If you're just getting started with terpenes, odds are you're wondering how each isolate can be used. Terpene isolates can be used in hemp, CBD, and cannabis products as well as concentrates, vapes, foods, beverages, and aromatherapy infusions. This week, we're diving deeper into the warm, herbaceous terpene isolate known as Carvacrol.
Carvacrol Isolate
Carvacrol terpenes are prevalent in many of the herbs you have in the garden or on your spice rack. They are most commonly found in the essential oils of oregano or thyme, though they are also found in a variety of other plants, trees, flowers, and even some cannabis strains.
While oregano essential oil has been used in holistic medicine for hundreds of years to alleviate cold and flu symptoms, reduce pain, and provide general healing and cleansing, Carvacrol terpenes are also used commercially. Thanks to the antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties of Carvacrol, it’s heavily utilized in commercial disinfectants, food preservatives, cosmetics, perfumes, and aromatherapy infusions.
Carvacrol is also frequently used as a flavoring agent and natural preservative in many processed foods. Its antibacterial properties protect against bacterial growth, which also makes it a great addition to skin products. Some believe that these properties can help reduce the symptoms of acne when applied topically.
Carvacrol has a warm, piquant, and herbaceous aroma that smells great in diffusers and can kill airborne pathogens, This soothing scent is also used in many perfumes and aromatherapy infusions to help improve aromas and possibly decrease your anxiety levels.
All in all, there are many therapeutic uses surrounding Carvacrol terpenes in small doses. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about the benefits and uses of Carvacrol terpenes.
Benefits of Carvacrol Terpenes
Carvacrol terpenes offer a host of health benefits and therapeutic effects. Oregano essential oil, which has been used as a holistic medicine for treating the common cold or flu for hundreds of years, contains up to 80% Carvacrol. There have been many studies conducted on Carvacrol terpenes both in animal models and in humans showing a variety of uses and benefits. However, further study is still needed to solidify the findings, so always be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any type of dietary supplement or health regimen, including the use of Carvacrol terpenes.
Like most terpenes, Carvacrol is antibacterial, antiviral, antimicrobial, and antifungal in nature. It is especially potent against E.coli and Bacillus cereus due to its ability to destroy bacteria cell membranes and prevent them from multiplying. Some studies have shown that Carvacrol can also kill parasites and fight Candida, which is a common yeast infection that affects the Gastrointestinal tract. By adding Carvacrol terpenes to a diffuser, you can help clear germs from the air, increasing your recovery rate from illness.
Carvacrol is also a potent pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. It inhibits the body from producing the enzymes that cause inflammation. This helps to control inflammation and pain by activating pain receptors and reducing the functionality of pain-sensing neurons. It’s also a powerful antioxidant that has the potential to lower levels of free radicals and oxidative DNA damage.
In the same vein, Carvacrol may help lower cholesterol levels and improve circulation within organs and body systems. In this study, Carvacrol’s antioxidant activity was able to reduce levels of LDL cholesterol associated with cardiac heart disease. It was also able to protect the liver against defects caused by toxicity by acting as a potent antioxidant in rats. In the GI tract, carvacrol terpenes reduced the inflammation-causing enzymes that prevent the synthesis of inflammation mediators, making it a viable option for the aid in healing gastric ulcers.
Carvacrol’s potent anti-inflammatory properties were also able to reduce symptoms of asthma and improve breathing in a human study. The study took a group of asthma sufferers and gave half a carvacrol tablet every day for two months while the other half took a placebo. The subjects who took the carvacrol tablet had reduced symptoms and improved breathing while there was no change in the placebo group.
In preliminary studies, carvacrol exhibited interesting results against cancer cells, including some treatment-resistant cancer cells. In people with prostate or breast cancer, Carvacrol was found to expedite the process of programmed cell death in cancer cells. The same was true with lung, mouth, or throat cancer and malignant brain tumors. A similar study also found that Carvacrol could support maintaining optimal blood sugar levels and lower high blood sugar with no side effects.
Aside from whole-body benefits, carvacrol also presents a gentle anti-anxiety effect in mice. In the study, mice were given a dose of carvacrol and sent through a sleep-timed maze. The mice were less likely to stop and groom themselves during the time trial, indicating that stress was reduced during for the mice that received a dose of terpenes versus the control group.
Last but not least, Carvacrol can kill ticks, mosquitos, and certain types of moths. It was also able to repel flying insects and parasites and kill beetle larvae.
Natural Sources of Carvacrol Terpenes
Carvacrol is a secondary terpene in cannabis and is more commonly found as a primary terpene in phenol plants such as oregano, sage, cumin, savory, marjoram, and thyme. In fact, Carvacrol terpenes make up to 80% of oregano essential oils. Carvacrol terpenes can be found in a few cannabis strains as a secondary terpene in strains that contain large concentrations of the primary terpene b-Caryophyllene, including Gorilla Glue, Chemdawg, and OG Kush. However, you’re much more likely to find Carvacrol terpenes in herbaceous herbs and spices such as Rosemary, Hyssop, and Lavender.
TLDR; Carvacrol Terpenes
Antibacterial
Antiviral
Antimicrobial
Antifungal
Antiparasitic
Antioxidant
Anticancer/antitumor
Anti-inflammatory
Reduces pain
Reduces muscle spasms
Reduces anxiety
Improves breathing
Insecticidal
May lower cholesterol
May protect liver
May soothe gastric ulcers
Common Uses for Carvacrol Terpenes
Whether through your favorite fruits and herbs or through a diffuser, Carvacrol isolate smells and tastes great and works wonders within your body.
Carvacrol terpenes can be safely added to all sorts of products to encourage energy and unplug the sinuses as well as a host of other potential health benefits. It can safely be eaten, drank, infused, and inhaled with a little bit of mixing. It can also be used to improve cannabis products like vapes and concentrates that may have lost cannabinoid potency or terpene content during extraction.
Add Carvacrol terpenes to foods and beverages to enjoy the anti-inflammatory, pain-reducing and general healing properties within the whole body. A few drops of water-soluble Carvacrol terpenes in your favorite foods or beverages add a warm, piquant flavor that can help you fight infections, reduce pain and inflammation, and improve your circulation.
Add Carvacrol terpenes to essential oil diffusers and aromatherapy infusions to enjoy a bright herbaceous scent reminiscent of warm herbs and spices. It helps kill airborne bacteria, viruses, microbes, yeast, and fungal spores while helping improve your airways and clear your sinuses.
Add Carvacrol terpenes to concentrates and hemp oils made from strains with higher Carvacrol content like Sage, Cherry Wine, and White Widow. Carvacrol terpenes can make them smell and taste better and boost the potency of THC/CBD effects.
Just keep in mind that not all terpenes are created equal. Different terpenes will always have different effects, but they're not all made the same. We know you have a choice when it comes to terpene providers, but no other choice comes close to our level of quality.
At Peak Supply Co, our Carvacrol Terpene Isolates are extracted from all-natural food-grade fruit, flower, and nut oils in our state-of-the-art facility. With our proprietary extraction and refinement method, we remove plant materials and any leftover impurities, leaving behind the purest terpene isolates on the market. Best of all, we even offer sample packs so you can try them all.
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