5 Best Terpenes for Anxiety Ultimate Guide

For many of those with anxiety, calming down and relaxing can be an everyday struggle. Fortunately, there are numerous ways a person can manage their condition such as through therapy and sometimes, medication like SSRIs.

More recently, there have been studies that show cannabis as a potential treatment for anxiety and anxiety disorders. This may be because many cannabis strains are loaded with terpenes that help calm you down so you can relax.

However, what are terpenes and what are the best terpenes for anxiety? Could these terpenes help with other conditions as well?

What Are Terpenes?

Before discussing what the best terpenes are, let’s first discuss what they are and how they help with various conditions such as anxiety.

Terpenes are aromatic compounds commonly found in plants like lavender, rosemary, and pine that can have a variety of uses for both plants and humans. Depending on their concentration and use, terpenes can affect a person’s stress levels and overall mood, allowing them to relax more.

They’re commonly associated with cannabis because it has a higher concentration than other types of plants. In cannabis, the high levels of terpenes, combined with the THC and CBD content, contribute to what’s known as the entourage effect. This means each compound works together to provide users with potent calming effects.

There are hundreds of terpenes found in nature, and they all have different effects on the human body. If you’re wondering what terpenes are good for anxiety, however, they are:

• Limonene
• Myrcene
• Beta-caryophyllene
• Alpha-pinene
• Linalool

You’ll learn more about each of them as well as their benefits in the next section.

Best Terpenes for Anxiety and Their Effects

As mentioned, there are hundreds of terpenes found in nature, but the best ones for relieving anxiety are as follows:

• Limonene

While most commonly found in citrus fruits, limonene can also be found in certain cannabis strains, especially those with a strong citrus scent like lemon or orange. It’s one of the most abundant terpenes in cannabis, second only to myrcene.

While it doesn’t directly relieve symptoms of anxiety, one of limonene effects is that it can reduce your stress levels. Studies show that exposure to high levels of stress can increase one’s risk for anxiety and other conditions like depression.

It has other benefits as well such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties that can help users keep themselves healthy.

• Myrcene

The most abundant of marijuana terpenes, myrcene has sedative-like properties that can help soothe and calm you down whenever you’re feeling anxious. However, what’s most notable about this terpene is its synergistic effect with THC.

By synergistic effect, this means the presence of myrcene in cannabis strains can enhance the effects of THC, giving you a more powerful and potent high.

Other than having sedative-like properties, myrcene also has anti-inflammatory properties, making it one of the best terpenes for inflammation.

• Beta-caryophyllene

This particular terpene is often associated with a strong black pepper scent and flavor and is one of the best terpenes that help relieve anxiety. In fact, cannabis strains that contain beta-caryophyllene are considered to be some of the most calming and soothing strains available.

As a CB2 receptor agonist, it works well with CBD and has numerous benefits like reducing inflammation and relieving pain. Other beta-caryophyllene benefits include reducing stress and the risk of developing diseases such as Alzheimer’s, chronic pain, and others.

• Alpha-pinene

This terpene is most common in pine trees and other types of coniferous plants. It’s also found in certain cannabis strains like Blue Dream and OG Kush.

One of its effects and benefits is that it inhibits the brain’s acetylcholinesterase activity, improving your ability to retain memories as well as your brain’s cognitive functions.

It also helps reduce some unwanted side effects of THC such as anxiety, making you feel calmer and more relaxed.

It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help alleviate pain, reducing some of the feelings of stress you may feel.

• Linalool

Linalool is popular due to its floral scent and is commonly found in lavender. Its scent has been found to reduce aggressive behavior as well as alleviate feelings of anxiety due to its calming and soothing effects.

Other benefits of this terpene include antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antidepressant properties. Some research says that this particular terpene helps improve the effectiveness of SSRIs.

SSRIs are a commonly prescribed type of medication for depression and anxiety.

