Many people today are looking for safer ways to manage chronic pain. With the risks of opioid use becoming more widely known, including addiction and overdose, some are turning to natural alternatives. Cannabis has long been one of those options.
But while its pain-relieving effects are often linked to THC, the compound that causes a “high,” scientists are now turning their attention to something else in the plant: its aroma.
The smell and flavor of cannabis come from compounds called terpenes. These are natural chemicals also found in many everyday plants. For example, the terpene linalool is what gives lavender its calming scent, limonene smells like lemons, beta-caryophyllene adds spice to black pepper, and geraniol is found in roses and citronella.
A new study from the University of Arizona, published in December in the journal Pharmacological Reports, explored whether some of these terpenes could relieve pain without the side effects of THC.
The research team, led by Professor John Streicher, tested several common terpenes on mice in two models of pain: one mimicking pain after surgery, and one simulating fibromyalgia, a condition that causes widespread, long-lasting pain.
In their experiments, researchers gave mice small surgeries under anesthesia to create a post-surgery pain model. To mimic fibromyalgia, they used a drug called reserpine, which causes symptoms like muscle soreness and sensitivity.
Then, they injected different terpenes—linalool, beta-caryophyllene, geraniol, and alpha-humulene (a compound found in hops)—into the mice to see if they helped reduce pain.
The results were promising. Geraniol and alpha-humulene helped with pain after surgery. Linalool and geraniol were especially helpful for reducing fibromyalgia-like symptoms. The relief lasted for about two hours.
These findings suggest that certain terpenes might be able to ease chronic pain without affecting the mind or causing addiction, making them a possible alternative to opioids.
While experts like Dr. Ryan Vandrey from Johns Hopkins were not surprised by the positive results, they pointed out an important limitation: these studies were done in mice, not humans.
Also, the terpene doses given were quite high—about 200 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. That’s far more than a human would usually get from using cannabis, essential oils, or other natural products. When people use terpenes, it’s typically through inhaling them, rubbing them on the skin, or taking them in very small doses—not through large injections.
Dr. Josh Kaplan from Western Washington University, who also studies terpenes, noted that the amount used in the study is much higher than what’s found in cannabis products. He said that to see similar effects, people would likely need concentrated supplements, not just regular cannabis.
The team is now working on finding out how to deliver terpenes effectively in humans and at lower doses. They’re also experimenting with other ways to give terpenes, like through inhalation or under the tongue, which are closer to how people use them in real life.
Interestingly, Streicher’s lab has started using vapor chambers—clear boxes connected to vaporizers—to let mice breathe in terpenes the way people do when they vape or smoke cannabis. Early tests using under-the-tongue delivery also showed good results.
Another concern is the quality of terpene products sold to the public. Streicher’s team tested terpene oils bought online and from stores. They found that many of them didn’t actually contain what they claimed. This is because supplements are not as strictly regulated as medications, so it’s hard for consumers to know exactly what they’re getting.
Finally, the researchers believe they may have discovered how terpenes relieve pain in the body. Their study points to a special receptor in the brain and spinal cord called the adenosine A2A receptor.
This part of the nervous system is involved in how we move, form habits, and react to drugs. While this is still early research, it could lead to a better understanding of how natural products like terpenes work on the brain.
To sum up, this study is an early but important step in the search for safer, natural ways to treat chronic pain. Terpenes, the pleasant-smelling parts of plants like cannabis, lavender, and lemons, may play a bigger role in medicine than we previously thought. Although the study shows that these compounds can reduce pain in mice, there’s still a long way to go before we know how effective or safe they are for people.
The doses used in the study were much higher than what people usually consume, and the methods of delivery were different. More research is needed to understand the right amounts, best delivery methods, and long-term effects of terpenes in humans. But the potential for new, non-addictive pain relief is exciting—and worth exploring.
If you care about cannabis, please read studies that what you need to know about cannabis and heart attack, and CBD from cannabis may help inhibit COVID-19 infection.
For more information about cannabis, please see recent studies that medical cannabis could help reduce depression, and results showing this stuff in cannabis may protect aging brain, treat Alzheimer’s.
The research findings can be found in Pharmacological Reports.
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