As its name suggests, limonene is the terpene found in some varieties of cannabis that conveys an aroma of citrus. Strains high in limonene include OG Kush (hybrid), the venerable Sour Diesel (sativa), and Jack the Ripper (hybrid). Any strain of pot named after “orange,” “lemon,” “lime,” or “tangerine” likely contains this terpene.
For patients, limonene means much more than just a pleasant aroma. This special molecule within cannabis flowers has been found to have amazing medical efficacy. It is capable of everything from relieving depression to battling cancer.
In addition to a citrus aroma, the terpene limonene may also convey hints of peppermint and rosemary. Lemons, limes, and tangerines contain limonene. In fact, they contain the exact same molecule that is found in the resin of cannabis flowers.
While any of 200 different terpenes may appear in an individual strain of cannabis, 20,000 different terpenes exist in nature (the most common of which is pinene.
As a medicine, limonene helps many different diseases and conditions. Like pinene, it is a powerful anti-inflammatory. This makes it effective for patients with diseases like arthritis, bursitis, and fibromyalgia.
Possibly more impressive, however, is the fact that limonene is an anti-proliferative – meaning that it kills cancer cells. Other anti-cancer terpenes include myrcene and linalool.
Limonene also has been shown to fight anxiety in patients and even treats acid reflux (heartburn). Other impressive efficacies: It relieves depression and dissolves gallstones. That’s right: Pot can help you dissolve gallstones (if it contains limonene).
Unlike cannabinoids that appear only in cannabis, terpenes such as limonene and pinene are found throughout nature and in thousands of different plant species. This means that terpenes can be easily and legally used in testing and research studies.
Read the studies at: Herb.co