Let's Talk Terpenes - Farnesol

This is the 26th installment in our weekly series, “Let’s Talk Terpenes,” published every Monday. For more information, read the introduction to this series, “Let’s Talk Terpenes: A Guide For Medical Marijuana Patients.”

Today, we’re featuring farnesol, an acyclic sesquiterpene alcohol found in the cannabis plant. The terpene can also be found in peaches, lemon grass, chamomile, citronella, neroli, cyclamen, tuberose, rose, musk, balsam and tolu. [1]

Farnesol is known to display a weak but sweet and floral aroma, reminiscent of the linden tree. Cannabis strains that contain this terpene include Eagle Scout, Tangerine Kush and White Rhino. Understanding individual terpene characteristics can play a key factor in selecting the ideal strain. Whether inhaled or used aromatically or topically, farnesol can be a key component in the broad spectrum of terpenes that maximize the therapeutic effects cannabis may provide.

Research into the potential medical properties of farnesol have shown that the terpene exhibits anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects, and also alleviate allergic asthma, gliosis, and edema. [2].

Farnesol is found to alleviate massive inflammation, oxidative stress, and lung injury induced by introducing cigarette smoke extract directly into the trachea of rats. [3]

As the stigma against medical cannabis continues to fade, hopefully, research and analysis of the plant and the beneficial compounds that comprise it, including terpenes like farnesol, continues to intensify. It’s important to educate yourself and talk with your doctors, pharmacists, and others at dispensaries regarding the terpene profiles in available cannabis strains. Feel free to email us to assist with any questions you may have.

Sources

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farnesol

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6278318/

[3] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/50938922_Farnesol_attenuates_12-dimethylhydrazine_induced_oxidative_stress_inflammation_and_apoptotic_responses_in_the_colon_of_Wistar_rats