If you love to cultivate cannabis, you've probably already heard about Myrcene (sometimes called beta myrcene) as the #1 most common terpene found in cannabis on the market today. It is known for its calming effect, and for one of the reasons that indica strains make you tired.
In addition to cannabis, myrcene can be found in parsley, thyme, lemongrass, hops, cardamom, and mangos. Myrcene is often responsible for a peppery or spicy quality in beer. There are also people who claim to eat mangoes to intensify their high because of the high myrcene content (which then mixes with THC in your bloodstream - another way to achieve the entourage effect!), although this is not scientifically proven.
Read on to learn more fun facts about Myrcene.
While there have not yet been well controlled scientific studies on the sedative effects of Myrcene, herbal medicines containing myrcene have been used around the world for centuries in different cultures.
Much more work is needed to prove whether or not myrcene has pain-relieving or sedative properties in humans, but we usually find that the ancients were onto something! In the meantime, we've prepared the perfect myrcene rich menu for you to test on your own: Lemongrass tea, lemon-thyme chicken with parsley, a hoppy beer, and a juicy mango for dessert. If that doesn't knock you out, maybe they were wrong!
Here are the TribeTokes CBD Vape Strains that contain therapeutic doses of Myrcene - definitely check them out if you think this terpene can benefit you!
Treatment with Terpenes
Myrcene, when consumed with the major cannabinoids, is part of the entourage effect, which means that it works in conjunction with cannabinoids to potentially enhance therapeutic benefits for various physical and mental ailments. Here are the most common benefits of Myrcene hypothesized to date:
Sedative: Cannabis strains high in myrcene are known to cause “couch lock,” or muscle relaxant effects. While this has been proven in mice, there have yet to be formal clinical studies in humans for sedation - so most of the evidence is anecdotal.
Anti-inflammatory: A 2015 study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology found promising results for people with osteoarthritis. In the study, myrcene had an anti-inflammatory influence on cells while it slowed damage and disease progression, and the team has called for additional research as a result. Osteoarthritis affects an estimated 27 million Americans!
Antioxidant: Myrcene may have the ability to protect against UV damage to your skin, according to a 2017 study published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine, and therefore could be added to some sunscreens or body lotions someday. Myrcene also protects against DNA damage from toxins (anti-mutagen effects).
