What Are the Benefits of the Limonene Terpene?

What is the Limonene Terpene?

Limonene, pronounced li-muh-neen, is a botanical terpene naturally found in cannabis and hemp, and a variety of other plants like citrus fruits, pine trees, dill, cumin, bergamot and caraway. Limonene is one of the terpenes that’s most common across plant species, along with the terpene pinene. Like other terpenes, limonene influences the way that plants—including cannabis—taste and smell, and it also produces unique physiological effects in humans and animals.

Limonene has a distinct scent—the quality we think of as citrusy, bright and refreshing. It’s that odor profile that makes limonene such a popular ingredient in cosmetics and household cleaning products. Next time you feel a little calmer after polishing your wood furniture or scrubbing a pan with lemon dish soap, you might have limonene to thank in addition to the satisfaction of a job well done—limonene has been shown to decrease anxiety in aromatherapy studies.

What Effects are Associated With the Limonene Terpene?

Limonene’s calming citrusy scent is just one of the effects of this terpene. To understand how limonene affects the body, it helps to know what terpenes are and how they work. Terpenes like limonene interact with nearly all of the body’s major systems including the digestive, nervous, circulatory and respiratory systems. They also impact the endocannabinoid system, which is the physiological network that responds to the compounds and terpenes found in the cannabis plant. 

The synergy between terpenes and cannabinoids is known as the entourage effect—a term that refers to the way different compounds like cannabinoids and terpenes, when consumed together, create more pronounced effects than they would individually. 

For example, limonene is believed to have a wide range of neuroprotective effects, showing potential benefits for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, stroke, and anxiety. And although cannabis has also proved a popular and effective anxiety treatment for many, the cannabinoid THC is sometimes known to produce feelings of paranoia and nervousness. One recent study even suggests that limonene can reduce THC-induced anxiety. 

What are the Benefits of the Limonene Terpene?

Limonene offers many benefits beyond anxiety relief, including antioxidant, anticancer, gastroprotective and pain-reducing properties shown in animal and human studies. These effects vary depending on how limonene is consumed. For example, inhaling limonene through zesting an orange, using lemon essential oils, or smoking cannabis—allows it to enter the respiratory system and then the circulatory system, where it releases feel-good compounds like dopamine and GABA.

When applied topically, limonene  is highly bioavailable,, meaning it penetrates deep into the epidermis and the fat cells under our skin to interact with the endocannabinoid and other bodily systems. Both animal and human studies have shown that limonene enhances the absorption of compounds, including drugs like ibuprofen to cannabinoids like CBD. 

Pairing limonene and CBD is particularly effective because CBD is fat soluble, further enhancing the ability of limonene to carry CBD deep within the skin. That’s an entourage effect in penetration of the skin alone, before considering the additional benefits of combining limonene and CBD in the body—such as anti-inflammatory properties. Preclinical research, with topically applied limonene has demonstrated stronger anti-inflammatory properties than other common cannabis terpenes, including α-pinene and myrcene. 

Wondering what to look for in a CBD topical? The answer is terpenes—particularly limonene. A full spectrum CBD salve with limonene terpene and other trace cannabinoids tends to produce more pronounced effects and deeper penetration than a similar broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate product without limonene. The way to choose the best CBD cream is to find one that will create an entourage effect and help deliver strong concentrations of CBD and limonene where you need it most.

At Entourus, we developed our CBD salves to not only include full-spectrum CBD from non-GMO hemp, but also our specialized terpene blend optimized for maximum relief, including limonene and humulene. We offer CBD salve for pain,CBD salve for sleep and CBD salve for muscles, as well as terpene salve for pain, terpene salve for sleep and terpene salve for general wellness in concentrations of 1000 MG, 1500 MG and 2000 MG so you can find the perfect dose for your needs. Curious about how to use CBD muscle cream? We have a blog on that too. 

Learn more about cannabis topicals on our FAQ.