by Brittiany Ralls
Remembering smells of lavender when I was younger, reminds me of my grandparents. Lavender was regularly used in lotions, candles and bath salts in my grandparents house. I remember always feeling calmer at their home. Makes sense, since lavender is supposed to offer effects of relaxation. Which is one of the many beneficial qualities Linalool offers to us through our endocannabinoid system. This amazing terpene typically smells of lavender, very florally.
Linalool may be the third most abundant terpene in cannabis, but it’s not always on the forefront of smells. Making strains that have it as the dominant terpene very noticeable when it comes to the nose. Terpenes being part of cannabis means we should discuss what we currently know, which isn’t much, and hope to find ways of using these terpenes medicinally. Linalool, just like other terpenes, has so much to offer.
So, sit back, relax and smell the lavender, while we discuss linalool the terpene that helps with memories.
With Alzheimer’s being the 6th leading cause of death in the United States this is a very prevalent disease that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. It’s a disease I have seen first hand eat away a person I once knew. Strip away all the memories of loved ones being born, loved ones dying and eventually all the abilities to function like an independent person. Two thirds of those diagnosed with Alzheimers are women.
Alzheimer’s has affected my family and it scares me to know that I may one day have it also. In the past 20 years those with Alzhiemer’s has increased exponentially. Making more research on substances that can help this disease be so imperative. This is where terpenes and cannabis comes in. Possibly through more research, cannabis and the terpenes it carries, like linalool, could help in reducing the cognitive impairment that happens with diseases like Alzheimer’s. Which is why I’m calling linalool the memory. But, just like with other terpenes, linalool has way more to offer than that. Linalool has been shown to be sedative, helping with depression and lowering anxiety. Linalool can also help with blocking glutamate in the brain which deals with excitement.
Possibly allowing linalool to be an anti-epileptic substance, helping those with epilepsy.
Remembering smells of lavender when I was younger, reminds me of a simpler time. A time that doesn’t exist anymore. But a time that I hope I’m able to remember still one day. When I’m using strains like Lavender Kush, Zkittlez, and Do-Si-Do, I can smell the lavender and these strains are some of your best options for finding linalool dominant terpene profiles. As you can always do, feel free to look at testing for strains you are interested in from your budtender. So that you can see what terpenes the strains have and determine if it is a strain that has linalool as the second or third most dominant terpene. Never be afraid to ask for testing results since this is your medicine. Especially if you are treating serious diseases like Alzheimer’s or epilepsy.