Terpenes impart a wide range of aromas, including floral and earthy notes, musky and citrusy ones, as well as pungent and woody qualities. For the most flair on the spicy side of the spectrum, caryophyllene takes home the gold.
The terpene caryophyllene is present in many herbs and spices, including black pepper, basil, and oregano, and cannabis strains with high levels of it deliver a spicy, funky warmth to the nose, similar to cinnamon and cloves.
Caryophyllene, more formally known as beta or b caryophyllene, is a terpene present in cannabis that has herbal spice and wood undertones. It’s most prevalent in black pepper, cinnamon, and hops. Caryophyllene has anti-inflammatory properties and can be utilized in skin lotions and topicals because it binds to CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system after being ingested orally.
What is caryophyllene?
Caryophyllene terpene is an uncommon dietary cannabinoid that’s also used in food. Caryophyllene (shaded pale yellow) has a sweet flavor reminiscent of allspice and fig. Corey, an organic chemist and Harvard professor, studied caryophyllene in the 1960s and characterized the terpene’s unique qualities. Corey’s early work laid the groundwork for modern researchers studying caryophyllene’s therapeutic potentialities.
What is caryophyllene used for?
Caryophyllene is a component of most hot peppers, and it’s been found in dishes ranging from cinnamon French toast to pepper steak. Caryophyllene may be found in cinnamon French toast as well as pepper steak, among other things. It has antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Caryophyllene is also present in hops that give flavor and stability to beer.Although beer is the most well-known drink to include hops, it is not the only one. Hops, and therefore caryophyllene, can be found in certain varieties of vodka and “hopped” whiskeys. Caryophyllene has also been utilized as a flavoring agent in chewing gum to improve citrus or spice flavor profiles. Detergents and other topical skin treatments are some of the ways that contain terpenes.
What does caryophyllene smell like?
Caryophyllene is highly pungent and aromatic, imparting its scent to other caryophyllene-containing oils. Basil, ylang yang, rosemary, and black caraway are all high in caryophyllene. The numbing effect of clove essential oil is especially useful for toothaches. Ylang-ylang essential oil has been used in fragrances and religious ceremonies throughout Asia.
What does the terpene caryophyllene do?
To date, there have been few studies on people to determine the effects of caryophyllene, with most research focusing on animals. Although several promising investigations have been done on animals to reveal various caryophyllene applications, most notably its possible therapeutic uses, more study is needed to understand this terpene’s health effects. In 2015, a noteworthy research conducted on human cells and published in the journal Molecules showed that caryophyllene has potential as an anticancer, antibacterial, and antioxidant agent. Although these findings are extremely encouraging , more experiments in humans are required to fully define the medical advantages of caryophyllene.
Anti-inflammatory: Caryophyllene is an anti-inflammatory compound that may help with arthritis. Researchers discovered in 2018 that doses of 215 mg and 430 mg of caryophyllene given to both healthy and arthritic rats reduced the swelling of lymph nodes without affecting the metabolism of healthy rats.
Anticancer: According to a 2016 research published in the journal Cancer Medicine, scientists have praised caryophyllene for lowering cancer cell growth and proliferation while increasing the effectiveness of certain cancer therapies.
Sleep: Caryophyllene, in conjunction with other terpenes, has been studied for use as a sedative. In the journal Pharmaceutical Biology, mice were given essential oil containing caryophyllene and observed to have longer sleep duration, reduced movement and body temperature.
Pain: In 2013, researchers discovered that mice exposed to capsaicin had greater pain relief when given caryophyllene. The terpene was also found to improve the effectiveness of low dosages of morphine in relieving pain.
Diabetes: Other potential beta-caryophyllene advantages include the ability to balance glucose levels in rats with diabetes, according to a 2014 research published in the journal Acta Histochemica.
Which terpenes are best for anxiety?
There may be an extensive list of terpenes that can help with anxiety, but caryophyllene, limonene, and myrcene are among them. Caryophyllene was discovered in a 2014 study on mice to have therapeutic effects on anxiety and depression. “The prospects for future studies that beta-caryophyllene may alleviate the symptoms of these mood disorders are exciting,” concludes the team of researchers whose findings were published in Physiology & Behavior.
Caryophyllene also appears to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which may assist with Parkinson’s disease. A 2015 study in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry found that caryophyllene’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties might help with Parkinson’s disease. In a mouse model of dementia, caryophyllene was discovered to decrease the neuroinflammatory reaction in a 2014 study published in Pharmacology Research.
High-caryophyllene strains
The chemical found in the essential oil of cannabis, beta-caryophyllene (BCP), is what gives certain strains their distinctive aromas. The following are some of the most caryophyllene-rich varieties: Bubba Kush, OG Kush, Chemdawg, Sour Diesel, Rockstar, and Skywalker OG. It’s worth noting that most cannabis strains contain traces of caryophyllene.
High-caryophyllene cannabis strains are thought to have a pain-relieving effect as a result of inflammation reduction. The terpene’s connection with CB2 receptors in the brain may also impact short- and long-term brain health and mental well-being. Many cannabis topicals and salves include caryophyllene.
Bottom Line
Caryophyllene, also known as beta-caryophyllene, is a chemical that may be found in many foods and cannabis, and it has been shown to aid with inflammation.