Strains Rich in Terpenes – Best for Anxiety

Now that you know what terpenes are and which ones are the best for relieving anxiety, let’s take a look at some of the best cannabis strains for anxiety relief.

• Cannatonic

This strain contains more CBD than THC which means it induces a more relaxing feeling without experiencing the psychoactive effects common to most marijuana strains. It’s rich in the 5 anti-anxiety terpenes such as myrcene and limonene.

• Harlequin

This is considered as one of the best medicinal marijuana strains that contain more CBD than THC as well as high levels of myrcene, alpha-pinene, and beta-caryophyllene.

• Bubba Kush

Although it has a high THC content at 22%, Bubba Kush cannabis strain contains large amounts of terpenes like beta-caryophyllene, myrcene, and limonene. This makes it great for users who want to feel more relaxed and anxiety-free while enjoying the psychoactive effects of cannabis.

Nature's Aromatic Treatment for Anxiety: Terpenes

One of the most prevalent difficulties with mental health in the world is anxiety disorders. Nature provides prospective therapies in the most unexpected locations as researchers and medical professionals work to comprehend its complexity and develop efficient solutions. Here's where terpenes come in.

These aromatic plant components have showed promise in potentially reducing anxiety symptoms. The terpene world is explored in this essay, with a focus on its possible benefits for reducing anxiety.

How Do Terpenes Work?

Terpenes are fundamentally organic substances that are responsible for the distinctive fragrant characteristics of many plants. Terpenes are responsible for a variety of mouthwatering aromas, including the energizing perfume of pine trees and the calming aroma of lavender. But in addition to providing smells, they are essential for the plant's defensive systems and communication with its surroundings.

Terpenes and Marijuana

Although terpenes are present in a wide variety of plants, cannabis is where they are most prominently recognized. Different cannabis strains have different terpene profiles, which contribute to both their distinctive fragrances and the impact they have on the body when ingested.

This has motivated scientists to investigate the potential synergistic interactions between terpenes and cannabinoids.

Terpenes Reduce Anxiety

Common in some cannabis strains and citrus fruits, limonene is thought to improve mood and relieve stress. Its potentially calming scent may contribute to its possible anxiety-reduction abilities.

Black pepper, cloves, and some cannabis strains all contain beta-caryophyllene, a terpene that may interact with the endocannabinoid system to produce potential anti-anxiety effects.

Incidence of The Entourage Effect & Terpenes

When consumed along with other substances, the potential benefits of terpenes for reducing anxiety may be increased.

This phenomenon, known as the “entourage effect” in reference to cannabis, occurs when terpenes, cannabinoids, and other plant components interact to provide a more intense or complex effect than any one compound alone.

Considerations and Safety of Terpenes & Anxiety

While early research and conventional applications point to possible benefits of terpenes for anxiety, it's important to use caution when using them:

Dosage: Since there isn't a set dosage for terpenes to relieve anxiety, it's important to start off slowly and talk to a doctor.

Terpenes with pharmaceuticals or other treatments may interact, just like other natural cures do.
Choosing pure, high-quality terpene products that are devoid of impurities is always a good idea.
Conclusion

Many of our problems may be treated by nature if its hidden secrets are discovered. Terpenes are emerging as potential therapeutic allies in the battle against anxiety due to their fragrant features.

To fully reap the benefits of any remedy, continued investigation and cautious use are essential.

Final Thoughts on Terpenes For Anxiety

Anxiety is a condition that can be difficult to manage at times, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. It can sometimes even affect your day to day life if left unattended.

Fortunately, there are many ways you can use to alleviate feelings of anxiety.

Cannabis strains rich in the aforementioned terpenes can be a way to alleviate feelings of anxiety as well as stress, allowing you to feel calmer and more relaxed.

Furthermore, aside from relieving anxiety, these terpenes are also great for treating other conditions such as chronic pain and depression due to the other properties they have.

Enroll in marijuana education courses to learn more about terpenes and how they affect the body.