HUMULENE: THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF THIS CANNABIS TERPENE

Humulene is a terpene that can be found in a wide variety of plants and has been used inholistic Eastern healing treatments for centuries . Humulene is one of the terpenes commonly found in cannabis plants. Although it is not one of the most dominant terpenes, it is a very common subject of investigation and modern biomedical research. In this article, we will explain more about what we know about humulene and what therapeutic effects this terpene can have.

What is humulene?

Humulene is one of the most common cannabis terpenes, along with caryophyllene and myrcene. However, it is usually found in slightly smaller quantities than its terpene counterparts. The terpene profile of humulene is earthy, woody and slightly spicy.

Hops are one of the plants in which humulene occurs in very high concentrations. Humulus lupulus is also named after the common hop (Humulus lupulus). In addition to hops and cannabis, it can be found in many other plants such as :

• Black pepper,
• basil,
• Ginseng,
• sage,
• cloves,
• ginger.

Therapeutic effects of humulene

Humulene is a very important terpene that has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries for its extensive uses. It has also been the subject of much recent biomedical research. Among its important therapeutic effects are:

Anti-inflammatory effects

Many terpenes in cannabis, including limonene, have shown promise in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Among the terpenes that can exert anti-inflammatory effects is humulene. In research in which alpha-humulene was extracted from sage essential oil, significant anti-inflammatory effects were found when administered orally.

In Chinese medicine, the humulene contained in sage oil is used for a variety of medicinal purposes. It is also contained in ginseng, which is used in Chinese medicine to increase energy and as a natural antibacterial agent.

Anti-tumour and anti-cancer effects

Humulene has been studied for its potential benefits in fighting cancer cells and the results obtained have been very promising. A 2003 study revealed that the humulene contained in fir oil has the potential to destroy cancer cells by stopping their antioxidant processes, thereby stopping the growth of tumors.

Anti-allergic and anti-asthmatic effects

In 2018 research, humulene was found to have anti-allergic and anti-asthmatic effects, along with a number of other terpenes.

Antibacterial effects

In another study, essential oil containing humulene was found to be antibacterial and effective in small amounts against Staphylococcus aureus (also known as golden staph).

Analgesic effects

A 2019 study suggests that humulene in combination with the medicinal plant Pterodon pubescens acts synergistically in reducing pain in animals. This needs to be further investigated, however, the reported results are very promising.

Further research is needed to confirm the positive effects of humulene in human clinical trials. It is therefore important to continue studies to confirm its alleged effects.

Cannabis varieties with high humulene content

Cannabis contains a large number of terpenes and humulene is one of them. Most of the cannabis varieties with high humulene content come from the sativa genus, but it can also be found in indica-dominant varieties. High humulene cannabis varieties include:

• Girl Scout Cookies,
• Super Sour Diesel,
• White Widow,
• Super Lemon Haze.

Discover the magic of humulene with essential oils. You can choose from many types in our e-shop, get one that contains a high amount of humulene.