plants and a small number of other plants, such as black pepper.  
• Terpenes are significantly less regulated in Australia than active ingredients, and as such are widely available and used in a range of household products, like perfumes, medicines, cosmetics, and cleaning products.
• Some terpenes may interact with the endocannabinoid system (though not as strongly as active ingredients), but more research is needed in this area⁶. 
• Terpenes can be psychoactive, but are unlikely to produce an intoxicating effect or ‘high’ on the user that is commonly associated with certain active ingredients that can be found in prescription natural medicines.

How Do Terpenes Influence Our Experience With Prescription Natural Medicine?

Terpenes can affect our experience of prescription natural medicine plants in a number of ways – depending on the types, concentrations, and combinations of terpenes in the plant, the active ingredients and other compounds present, and the individual patient consuming the medication. 

Terpenes range dramatically in aroma, with varying smells often being associated with certain medicinal or psychoactive effects. These aromatic compounds are highly bioactive, and interact with different receptors in the body – including our endocannabinoid receptors – to produce varying effects.

Lavender, for example, which contains the terpene linalool (which is also found in many different strains of prescription natural medicine) is known for its calming effects. This means that linalool-rich strains of natural medicine are likely to have a calming, pain-relieving effect greater than what would be achieved with isolated active ingredients or a strain with a different terpene profile. 

The terpene limonene – found in the oils of citrus plants – is associated with bright, uplifting, and energy-boosting effects. This means that a limonene-rich strain of prescription natural medicine would be more likely to elevate a patient’s mood beyond what active ingredients are capable of achieving on their own. 

Mounting scientific evidence suggests that terpenes play a considerable role in not only modulating the intoxicating effects of some active ingredients, but also working in synergy with other active ingredients found within the prescription natural medicine plant to potentially increase their therapeutic value. 

So, if a prescription natural medicine treatment is selected for a patient based on the content of the active ingredients alone, then that patient is likely being robbed of the full therapeutic experience and potential of their treatment. Not only will they miss out on the rich and distinct scents and flavours of the natural medicine plant strain, but they will also miss out on the range of additional medicinal benefits that can only be experienced through a strain’s specific terpene profile. 

We recommend always speaking with a qualified doctor who understands the complexities involved with using prescription natural medicine treatments.

Most Commonly Known Terpenes Found in Prescription Natural Medicine Plants

There are many different types of terpenes present in the oils of plants, each producing different smells and tastes, as well as effects on the humans and animals who consume them. Prescription natural medicine plants can contain more than 150 terpenes – each of which helps to contribute to the plant’s therapeutic qualities and potential health benefits. Some of the most commonly known terpenes you might find in your prescription natural medicine treatments include: 

Caryophyllene 

• Found in: Black Pepper, Cloves, Cotton
• Aromas: Pepper, Wood, Spice, Herbal
• Potential uses: Pain relief, Anti-inflammatory, Anxiety, Depression + more

Limonene

• Found in: Lemon, Fruit Rinds, Juniper
• Aromas: Citrus, Lemon, Orange
• Potential uses: Digestion, Anti-bacterial, Stress relief

Farnesene

• Found in: Chamomile, Rose, Potatoes
• Aromas: Sandalwood, Floral, Wood
• Potential uses: Anti-inflammatory, Anti-allergy, Muscle relaxant

Humulene

• Found in: Sage, Ginseng, Hops
• Aromas: Earth, Wood, Spice
• Potential uses: Anti-inflammatory, Antibacterial, Appetite-suppressing

Myrcene

• Found in: Mango, Thyme, Lemongrass
• Aromas: Musk, Earth, Citrus
• Potential uses: Anti-inflammatory, Relaxing, Pain relief

Terpinolene

• Found in: Lilac, Sage, Rosemary
• Aromas: Floral, Herbal, Pine
• Potential uses: Antibacterial, Anxiety, Insomnia

Are Terpenes Good or Bad for You?

Whether a terpene is good or bad for you depends on the plant it is found in and how it is being used. Terpenes themselves are legal and are not classed as a drug on any prohibited drug list. They exist in almost any plant (including herbs, fruits, vegetables, and flowers) that you can find in your garden or at your local grocery store, such as lemons, rosemary, and mangoes. They also exist in other plants, such as non-edible and toxic plants in the wild. 

