Limonene Cannabis Terpene: Effects, Benefits, Cannabis Strains
Introduction
Terpenes, as discussed in previous articles, are extremely important organic compounds found all over the planet in plants and animals. Cannabis, especially with modern cross breeding is the richest and most abundant source of a spectrum of terpenes known to humanity.
Terpenes have many uses in nature; to be alluring to animals for pollination purposes, to protect against the sun, for communication between plants, and in the case of the skunk – protection from predators.
Modern cannabis science, despite being held back by misguided laws, has managed to progress to a point where we now know many more useful things about how terpenes and indeed cannabinoids interact with the body and the ecosystem as a whole.
Limonene, or more accurately D-Limonene, is extremely common in both cannabis and the rest of nature. It is in the top 3 most common terpenes found in cannabis, along with beta-caryophyllene and myrcene. Found in citrus fruits, it smells fresh, fruity, sweet and a little tart. In cannabis, flavonoids also help bring the citrus aroma. Limonene, along with specific health benefits such as potential antioxidant or anti-inflammatory properties, is often reported as a very uplifting and energizing terpene, making it often best dosed in the morning.
Aromatherapy is a big part of wellness and the cannabis experience and terpenes play the lead role. Incorporating terpenes into your life depending on your needs via cannabis, fresh fruit or extracts, can produce a holistic optimization effect. You know what you need to feel happy and well so you decide on the most beneficial way to get it.
Limonene in Nature
Limonene is the second most commonly found terpene in nature after pinene – found in pine, other conifer trees and many more plants.
Limonene occurs naturally in many places in nature. It occurs in citrus fruits like lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits and is more concentrated in the skin of these fleshy fruits. Limonene can be extracted from the skin of these fruits to produce therapeutic and aromatic oils. Citrus skin, dried and used as air freshener, is also a very common and old practice.
Limonene is also found in non citrus fruits. It’s found in rosemary, peppermint and juniper among others. Rosemary contains several terpenes also shared with cannabis and is used frequently in cuisine and traditional medicine. Rosemary tea is often reported to be highly energizing, an effect which may be supported by limonene. Juniper is an integral ingredient of gin, which owes much of its taste to limonene and pinene.
When limonene is in the flowers of the plant it can repel or attract insects for pollination, which is a common use for terpenes. Limonene, when exuded underground, from the roots of the plant, slows and prevents growth of other species of plants in the surrounding area.
Limonene in Detail
Limonene is a monocyclic-terpene and not a terpenoid, meaning there is no oxygen in the molecules. The ‘monocyclic’ refers to a ring formation in its structure giving it a higher boiling point than terpenes without one.
Limonene actually has two versions of itself that are like molecular mirror images sort of like your left and right hand. D-limonene or ‘R’ version is the one found in citrus fruits and cannabis. L-limonene or ‘S’ version is not found in cannabis but is found in pine and mint plants giving a distinctive minty aroma. We can see the connection between these two versions in fresh smelling candy or cleaning products based around citrus or mint.
Other limonene derivatives are also very common in nature and cannabis. Carvone, the active ingredient in spearmint seed oil and alpha-terpineol which is found in cardamom and pine, are in the limonene family. Another derivative is 1,8-cineole which is actually the eucalyptus terpene.
Health benefits
Limonene is often referred to as the happy terpene. It is anecdotally linked to mood elevation and stress relief. It can also trigger olfactory memories, like many terpenes, which can induce nostalgia. High bioavailability at 70% which means it works very well just as aromatherapy because simply breathing it in through the air should give you some therapeutic effects.
When combined with THC it is said to have a cerebral and euphoric entourage effect. Limonene has been associated with anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) and antidepressant effects in some studies. The anti-anxiety effects are thought to be mediated by the serotonin receptors as limonene may influence serotonin levels in the prefrontal cortex and could potentially impact dopamine levels in the hippocampus.
Limonene may also support the immune system and has been associated with pain relief through its potential anti-inflammatory properties, like many terpenes. It is suggested to help regulate the balance of resources and energy in the body, potentially reducing discomfort in some users.
These effects that limonene can offer can be achieved through consumption via any source of the terpene. Each source will bring its own entourage effect except isolated limonene, which is essentially orange peel extract. Interestingly, orange oil contains around 90% limonene while lemon oil contains about 68% limonene with 16% b-pinene and 12% g-terpinene.
Pure limonene extract has been used by some individuals for conditions such as acid reflux. It is thought to act as an antimicrobial to help balance stomach conditions. It is important to dose properly as too much can kill too many bacteria and exacerbate the issue. Side effects can include orange tasting burps.
Limonene has been explored for its potential anti-cancer properties in research. Studies suggest that limonene may disrupt signals sent to cancer cells within a tumor. This might inhibit the cells from multiplying and could potentially lead to their death – a process known as “apoptosis”.
Limonene in Your Wellness Routine
Limonene being an energizing terpene means that it can affect your circadian rhythm, which is our cycle of wakefulness and sleepiness. The day or wakeful state is called catabolic – it produces energy and helps break down tissue for regeneration. Anabolic states refer to sleepiness or nighttime state where the body is very good at repairing and rebuilding our body and mind.
When individuals experience too much catabolic or day state, they may report symptoms such as insomnia, loose stools, a rise in insulin resistance, and a perceived lack of healing time. Too much anabolic state and you can experience constipation, anxiety, tachycardia (fast resting heart rate), or in some cases hard tumours.
Limonene is pro catabolic therefore insomniac or people who are high catabolic might increase their symptoms on consumption. This means the most harmonious time to take limonene is the morning and other terpenes like myrcene or caryophyllene are pro anabolic and more appropriate for night time.
Naturally occurring limonene has been a part of healthy diets around the world for a very long time. The benefits of lemons are famously healthy for a wide range of reasons across many cultures. For specific concerns like acid reflux, some users have found isolated limonene to be beneficial.
In terms of general wellness, fruits, spices and cannabis all contain their own entourage effect which will have its own impact on your system. This shows that if we incorporate herbal knowledge into our wellness routine we can optimize our diets and medication at the same time.
High Limonene Cultivars
The limonene content of a cultivar will have a very significant impact on the level of energizing compared to calming. High limonene contents are common in sativa hybrids and sativa landraces. However it can also appear in some indica strains in small amounts.
Kush Mints is a very popular equally balanced hybrid for its relaxing and energizing qualities making it perfect for creative tasks. It has a distinctive minty fresh flavor with gassy undertones. Kush Mints is often reported by users to be helpful for symptoms of depression and anxiety, possibly due to its euphoric effects, but it may not be ideal for those seeking help with insomnia.
Durban Poison is a landrace sativa native to South Africa. It’s very popular for its fruity fresh aroma and its uplifting energizing effect. It is also often chosen by users for creativity and may help with symptoms of depression.
Banana Kush is a hybrid strain also renowned for its energizing euphoria. It has a distinctive banana smell and is reported by some users to provide a mellow buzz that may be helpful for anxiety and depression, and users have found it can support remaining talkative in social settings.
Ref: Study, leafly, blog, blog
Conclusion
Limonene is an extremely useful terpene. It shows up in fruits and herbs all across the planet as have been in many people’s diets for thousands of years. It’s health benefits were part of ordinary life for much of this time.
We now know that it is the same compound that creates the energizing effects in lemon, rosemary, cannabis and much more. Therefore we can organise our own wellness routine around our physical condition, dietary and emotional needs.
There are many strains with limonene, strains with the highest content should be avoided before sleeping and primarily used to raise the mood and energy levels of the consumer.