Geraniol! This naturally occurring terpene carries a vegetal-yet-sweet-rose fragrance and a subtle grassy, floral flavor. Like other terps, geraniol appears in essential oils of aromatic plant species including cannabis. Some insects also emit terpenes, which is so interesting - the scent glands of honeybees are used to “tag” nectar-bearing plants (to stake claim? come back to later?).

Along with herb and bees, geraniol also shows up in geranium flowers (hence the name), lemongrass, roses, lemons, oranges, carrots, and blueberries.

Geraniol has a ton of commercial uses in fragrance and flavor. Given it’s aroma geraniol is added to perfumes, hair products, skin creams, moisturizers, cleaning products, detergents, etc. In food, geraniol often acts as a flavoring agent in drinks, ice cream, and candy. Also, like other terps, geraniol is an insect repellent and is naturally very low in toxicity levels so is a fab alternative to chemical insecticides.

Therapeutic applications of the geraniol terpene

Ok coolcoolcool but what about the medicinal benefits?  Those are incredible! Geraniol has exhibited a lot of potential as an anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, and neuroprotectant - and contemporary research supports it all.

The base of much disease is inflammation and Geraniol has impressive anti-inflammatory properties. Several peer-reviewed studies have borne this out. One of them, published in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, found that geraniol reduces inflammation and oxidative stress associated with traumatic spinal cord injury in rats.

Meanwhile, a European Journal of Pharmacology study concluded that geraniol may lower the risk of atherosclerosis (a condition that causes heart disease) by inhibiting the body’s inflammatory responses.

Anti-tumor

According to a 2016 review, the existing literature demonstrates that geraniol hastherapeutic or preventative effects on the following cancers:

• breast

• lung

• colon

• prostate

• pancreatic

• hepatic

Geraniol has also shown an ability to make cancer cells more responsive to chemotherapy drugs. As a result, the review’s authors described geraniol as the potential basis for a “safe and effective multi-targeted anticancer agent.”

Neuroprotective

Geraniol may have a neuroprotective effect, according to a 2014 study. The point of the study was to determine whether geraniol can mitigate neurological damage caused by exposure to a chemical called acrylamide. In their conclusion, the authors wrote that geraniol provides neuroprotection and could be used to help treat issues arising from neuropathy (damage to nerve cells). However, they stressed that additional research is needed.

Anti-oxidant

A study published in the Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research found geraniol to have significant antioxidant properties. Specifically, geraniol exhibited benefits in relation to oxidative stress, a common feature of neurodegenerative conditions.

Anti-bacterial

A 2018 study published in Natural Product Communications evaluated geraniol’s anti-bacterial effects. Researchers tested whether combining geraniol with antibiotic medicines was beneficial in treating three bacterial infections—H. pylori, S. aureus (staph infection), and E.coli.

Geraniol was found to boost the efficacy of antibiotics in all three cases, leading the authors to conclude that it has “substantial” therapeutic potential as an anti-bacterial agent.

Anti-fungal

In 2018, Molecules published an article about geraniol’s anti-fungal properties. Along with the citral terpene, geraniol inhibited the growth of two fungi known to contaminate stored seeds and grains, especially in developing countries. Therefore, geraniol could potentially serve as an effective grain preservative.

Other effects of geraniol

In addition to wide-ranging benefits I mentioned above, geraniol may quell symptoms brought about by the following mental health challenges, which when combined, effect a huge portion of the global population:

• depression

• anxiety

• insomnia

•  mood disorders

Keep in mind, however, that further studies are needed to determine the extent of cannabis derived geraniol’s medicinal bandwidth but only with a Federal Reschedule of cannabis, holistic, patient-centered legalization, and total decriminalization will that level of research be possible.

Cannabis strains containing geraniol: Tahoe OG, Purple Punch, New York Diesel

• Of these, Purple Punch (Grand Daddy Purp x Clementine) will be most widely available in regulated states as it’s a popular-ish strain (for good reason). Geraniol doesn’t command individual strain profiles the way heavyweight cannabis terpenes like myrcene, linalool, and limonene do. Which isn’t to say that its influence is negligible. On the contrary, its sweet floral notes—which add nuance, complexity, and balance to various strains—are hard to miss.

• Have you found a terpene you love? Tell us in the Comments!