Introduction
The benefits of Alpha-Pinene are truly incredible, and terpenes have been growing in popularity recently. Alpha pinene is a monoterpene proven to have anti-inflammatory properties and is an antioxidant. It can help with anxiety, depression and insomnia, too—it even helps with blood pressure! This article explores why alpha-pinene benefits your health and how it works in your body.
Where can Alpha Pinene be found?
Alpha pinene is a terpene found in the essential oils of various plants, including pine needles, rosemary, basil and cannabis. It is also found in many CBD products, including CBD oils, vape juices, vape oils, CBD creams and CBD Edibles.
Benefits of Alpha Pinene
Alpha Pinene has numerous health benefits, with more benefits currently under research as studies are ongoing.
Benefits of Alpha Pinene include:
Reduces Pain & Inflammation
It helps with Relaxation & Sleep
Antioxidant
Reduces Anxiety
Antifungal
Reduces Blood Pressure
Anti-tumour Effects
Improves Lung Function
Helps with Digestion
Alpha Pinene Helps With Pain and Inflammation
Alpha pinene is an anti-inflammatory and analgesic, meaning it can help with pain and inflammation. The effects increase when paired with CBD as the alpha-pinene terpene allows CBD to cross the blood-brain barrier doing double duty to reduce pain and inflammation in the body.
As an anti-inflammatory compound, it has been shown to reduce pain and swelling in the body. This is especially useful for those suffering from arthritis or other inflammatory conditions.
How Does It Help With Sleep?
Alpha pinene is an essential oil used for thousands of years to promote relaxation and improve sleep. The aroma of alpha-pinene has a calming effect on the mind, reducing stress levels and helping you relax before bedtime. Alpha pinene also helps reduce anxiety by relaxing muscles so you don’t feel tense when trying to get some shut-eye.
Alpha pinene as an Antioxidant
Another one of the many benefits of Alpha Pinene is that it acts as an antioxidant.
What is an antioxidant?
An antioxidant is a substance that prevents or delays the oxidation of other molecules (such as fatty acids), reducing their ability to interact with cells and tissues in your body. Oxidation can be harmful because it leads to cell damage and diseases like cancer or heart disease. Antioxidants are naturally occurring substances that help protect the body from the damaging effects of oxidation by neutralizing free radicals before they can do any harm.
Alpha-Pinene Reduces Anxiety
Alpha Pinene can be used to treat anxiety by affecting the way your body responds to stress. Alpha Pinene stimulates receptors in your brain called GABA receptors, which are responsible for regulating neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels. GABA is an inhibitory transmitter that slows down brain activity and helps calm you down when stressed or anxious.
Alpha-Pinene as an Antifungal Treatment
Many conventional antifungal treatments are highly toxic to the body, and although they may remove certain fungal strains, they may also pose health risks due to unwanted side effects. Alpha-Pinene exhibits excellent antifungal properties and is very effective in combatting fungal strains such as Candida which has been linked to otomycosis and is the cause of yeast infections. Scientists are studying the benefits of Alpha Pinene as a healthier, far less toxic option to deal with fungal infections in humans.
Alpha-Pinene and Blood Pressure.
Alpha pinene is also thought to have a positive impact on blood pressure. It’s been shown that alpha-pinene can help lower blood pressure, which could be especially beneficial for people with hypertension or pre-hypertension (high blood pressure).
Is Alpha Pinene Anti-Cancer?
Alpha pinene is an organic compound shown to have anti-cancer properties. Through extensive research, alpha-pinene exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on hepatoma carcinoma cells.
Alpha Pinene may inhibit the growth of cancer cells by interfering with cellular metabolism, thus causing cancer cells to stop producing energy and die off.
Research shows that it can reduce the amount of breast cancer cells in mice and even increase their lifespan by as much as 20%. Research has only been conducted on mice and rats, so more research needs to be done to explore these effects in humans. Furthermore, Alpha-Pinene may not work with all types of cancer.
Positive Effects on Lung Function
Studies have shown that alpha-pinene may help improve lung function in people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It can work with CBD to open pathways in the lungs offering bronchodilation effects to relieve symptoms associated with asthma and COPD.
Alpha Pinene helps with Digestion.
Alpha pinene also helps with digestion by stimulating the gallbladder and liver to produce bile acids that aid in digestion.
How do I use alpha-pinene to its maximum potential?
The best way to use alpha-pinene is through inhalation. You can do this by taking deep breaths or using an essential oil diffuser (or both). If you choose to inhale directly from the oil bottle, be sure not to put too much into your lungs simultaneously- this can irritate! You can also select a CBD vape juice which contains alpha-pinene and vape it.
Another form of absorption of alpha-pinene is through the sublingual dosing of CBD oils. Many full-spectrum CBD oils or broad-spectrum CBD oils should contain this terpene. Be sure to check 3rd party analysis of the product you are purchasing to ensure it has alpha-pinene.
Alpha-Pinene for your Mind & Body
Alpha pinene has been shown to have several positive effects on your mind and body when used correctly:
- It may improve memory, concentration and focus by stimulating the brain cells that produce dopamine–a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating movement, emotional response and pleasure-reward pathways within the brain.
- Alpha Pinene has shown antidepressant effects when inhaled at doses of 600mg per day over 12 weeks.
- It improves energy levels when taken orally at 30mg per kg of body weight daily (about 900mg for someone who weighs 150 lbs).*
Conclusion
Alpha pinene is a powerful terpene that has several benefits for your health. It can help with sleep, pain, inflammation and even cancer. The best way to take advantage of these properties is by inhaling the scent of pine trees or other plants with high levels of alpha-pinene content. You can also purchase CBD oils or vape juices containing alpha-pinene and supplement with them daily.
