Terpene Tuesday: Linalool
Linalool is a special terpene that isn’t specific to cannabis; it can be found in over 200 different types of plants and has hints of spiciness and lavender. Don’t smoke cannabis? Non-smokers consume up to 2 grams of linalool every year through their food. It does sound like a lot, but linalool doesn’t get stored in fat or accumulate like other cannabinoids. In cannabis, linalool is known for its spicy lavender aroma and calming effects.
Linalool in everyday life
Plants use linalool’s antimicrobial, antioxidant and antifungal properties to protect themselves from harmful diseases and pests. A benefit of linalool, for example, in apples is its targeted volatility against codling moths.
Vibrant aromatic characteristics make this terpene a preferred additive to most scented consumer products. Linalool’s essence is present in 60-80% of perfumed goods, and there’s a strong chance that it’s used to fragrance your favorite household cleaners, detergents, lotions or soaps.
Strains rich in linalool
Found in strains such as Granddaddy Purp and Di-Si-Dos, this terpene rarely breaks the top three terps in any cannabis strain. You’ll find a few strains featuring linalool as the primary, secondary or tertiary terpene, but it’s usually a lot lower on a strain’s terpene profile than more common terpenes like myrcene and limonene.
Most strains rich in linalool impart the typical effects associated with indica-dominant genetics, which include relief from stress and anxiety, mental and physical relaxation, getting sleepy, and a strong case of the munchies.
Therapeutic properties
Found in hundreds of plants, linalool has anti-microbial properties which protect the plant against insects, and represents a potential therapeutic use for people in fighting cell-damaging bacteria.
Linalool was used in traditional medicine due to its sedative and anti-epileptic properties. Some also find this terpene helps symptoms of anxiety and depression. Studies suggest it also aids in pain therapy by blocking off specific brain processes that are used when pain receptors are triggered.
This dynamic terpene reportedly strengthens the immune system against the destructive effects of stress. Stress causes a shift in the distribution of the cells of the immune system, the white blood cells, causing the percent of lymphocytes to decrease and of neutrophils to increase. In studies done on rats, linalool prevented this shift, and by extension, prevented the stress-induced changes in how the rats’ DNA was expressed.
One of the most exciting therapeutic uses for linalool is its emerging potential as a novel Alzheimer’s disease treatment, as it’s shown to help reduce and regulate the production of inflammatory proteins in the brain.
Cannabis Terpene Linalool
CC10H18O
Aroma: Spicy, Lavender
Found in: Rosewood, sweet Basil, lavender, patchouli, coriander, thyme, limes, grapes, lemons, grapefruit, oranges, pineapple, blackcurrants, oregano
Vaporizes: 198°C
Strains: Scooby Snacks, Do-Si-Dos, Granddaddy Purp, Lavender, Kosher Kush, Wedding Mints #13, Zkittlez
Properties: Anti-microbial, Anti-Anxiety and Stress Relief, Anti-Inflammatory, Sleep Aid, Congestion Reduction