What is Linalool and What Is It Good For?
Linalool in the Cannabis Plant is a Powerful Terpene from CannabisNet on Vimeo.
Cannabis is such a miraculously complex plant, and so little about it is known today because it’s still a Schedule 1 drug, illegal on the federal level. Understanding more about the plant and the valuable healing components in it can help shed light on more medicinal properties and help pave the way for legalization.
Aside from THC and CBD, cannabis plants also contain terpenes. There are over 100 different kinds of terpenes found cannabis plants. Linalool is one of the major terpenes; it possesses a flowery aroma and occasionally might have a tinge of spice. Other plants produce linalool including herbs and mints.
Therapeutic Benefits
A study in 2002, which was published in the Journal of Phytomedicine, showed that linalool has valuable anti-inflammatory properties and can help with conditions caused by inflammation including arthritis, cancer, and Crohn’s disease. In 2003, the same researchers also discovered that linalool has powerful pain relieving properties.
In 2008, a research paper published in the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Journal showed that linalool has sedative properties. According to the study, 19 million Americans are diagnosed with anxiety-related conditions. 16% of them are between the ages of 18 to 54 and have more than one kind of anxiety-related disorder, which can cause the patient to turn to substance abuse or developing mood disorders later on. The researchers found that linalool was a potent sedative that provided quick relief for those suffering from anxiety disorders especially those who have insomnia, one of the most common side effects of anxiety. The study concluded, “Our data… suggested that linalool modulates the central nervous system by producing unconsciousness and degradation of motor movements.”
An animal study in 2010 analyzed 3 sub-types of linalool to examine its anticonvulsant benefits. All varieties were shown to be effective in preventing convulsions even at different doses; the sub-type R-linalool was actually seen to be more effective in certain cases. This shows that linalool can be promising as treatment for seizures and epilepsy.
Other studies also show that linalool has the ability to reverse the histopathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s Disease while repairing emotional and cognitive functions through its anti-inflammatory properties. It can even reduce the damage caused by lung inflammation in cigarette smokers.
In 2015, a study showed that linalool may be used for its anti-depressant properties. The study indicated that both linalool, as well as the other major terpene pinene, has anti-depressant properties that are particularly useful when used with other cannabinoids especially THC.
A 2010 study shows that linalool may help prevent leukemia thanks to special molecular mechanisms that help prevent the growth of tumor cells. The study shows that linalool was responsible for growth arrest and aptosis of a variety of human leukemia cells.
Linalool has long been used as a sleep aid, by ancient civilizations. A 2009 study verified this, as published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. During the course of the study, the scientists had the lab rats inhale linalool and also exposed them to stressful environments. After exposure to linalool, the stress levels of mice were reduced back to almost normal conditions. This is why it’s no surprise many of us today turn to lavender as another form of natural sleep aids, as well for its relaxing and calming properties.
In fact, linalool has also been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency as a natural pesticide, aromatic, and flavoring agent. Linalool is found in many bath and body products; it’s referred to through its other names including linalyl alcohol, beta linalool, and –linalool. Vaporizing linalool has been effective in preventing cockroaches, fleas, and fruit flies. Isolated linalool can be found in other plants such as cinnamon, rosewood, laurels, citrus plants, and even some fungi. Another more recent study conducted in 2016 states that “The preventive effect of linalool on acute and chronic UVB-mediated skin carcinogenesis…” showed that intraperitoneal or topical treatment using linalool was effective in preventing skin conditions in animal subjects.
Some laboratory tests show that purple strains especially Grand Daddy Purple possess a higher amount of linalool than others. Other strains with high amounts of linalool include Grape Ape, Purple Urkle . Cannabis strains that possess high amounts of linalool have calming and relaxing properties.
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