In their pure, concentrated forms, terpenes may cause unwanted side effects like dizziness and irritation when consumed, inhaled, or topically applied. This is why essential oils that have not been diluted should not be ingested or applied directly onto the skin¹³.

In diluted form (5% or less), terpenes are non-toxic and safe to use.

Are Terpenes Safe in Prescription Natural Medicine?

Prescription natural medicines are highly regulated in Australia for safety, quality, and efficacy.  Any terpenes that are found in these treatments have been deemed safe (and even beneficial!) for human consumption. Terpenes are not known to be addictive.

As always, we recommend speaking to your doctor if you have any concerns about terpenes in your prescription natural medicine treatments – including any potential allergies or sensitivities. 

Do All Prescription Natural Medicine Treatments Contain Terpenes?

Unfortunately, not all natural medicine treatments that you can get a prescription for will contain terpenes.  For the treatments that do contain terpenes, not all suppliers measure terpene content from batch to batch or place an emphasis on maintaining the plant’s terpene profile in production. 

This has the potential to lead to inconsistencies in the effects of those treatments from batch to batch, which can impact how you respond to your treatment. 

While prescription natural medicine products that use the full plant (such as dried herb flower) contain the original terpene profiles of the plant, full-spectrum and broad-spectrum natural medicines (which also contain terpenes) may have reduced terpene profiles due to the extraction methods used to produce them. 

Isolates do not contain terpenes, however, some isolate treatments may have a terpene or terpene blend added back in (that is not from the original plant) – these are known as terpsolates.

Many variables can affect the amount of terpenes found in prescription natural medicine plants, including: 

• Environmental factors, such as light exposure and temperature 
• Growth methods, including whether the plant is grown indoors or outdoors
• Nutrient levels
• Harvest practices 

Because many terpenes are volatile compounds that can easily evaporate, growing awareness surrounding more sensitive extraction and production methods is needed to help maintain the delicate terpene profile of prescription natural medicine plants. 

Talking to Your Doctor About Terpenes

Your doctor can help you choose an appropriate prescription natural medicine treatment based on the terpene profile of the plant, and the effects these certain terpenes can have on your specific symptoms or condition. 

Terpenes can contribute to the overall effect of your medicine, including whether it is sedative, calming, uplifting, or euphoric. The terpenes included in your prescription natural medicine may also have individual medicinal benefits that are suited to your condition, such as being anti-inflammatory or a digestive aid. 

Terpenes can also affect the taste of your medication and there may be certain terpene flavours you prefer, just like if you were selecting a tea or a coffee. 

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If you want to reap all of the health benefits native to your prescription natural medicine treatment, we recommend speaking to your prescribing doctor about available treatments that incorporate a diverse terpene profile and an array of other compounds and active ingredients.  

Terpenes FAQs: 

How Long Do Terpenes Last?

Once a prescription natural medicine plant has been picked, all of its properties, including the terpenes and active ingredients, begin to degrade. Proper storage methods are the only way to maintain the quality and efficacy of your prescription natural medicine plant and its therapeutic properties over time. 

Terpenes are found on the trichomes of the prescription natural medicine plant (also known as dried herb flower). Trichomes are tiny, glandular appendages on the surface of dried herb flowers. Maintaining terpenes within your medication can be done by ensuring the trichomes are stored correctly and that damage is minimised. 

To avoid the evaporation of terpenes as well as the oxidation and breakage of terpene-containing trichomes, adequate humidity control should be prioritised when storing your prescription natural medicine. Maintaining a 55-65% relative humidity (RH) range minimises the loss of these aromatic compounds. As always, we recommend speaking to your doctor about treatments that contain terpenes and proper terpene preservation practices. 

Are Terpenes Legal in Australia?

Terpenes are legal and widely available not only in plants, but in a range of household products including cosmetics, cleaning products, medications, perfumes, essential oils, and more.

Do Terpenes Show up on Drug Tests?

Terpenes are not classed as a drug on any prohibited drug list and are therefore not tested for in drug tests. Drug tests in Australia are generally measuring for the presence of active ingredients found within prescription natural medicines. 

Can You Vape Terpenes?

Terpenes are found in many prescription natural medicine treatments, including dried herb flower. So, yes, they can be vaped if they are present within the natural medicine treatment your doctor has prescribed you to vape with an approved vaporiser.