What are the effects of terpene and what is it like to drink it?
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The aromatic compounds found in cannabis have a role to play in the plant's health benefits.These fall into a different class than cannabinoids, and perhaps for that reason, have received less research attention.
Today we are focusing on linalool due to its therapeutic benefits.
Enhancing the behavior of the brain cells is believed to affect brain processing.
Terpenes are thought to only contribute to the subjective experience of cannabis by enriching its aroma and flavor.The emergence of the "entourage effect", which proposes that cannabis' therapeutic benefits are improved by the addition of multiple cannabinoids and terpenes compared to single cannabinoids on their own, has gained attention.The strength of the individual cannabinoids on brain and body targets may be altered by terpenes.Direct actions of the terpenes themselves on different targets in the body are not precluded by the entourage effect.
For a long time, it was difficult to distinguish the direct effect of terpene on brain function from its indirect effect on mood and subjective state through olfactory processing.Your sense of smell is intricately linked to emotion and memory centers in the brain, establishing a potential cause and effect between the pleasant lavender floral scent and a relaxed and improved mood.While olfactory sensation may still contribute to the terpene's effect, it is now believed that terpenes directly affect brain processing by altering the behavior of the brain cells.
Linalool isn't specific to cannabis.Over 200 types of plants have its characteristic lavender scent with a hint of spiciness.It is so common that even those who don't use cannabis end up consuming over two grams of linalool each year through their food.There is very little risk of adverse effects.The cannabinoids that get stored in the body and brain are not the same as the Linalool that sticks around in your body for a long time.
Few cannabis strains contain high levels of linalool; it rarely breaks into a strain's top three most abundant terpenes.There are a few strains with linalool as its third most abundant terpene.
The strain Do-Si-Dos has a higher-than-average amount of linalool, but it is still only the third most abundant terpene in its profile.It looks like the color purple in Leafly strain flowers.
Why are there so many different plants?It has anti-microbial properties that are protective for the plant.It is not known if it was used as an early antibiotic, but it has been used in traditional medicine practices for its sedative and anti-epileptic properties.
Lower levels of anxiety and depression are seen in mice exposed to linalool vapors.In these tests, mice exposed to linalool vapors spend more time in fear-inducing environments, and they will continue to work to escape a seemingly hopeless situation.In these well-validated measures, linalool appears to help with anxiety and depression.
The immune system is more resistant to stress.The distribution of white blood cells in the body can be affected by stress.In rats, linalool stopped the shift and prevented the stress-caused changes in how the rats expressed their genes.The authors believed that linalool's anti-anxiety effects were due to the fact that the parasympathetic response is activated when the body is resting and eating.
Studies show that linalool has effects in the brain.There is a possibility that blocking the receptors for the primary excitatory brain chemical, glutamate, could account for linalool's anti-epileptic properties.Pentobarbital has the ability to enhance the effect of other sedatives.
Linalool has pain-relieving effects and may be muscle-relaxing.acetylcholine is a brain chemical that is required for muscle contraction and movement.The excitability of cells in the spine that transmit pain signals to the brain can be reduced by lincoln.
Some of linalool's pain-relief abilities can be attributed to its elevation of a brain chemical that is blocked by caffeine.There are many nervous system targets that contribute to its sedative, anxiety-reducing, and pain-relieving benefits.
These effects support the benefits of linalool in pain therapy.In one study, obese patients who underwent gastric banding surgery were exposed to either lavender oil vapor or a control.Almost all of the patients in the control group had to take medication after the operation.The lavender group's morphine needs were half that of the control group, suggesting that linalool can reduce the need for post-surgery opiate-based pain treatment.
The potential for a novel Alzheimer's disease treatment is the most exciting therapeutic use for linalool.Alzheimer's disease is a progressive and currently irreversible disease caused by the build up of brain plaques and cellular tangles.Alzheimer's disease causes severe memory and cognitive impairment.Current treatment strategies are not effective at recovering function from Alzheimer's disease.Scientists are trying to identify techniques that reduce plaques and tangles in an effort to reverse the disease's course and recover normal brain function.
A study published in 2016 points to linalool as a potential Alzheimer's treatment.In a genetic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, linalool reversed many of the behavioral and cognitive impairments associated with the disease.The number of brain plaques and cellular tangles was reduced.
There are many hurdles before Linalool can enter the clinic.The Alzheimer's studies together with previous studies showing benefits in pain, anxiety, and depression point to the importance of continued investigation into the therapeutic benefits of linalool and other terpenes in cannabis.
Josh Kaplan is an assistant professor at Western Washington University.He runs a laboratory that studies the effects of cannabis on the body.