The Benefits of Linalool
The Benefits of Linalool
Linalool is a terpene alcohol that is widely known for it's role in lavender. Lavender essential oil has been used for centuries across various cultures to promote relaxation, prevent anxiety, and is believed to offer a wide range of medicinal benefits. This terpenoid occurs in lavender, basil, bay leaf, hops, as well as cannabis and hemp. Linalool is described as a floral aroma with spicy undertones and is often correlated to purple cultivars although it is actually a prominent terpenoid in many indica and sativa varieties.
Linalool is seldom, if ever the primary terpene in a strain and is generally found in percentages of well under 1%. Linalool is a commonly occurring terpene and is believed to contribute to the "entourage effect" which could be correlated to it's influence on chemicals in the brain like glutamate and acetylcholine. For this reason, linalool is also suggested to have a muscle-relaxing effect, making strains containing this terpenoid viable options to consider for pain relief applications. Lavender extracts and linalool-rich essential oils are common additions to topicals and salves for this perceived benefit as well as the pleasant floral aroma that it exhibits.
Generally speaking, Linalool refers to both enantiomers but the individual forms will be discussed in greater detail later as they are available from high quality essential oil distilleries. Chemical written as (R)-(–)-linalool and (S)-(+)-linalool, the two different forms are also known as "licareol" and "coriandrol," respectively. These two forms of Linalool both exist in nature but are not generally identified individually in hemp or cannabis plants. The former is described more as sweet or floral whereas the latter is said to have a more woody, lavender aroma with a different odor threshold.
Published References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12535857
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/144041.php
https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/a?dbs+hsdb:@term+@DOCNO+645
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21299105