Essential oils are an extremely popular form of therapy, celebrated as a natural, plant-based, multi-use remedies. If you’ve been reading up on CBD, that probably sounds familiar! But is CBD an essential oil, or is it something else entirely?
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are the compounds found in plants that give them their own distinctive smells. They’re most commonly used in aromatherapy and are their inhaled by use of a diffuser or on their own or diluted with a carrier oil and rubbed on the skin.
Typically, essential oils are extracted through steam distillation or cold pressing.
CBD is technically not an essential oil – it’s an extract, which has a different chemical composition and different effect on the body. While they’re different substances, they can easily work together to help you on the path to better health.
How do Essential Oils and CBD Work Together?
Something that CBD oil and essential oils share are terpenes. Terpenes affect flavor and smell of the substance that contains them and have different therapeutic properties.
While there are many different terpenes out there – like vitamin A, for example – here are a few that work well with CBD to help alleviate some common aches, pains, and illnesses.
Caryophyllene
This terpene is found in black pepper, cloves, hops, rosemary, and basil and adds the spicy, peppery kick to these flavors.
In addition to its antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotectant, antibacterial, and anti-carcinogenic properties, caryophyllene is great for arthritis and gastrointestinal problems.
Linalool
Linalool has a sweet floral scent and is also found in lavender. Lavender is already well known for its ability to relax and ease anxiety, but this terpene also helps with depression and is anti-inflammatory, anti-epileptic, and antipsychotic.
Myrcene
This terpene is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-insomnia, antispasmodic, antipsychotic, and anti-carcinogenic. It promotes relaxation and helps with pain, muscle tension, and depression.
Sweet basil, hops, mango, lemongrass, and thyme also contain myrcene. It has a slightly earthy, natural smell – similar to hemp!
Pinene
As its name suggests, pinene has a pine scent found in rosemary, pine, basil, and parsley. This terpene helps with memory retention, alertness, and respiratory issues. It also has antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic properties.
While CBD isn’t an essential oil, the terpenes found in essential oils can help boost the effects of CBD through aromatherapy. Consult your doctor and consider adding essential oils to your routine to maximize your health!
