Limonene

In this chapter, we discuss the terpene known as limonene. One of the most pleasant smelling terpenes, limonene also has some potential benefits. Read on for more.

What is Limonene?

Pronounced “li-muh-neen,” Limonene is one of the most common terpenes found in cannabis, second only to myrcene. In addition to cannabis, limonene is found in citrus fruits, flowers, and lilacs. Limonene is naturally lemon-scented, so this terpene can be found in household cleaning products due to its pleasant smell. It also may have some potential benefits, which we will discuss later.

Terpene Flavor and Aroma Profile: Limonene

Limonene is one of the most recognizable of all the terpenes, mainly because of its indistinguishable zesty scent that can be found in many citrus fruits. The most abundant amount of limonene is typically found in lemons. However, terpinolene tends to be the compound that gives off the most citrusy aroma in cannabis varieties, not necessarily limonene.

If you’ve enjoyed sweet treats like chocolate-covered orange peels and sherbert ice cream, then your taste buds have experienced limonene. Naturally, real lemonade also contains a good amount of limonene. Thanks to its pleasant scent, limonene is found in many balms, massage oils, and even in many household cleaning products.

Limonene lends its scent to many plants in our natural world - including pine, juniper, mint, fennel, and rosemary. Rosemary is often found in massage oils and essential oils for aromatherapy. For industrial purposes, limonene is used as a solvent that helps remove excess oil from heavy machinery, as a paint stripper, and as an herbicide that is both effective and organic.

For many centuries of alternative medicine, limonene has been used in remedies to help with ailments like gallstones, heartburn, and bronchitis. Additionally, limonene has been used for many years thanks to its antimicrobial properties.

Cultivars with Limonene

Some of the most common cultivars containing limonene include Lemon Haze, Lemon G, and just about any variety from the cookie lineage. Limonene is also abundant in cultivars like Do-Si-Do and White Fire OG.

Does Limonene Get You High?

No, terpenes like limonene are non-psychoactive, meaning they do not get you high. But if you’ve read any of our other chapters in our Terpene Guide, you likely already know this. While non-psychoactive, limonene and other compounds, terpenes, cannabinoids, and flavonoids may act upon the consumer, making them feel an effect known as the entourage effect. More research is necessary to understand this interesting aspect of cannabis.

Potential Benefits of Limonene

Limonene is one of the most potentially beneficial terpenes in existence. The benefits and uses of this citrus-scented terpene include antimicrobial and antibacterial, as well as potentially helping with anxiety and other mood issues.

A study from 2013 confirms that limonene can help to reduce or manage the symptoms of those of us suffering from depression or anxiety. Limonene doesn’t get you high as THC does, but its impact on our mood is noticeable. The way this terp can alter our state of mind is perhaps a part of the entourage effect of many cultivars.

More research indicates that limonene can be used as an effective antioxidant and antigenotoxic. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, limonene can also be an effective pain reducer or an analgesic. Limonene has antibacterial properties that are powerful and is also being studied for treating anxiety, due to its uplifting medicated effects.

What We Learned: Limonene

Limonene is one of the dozens of valuable and beneficial terpenes found in cannabis and our natural world. Next time you eat any kind of citrus, we have a feeling you'll be thinking of limonene. Here’s what we learned about Limonene in this chapter:

• In addition to cannabis, limonene is found in citrus fruits, flowers, and lilacs.
• Limonene is naturally lemon-scented, so this terpene can be found in household cleaning products due to its pleasant smell. If you’ve enjoyed sweet treats like chocolate-covered orange peels and sherbert ice cream, then your taste buds have experienced limonene.
• Some of the most common cultivars containing limonene include Lemon Haze, Lemon G, and White Fire OG.
• Limonene has a myriad of potential benefits, including antimicrobial, antibacterial, antioxidant, and antigenotoxic properties, as well as potentially helping with anxiety due to its uplifting medicated effects.

More research will also likely find more benefits from plants that contain terpenes like limonene, not just cannabis. The future of the wonderful world of terpenes is here, and HashDash is your educational resource for these invaluable compounds.

Speaking of educational resources, the next chapter in our Terpenes guide is waiting for you, right after you answer the below question correctly.