What is linalool? | Linalool Terpene Effects, Benefits, and Strains

The aromatic compounds found in cannabis, called terpenes, have traditionally been thought to merely contribute to cannabis by enhancing its aroma and flavor. But in recent years, terpenes have garnered attention for their contribution to the “entourage effect,” through which they enhance the physiological benefits of cannabis (compared to isolated cannabinoids). They can also modulate the strength and effectiveness of individual cannabinoids on brain and body targets.

We’re focusing here on linalool, a very popular terpene found in lavender, basil, and indica strains that has been shown to have extensive therapeutic benefits in aromatherapy, scientific studies, and of course, smoking good ganja.

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The aroma of linalool

Linalool, like many terpenes, is not specific to cannabis; Its characteristic lavender scent with a hint of spiciness can be found in over 200 plant species. In fact, it’s so common that even those who don’t use cannabis consume over two grams of linalool each year through their diet, which includes numerous fruits and spices. This may seem like a lot, but the risk of side effects is very small. Linalool doesn’t stay in your body for long or accumulate like the cannabinoids that are stored in your fatty tissues in your body and brain.

It also offers aromatic benefits. Your sense of smell is closely linked to emotion and memory centers in the brain, establishing a possible cause and effect between the terpene’s pleasant floral lavender scent (cause) and a relaxed and improved mood (effect). While the sense of smell can still contribute to the effects of terpenes, research now suggests that terpenes directly affect processing in the brain by modulating brain cell behavior.

Cannabis strains that contain linalool

Few cannabis strains contain high concentrations of linalool; it rarely breaks into the three most abundant terpenes in a strain. Below are some strains that contain linalool as a primary, secondary, or tertiary terpene, but it’s usually much lower in a strain’s terpene profile, behind the more common myrcene and limonene.

Most strains high in linalool impart effects associated with indica-dominant genetics, which include both mental and physical relaxation, sleepiness, and intense cravings.

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The benefits of linalool

Hundreds of plants produce linalool, and it packs a lot when it comes to healing.

Antimicrobial

The antimicrobial properties of this terpene protect the plant from insects and have potential therapeutic uses in humans by fighting cell-damaging bacteria. Whether it was used as an early antibiotic is unknown.

tranquilizers

Linalool (often in the form of lavender or peanut stalks and leaves) is used in traditional medicine around the world as a sedative and muscle relaxant. It has also been shown to have antispasmodic and antiepileptic properties.

Reduce anxiety and depression

Mice exposed to linalool vapors showed less anxiety and fewer depression-like behaviors. In these tests, mice exposed to linalool vapor will spend more time in anxiety-provoking environments and will continue to work to escape a seemingly hopeless situation. In human studies examining the therapeutic effects of lavender essential oil, the main ingredient of which is linalool, it effectively lowered participants’ scores on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale.

Stress Relief & Immunity

Linalool also strengthens the immune system against the destructive effects of stress. Stress causes a shift in the distribution of white blood cells (ie the cells of the immune system) in the body; the percentage of lymphocytes decreases and neutrophils increase. In studies conducted on rats, linalool prevented this shift and, more broadly, prevented the stress-induced changes in the way the rats’ DNA was expressed. Interestingly, the authors argued that this protection was mediated by linalool’s ability to activate the body’s parasympathetic response, which is activated when the body is at rest and digesting food.

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Effect of linalool: how does linalool affect the brain?

Studies indicate that linalool’s behavioral effects are largely mediated by how it affects the brain. One possibility is by blocking receptors for the primary excitatory brain chemical glutamate, which may be responsible for linalool’s potential antiepileptic properties in some forms of epilepsy. This terpene also has the ability to enhance the effects of other tranquilizers like pentobarbital.

In addition, linalool can be a muscle relaxant and have analgesic effects through other characteristic mechanisms. For example, linalool reduces the signal strength of acetylcholine, a brain chemical needed for muscle contraction and movement. Linalool can have anesthetic-like effects by decreasing the excitability of cells in the spinal cord that transmit pain signals to the brain.

Some of linalool’s pain-relieving abilities can be attributed to increasing levels of adenosine, an inhibitory brain chemical that’s particularly blocked by caffeine. Together, these numerous nervous system targets contribute to its calming, anxiolytic, and pain-relieving benefits.

These effects fundamentally support the benefits of linalool in pain management. In one study, obese patients undergoing gastric banding surgery were exposed to either linalool-rich lavender oil vapor or an unscented control. Only 46% of the patients who inhaled the lavender oil required postoperative opioid medication compared to 82% of the control group. Additionally, the morphine requirement of those in the lavender group was almost half that of the control group, together suggesting that linalool may reduce the need for opioid-based pain management after surgery.

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Possible benefits of linalool in Alzheimer’s disease

Perhaps the most exciting therapeutic use of linalool is its emerging potential as a novel treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, as it has been shown to reduce and regulate the production of inflammatory proteins in the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and currently irreversible and incurable disease caused by the accumulation of brain plaques and cellular tangles that result in brain degeneration.

This degeneration causes severe memory and cognitive impairment, and current treatment strategies for Alzheimer’s disease are largely ineffective in restoring function. This has prompted scientists to identify techniques that reduce these plaques and tangles in hopes of reversing the course of the disease and restoring normal brain function.

A promising 2016 study points to linalool as a potential Alzheimer’s treatment. In a genetic mouse model, linalool reversed many of the behavioral and cognitive impairments associated with the disease. In addition, it reduced the number of brain plaques and tangles of cells that define the disease and contribute to brain degeneration.

Despite all this research, linalool still has many hurdles to overcome before it finds its way into the clinic. But these Alzheimer’s studies, coupled with previous studies showing benefits in reducing pain, anxiety, and depression, point to the importance of continued investigation of the therapeutic benefits of linalool and other terpenes in cannabis.

Josh Kaplan

Josh Kaplan, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of behavioral neuroscience at Western Washington University. He is a passionate science writer, educator and runs a laboratory researching the developmental and therapeutic effects of cannabis.

Check out Josh Kaplan’s articles

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