Stuck at home, ready to Marie Kondo your house into a bubble of cleanliness? We’ve got you. Here’s Trilogía’s terpene-infused, germ-killing go-to recipe. But first, you might be wondering:
What The Heck Are Terpenes?
Unless you’re a cannabis consumer, you probably haven’t heard much about terpenes. Terpenes are naturally occurring essential oils that create the scents and flavors in plants. They’re what most essential oils are made out of and also the scents used in a lot of natural fragrances.
Terpenes are getting a lot of buzz right now because they’re the hottest thing in cannabis since CBD. Early research shows that terpenes attenuate the kind of experience you have with cannabis. What this means is, they define your high. If you’re used to the creative boost you get from a Sativa, you can actually thank the terpene Limonene. If you prefer the sleep-inducing benefits of an Indica, what you’re probably responding to is the terpene Myrcene. But terpenes don’t just play second fiddle to cannabinoids. They have healing benefits all their own. Most are anti-inflammatory, many are calming, and some are antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antiviral. You can learn all about terpenes here.
Related Article: No, CBD Can’t Cure Coronavirus, But Here’s What It Can Do Based on Science
Terpene-Infused Disinfectant Spray
It’s pretty well-known that some of the chemicals in the disinfectant sprays you buy at the store can be pretty bad for you. Hence the caution warnings. That said, in this era of COVID-19, we’re all scrubbing down our doorknobs and countertops with reckless abandon. This recipe is great if you’re out of Lysol, or if you just want a natural, germ-killing alternative. It’s also compliant with CDC recommendations on disinfecting sprays.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups Isopropyl Alcohol, 90-99% (don’t use vodka, it doesn’t kill coronaviruses)
1/4 cup White Vinegar
20-30 Drops of Essential Oils (listed below)
Directions
Add all ingredients to a spray bottle and shake. Listen to this playlist to find your cleaning groove.
Germ-Killing Terpenes
Beta-Caryophyllene: found in Clove Essential Oil
β-Caryophyllene is a common terpene in cannabis, and is also found in clove essential oil. This spicy terp has many medicinal properties and is a strong antiviral. In studies where β-Caryophyllene was used against herpes infection, it was able to reduce the infection rates by 98%.
Eugenol: found in Cinnamon Leaf and Clove Essential Oils
Eugenol, found in cannabis, as well as cinnamon leaf and clove essential oils is an antiviral and antimicrobial chemical. Studies have found it effective against viruses like H1N1 (also known as the swine flu) and herpes. It was also effective against bacterial infections like staph infections – actually destroying the cellular wall and membranes of the microorganism.
Cineole/Eucalyptol: found in Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Cineole, also known as eucalyptol, gives eucalyptus trees their healing scent, and it is also found in cannabis. Cineole has shown antimicrobial effects against a number of different bacterial infections including staph infections and listeria; viral infections like herpes, mumps, and H1N1; and even a number of yeasts and fungi.
Linalool: found in Lavender Essential Oil
Linalool is the sweet flowery terpene found in lavender, its essential oils, and of course, cannabis. Linalool has shown antiviral activity against the flu and herpes, but even stronger results against bacterial infections such as staph, e coli, and the bacteria that cause respiratory tract infections.
Menthol: found in Peppermint Essential Oil
Menthol is a common terpene found in both cannabis and the peppermint plant, and in concentrated amounts in peppermint oil – which is often used in products designed to relieve congestion. Menthol is also an antibacterial. In one study it was able to inhibit or slow growth of 15 different bacterial strains. Still, it was not as effective as linalool or cineole at this antibacterial activity.
D-Limonene: found in Lemon Essential Oil
D-Limonene is another cannabis terpene with antiviral activity. Also found in lemon peels and lemon essential oil, D-Limonene was able to reduce viral infectivity of herpes by 100%.
Pinene: found in Rosemary Essential Oil
Pinene, a terpene found in cannabis, as well as rosemary and its essential oil, also shows antiviral activity against herpes and was also able to reduce infectivity by 100%.
Time to clean.
Related Article: 6 Terpenes Your Immune System Will Love
