The Secret Skin Science Hiding in Hemp Roots: Triterpenes

You’ve heard about CBD. But what if some of the most interesting compounds in the hemp plant never make it into a tincture — because they’re buried underground?
Down in the soil, in the roots of the hemp plant, there’s an entirely different class of compounds that rarely get the spotlight: triterpenes. These are the quiet heroes we’re excited about at Cedar Gulch Farms.

Nature’s Waxy Armor

Triterpenes are natural waxy compounds that plants — especially in their roots — produce as a form of protection. Think of them as the plant’s own skin care system: they help shield roots from environmental stress, pathogens, and moisture loss. In hemp (Cannabis sativa), the roots are particularly rich in specific pentacyclic triterpenes like friedelin and epifriedelanol. These have been identified and studied in hemp root extracts for decades, and researchers have explored their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in various models.
Then in December 2024, a study published in Frontiers in Plant Science took hemp root chemistry further than ever before. Researchers conducted extensive chemical profiling of hemp roots and revealed the presence of cannabisins — compounds never before documented in hemp roots — alongside significant amounts of triterpenes. Preliminary bioassays from that same study suggested antioxidant and antifungal properties, adding another layer to what we’re learning about what lives in these roots.
While human clinical data specific to topical hemp root use is still emerging, traditional herbalists long used cannabis roots in poultices and preparations for skin issues, joint discomfort, and general soothing. Modern science is now catching up to what those traditional users suspected all along.

Why Roots Matter More Than You Think

When we make our hemp root salve here at Cedar Gulch Farms, we’re not just throwing in flowers or leaves. We hand-harvest the roots — where these triterpenes concentrate — and carefully process them in small batches to preserve the plant’s natural compounds. A properly prepared root salve delivers these waxy, fat-soluble compounds in a form that can interact directly with the skin.
Best part? Hemp roots contain negligible levels of THC or CBD. That means our root-based products won’t trigger concerns around drug testing or the legal gray areas that sometimes come with flower-derived topicals. What you’re getting is something older and quieter than CBD — and increasingly, science is showing it’s worth paying attention to.

Soil-Grown Makes a Difference

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: how and where you grow the plant matters. Our hemp grows in living, organic soil right here at Cedar Gulch Farms, and we’ve noticed over the years that roots pulled from rich, biologically active ground have a depth and density to them that tells you something is going on beneath the surface.
The science backs that up. Healthy soil teeming with microbes encourages plants to produce higher levels of secondary metabolites — the very compounds like triterpenes that help them (and us) thrive. Hydroponically grown plants can be efficient, but soil systems, with their natural stresses and microbial interactions, frequently support richer profiles of these protective compounds. Our previous blog covered a 2024 study that found exactly this: soil-grown hemp roots outperformed hydroponic ones on anti-inflammatory markers. Triterpenes are part of that same story.

What This Means for Your Skin

Our customers tell us they love the hemp root salve for dry lips, rough hands, irritated spots, and everyday skin support. The triterpenes are part of why it feels nourishing and protective — like it’s working with your skin rather than just sitting on top of it.
We keep the formulation simple and honest: hemp roots from our farm, combined with complementary ingredients in a beeswax base. No hype, just good plants grown right and turned into something you can trust on your body every day.

The Bigger Picture

Hemp is an incredibly generous plant. We celebrate the flowers and the seeds, but the roots deserve more attention too. They hold ancient wisdom backed by emerging science — a reminder that sometimes the most valuable parts are the ones hidden underground.
If you’ve tried our hemp root salve or lip balm, we’d love to hear how it works for you. And if you’re curious about the science of triterpenes or how we grow our hemp, drop us a note or check out our other farm updates.
Here’s to better skin and deeper roots — literally.
— The Cedar Gulch Farms Team