Terpene Profile: Pinene

If you’ve ever gone for a walk through a forest and felt the overwhelming urge to take a big deep breath, you may be reacting to the terpene pinene. Studies show that at low levels, pinene can act as a bronchodilator decreasing resistance in the airway and increasing airflow to the lungs. In the book, Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health And Happiness, Qing Li explains the science behind the benefits of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing). Li found that two factors contribute to the health benefits achieved through spending time in the forest, the higher concentration of oxygen and the presence of phytoncides.

Terpenes like pinene are found in phytoncides, and evergreens and conifer trees, like pine, are some of the largest producers of phytoncides. 

Pinene is the most abundant terpene in the plant world; it is one of the most well-researched and well-documented terpenes and shows up in two forms alpha-pinene (α-pinene) and beta-pinene (β-pinene). Alpha-pinene is notorious for its pine needle scent, while beta-pinene is a bit more herbaceous. Together, alpha and beta pinene smell can be found in Basil, Dill & Rosemary.

A monoterpene like myrcene, pinene has a long list of benefits and offers great potential in different therapeutic areas. Memory is a topic that often comes up in discussions around cannabis use, and pinene may be able to ease some of the impairment associated with THC.

When considering terpene profiles in your decision-making, I like to ask people to take a moment to imagine the smell and taste that comes from each terpene. If you enjoy the scent and flavour profiles specific to a certain strain, that strain might be the perfect fit for you