You may be familiar with the basic components of cannabis like THC and CBD. These two compounds, called cannabinoids, are the most influential ingredients in cannabis. They’re not the only ones, though. In this post, we introduce linalool. Linalool only exists in trace amounts in cannabis. But it may play an important role in determining the effects of certain strains.
What is Linalool?
In simplest terms, linalool is a type of organic compound. It falls in a family of chemicals known as terpenes. We’ll cover what that means before going any further.
What are Terpenes?
Before we dive too deeply into linalool, we need to cover terpenes.
First, what are terpenes? You may have heard of them before. Terpenes, or “terps,” are aromatic molecules. In other words, they carry flavor and smell. If something has a strong smell or taste, chances are a terpene is responsible.
Some terpenes can also trigger metabolic reactions. As a result, consuming terpenes can trigger certain effects in the person who takes them. That’s why terpenes boast a long history as ingredients in folk medicine worldwide.
Today, terpenes have a wide range of applications. Many find a place as food additives. Some have carved a niche in the perfume industry. And still others have industrial applications.
Where do terpenes come from? Good question. They occur naturally in hundreds of plants and animals worldwide. One of those plants is cannabis. In fact, more than 100 terpenes may exist in cannabis. One of them is linalool.
What Are The Effects and Traits of Linalool?
You can instantly identify linalool by its floral fragrance. It’s commonly found in lavender and provides the flower with its distinct smell. However, that’s not the only place you’ll find this terpene. In fact, it exists in more than 200 plants worldwide.
Research shows that linalool has some unique characteristics. For example, linalool seems to demonstrate anti-inflammatory properties. In one study, researchers found that doses of 25 mg per kilogram of body weight significantly reduced inflammation response in mice. What’s more, the mice didn’t demonstrate any negative side effects.
That’s not all, though. Other studies have shown that linalool has a calming effect. As a result, it may help those suffering from anxiety overcome their stress.
What Does Linalool Do in Cannabis?
Thanks to a phenomenon called the entourage effect, linalool may be even more powerful in cannabis. According to the entourage effect, linalool and CBD can enhance one another, since they both may possess anti-inflammatory traits.
This could be a huge boon for medical patients. Anyone suffering from inflammatory problems like arthritis or Crohn’s disease may be able to benefit from the enhanced swelling reduction that a linalool-CBD combination could provide.
Want to explore linalool yourself? One easy way is to find strains that exhibit terpene. Stop by our Maryland dispensary and see what linalool strains you can find!
