We’ve discovered that terpenes are responsible for more than just the unique scent and taste of each strain. Terpenes have been shown to contribute to the “entourage effect,” which refers to their ability to work in tandem with other cannabis components such as THC and CBD to influence plant effects.
There are hundreds of terpenes in varying amounts, but only a few (terpenes are known as primary terpenes) occur at enough quantities to be used to cure illness. This week, in our six-part terpene series, we’ll look at linalool, which researchers frequently test along with myrcene for similar qualities.
Understanding Linalool
Linalool is a minor terpene. It is one of the 10 “minor” terpenes produced by the cannabis plant, meaning it has less potency than “major terpenes such as limonene, myrcene, and pinene.” Linalool has significant therapeutic effects, making it one of the most important terpenes for patients and individuals looking to improve their ECS in order to achieve health and wellness.
Linalool has a lavender, spice scent that is quite floral. It may be found in Amnesia Haze, Haiduk (Sour Tangie) from Aurora, Lavender, and Raphael from Peace Naturals, Master Kush and Kush from Hydropothecary.
Linalool is present in 200 different plants, including mints, scented herbs, citrus, and even birch trees. It’s also known as beta linalool, linalyl alcohol, linaloyl oxide, and p-linalool. Its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties make it appealing to athletes looking for performance improvement and faster recovery times.
Medicinal Efficacy
Linalool has a wide range of capabilities for patients, but its main function is to alleviate tension and anxieties. It can be used as a sedative in appropriate dosages and is beneficial for insomniacs.
Linalool also has several health benefits, particularly when used to treat anxiety. Linalool is a calming compound that acts as both a sedative and an anxiolytic. It can be used as a tranquilizer and is effective enough to aid patients suffering from disorders such as dementia.
The anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, and anti-convulsive effects of this terpene make it an important component in the treatment of a variety of diseases and conditions including anxiety, arthritis, clinical depression, Dravet Syndrome , dystonia, epilepsy, and fibromyalgia.
What Does Linalool Treat?
Linalool is a natural sedative that has been used in folk and alternative medicine for many years to cure a variety of ailments.
- Mice exposed to linalool in several studies demonstrated decreased anxiety and depression-like behaviors, according to research.
- Linalool can be used to help people who suffer from epilepsy. It inhibits glutamate receptors in the brain, which might cause epileptic seizures in excessive.
- Linalool has anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing properties. It can reduce pain in a variety of ways, including by inhibiting acetylcholine, the brain chemical responsible for muscle movement; decreasing the excitability of spinal cord cells that transmit pain signals to the brain; and boosting levels of adenosine in the brain, which controls heart rate.
- Linalool has been discovered to stimulate the body’s parasympathetic response (also known as the “rest and digest” system), which conserves energy, slows your heart rate, and maintains balance in the immune system in rats.
- We don’t yet have a cure for Alzheimer’s, but linalool has been found to reduce plaques, which are linked to brain degeneration.
- Linalool has been shown to decrease opioid withdrawal symptoms and make recovery simpler, as well as lowering mortality if more people had access to dispensaries.
Popular Strains (and What You Should Know Before Buying)
Do you want to find a strain high in linalool? Sniffs of flowers or lavender are common. Strains that frequently test high in linalool include:
- Amnesia Haze: A lovely, uplifting and revitalizing strain with an earthy, citrusy flavor. Suitable for sadness, stress, and tiredness.
- Lavender: This strain is also known as Lavender Kush, and it’s a powerful relaxant that’s good for pain and tension.
- LA Confidential: This well-known strain’s psychedelic and super-calming effects are ideal for stress, sleeplessness, and acute discomfort.
- Granddaddy Purple (or GDP): Big Bud and Purple Urkle combine to create this potent indica hybrid, which has a grape and berry scent thanks to Purple Urkle. Its ecstatic and relaxing effects aid in the treatment of a variety of problems including stress and sleeplessness, as well as pain and hunger.
Lavender essential oil’s calming effect is so strong that even its fragrance can assist you relax. Smoking or vaporizing, on the other hand, provides for the quickest and most efficient relaxation response. Add lavender oil to your marijuana for an extra measure of serenity.
For oral use, consider adding linalool extract to tea or other foods. Another alternative is to put linalool-based oil or cream on your skin to relax muscles and calm inflammation. Finally, as a fascinating note, linalool vapor repels insects.
Next week, we’ll look at a terpene found in skincare products and pesticides that has some distinct characteristics in cannabis: limonene.
Terpenes Defined
It’s crucial for readers to have a firm grasp on terpenes as a whole before diving into the specifics of linalool, the cannabis terpene known for its anti-inflammatory and sedative effects. Patients may benefit from understanding how terpenes compare to other healthy chemicals created by cannabis called cannabinoids (including tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] and cannabidiol [CBD]).
More than 20,000 distinct terpenes may be found in the natural world. The oddity of these fragrant chemicals’ development is that they are shared by several plant species. Linalool, for example, a terpene with an aroma reminiscent of lavender and found in hundreds of strains of cannabis, is also created by more than 200 other plants, including lilacs and various herbs and mints.
Terpenes were originally considered to only arouse the senses in a variety of plants, including cannabis, conifers, and lavender. Terpenes function as a plant’s last line of defense by repelling predators and pests with their strong odor. Researchers have lately discovered that terpenes have therapeutic effects on all mammals comparable to those of their chemical relatives, the cannabinoids.
The majority of the terpenes are secreted by the female plants’ nearly microscopic trichome glands, which account for approximately 10-20 percent of total pre-smoked resin output. Terpenes are thought to make up 10-30% of the smoke produced as a result of cannabis flower combustion.
The effects of different cannabis strains can be distinguished by the terpenes present. Some terpenes promote relaxation and stress reduction, while others help with attention and clarity.
The three main efficacy advantages of terpenes are their capacity to relieve pain, their capacity to reduce systemic inflammation, and the astonishing power to decrease anxiety. A variety of additional basic and secondary effects exist depending on the particular terpene mentioned, including antifungal and antibacterial properties.