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. In fact, adding terpenes to health and beauty products, cosmetics, vaporizers, foods and beverages, and aromatherapy infusions is a great way to add an extra boost of body-nourishing benefits to your products and make THC/CBD products more effective. This week, we're diving deeper into the peppermint-scented and psychostimulant terpene known as Pulegone.
Pulegone Isolate
Pulegone is a monoterpene that appears in a variety of plants in the mint family as well as some cannabis strains. There's a good chance you've tried Pulegone terpenes yourself in peppermint candies, certain menthol cough medicines, pennyroyal teas, toothpaste, and even some foods and beverages. Pulegone is one of the most common terpenes found in catnip and catmint, too. It's found frequently in nature and has been the subject of a variety of studies relating to brain function and memory as well as physical uses.
Pulegone terpenes are best known for their minty menthol-like aroma. They make their way into a variety of everyday items, including toothpaste, tea, alcoholic beverages, insect repellants, aromatherapy infusions, baked goods, perfumes, and skin products. Most interestingly, Pulegone terpenes are currently being researched for their effectiveness at improving short-term memory along with other psychostimulant and anti-anxiety properties. Historically, they've been used as a muscle relaxer, Expectorant, and antimicrobial agent.
Here's everything you need to know about Pulegone terpenes, their benefits, and where to find them in nature.
Benefits of Pulegone Terpenes
Pulegone terpenes offer a host of documented medical and therapeutic uses. However, further study on these terpenes is still necessary to fully solidify the evidence we have on hand. Remember to always consult your doctor before starting any new dietary supplement, including ones with naturally-occurring terpenes to rule out any possible complications for you and your body.
With that out of the way, we can dive into the science! Pulegone, like most terpenes, is naturally antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antimicrobial. In a study conducted by Moroccan scientists, Pulegone terpenes were able to effectively inhibit all the micro-organisms tested. In the same vein, Pulegone terpenes are also effective insecticides, repelling all sorts of pest insects from mosquitos to ticks.
When taken internally, Pulegone terpenes have noticeable effects in both the mind and the body. On the physical side of things, Pulegone terpenes can make coughs more productive. The menthol flavoring in many cough medicines is there for a reason! Pulegone terpenes (and other terpenes in the mint family) can help bring up mucus and other material from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea, improving breathing and suppressing the need to cough.
On the mental side, Pulegone has noticeable anti-anxiety effects. In a 2014 study on mice, scientists found that Pulegone could reduce anxiety. The same study also documented a psychostimulant effect, which can improve mental function and motor functions. The study lead to more research being conducted to determine whether or not Pulegone can help the brain store short-term memories by curbing proteins that inhibit memory.
All in all, Pulegone is a newer-terpene on the radar showing huge potential in a variety of therapeutic settings. Its fresh, minty scent along with its anxiety-reducing effects makes it a great choice for many aromatherapies.
Natural Sources of Pulegone Terpenes
Pulegone terpenes are most commonly found in plants like catnip. However, they can also be found in many other plants in the mint family, including peppermint, pennyroyal, and creeping Charlie plants. Pulegone can also be found in small concentrations in a handful of cannabis strains in the OG Kush family as well as strains containing pinene or humulene. Below is a list of plants that naturally produce Pulegone terpenes.
TLDR; Pulegone Terpenes
Antibacterial
Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Antifungal
Insecticide
Expectorant
Anti-anxiety
Psychostimulant
Common Uses of Pulegone Terpenes
Whether through your favorite fruits and herbs or through a diffuser, Pulegone isolate smells and tastes great and works wonders within your body.
Pulegone terpenes can be safely added to all sorts of products to reduce inflammation, kill bacteria, and help with a variety of other ailments. 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 Pulegone terpenes to foods and beverages to enjoy the anti-inflammatory, anxiety-reducing, and energizing properties within the whole body. A dash of water-soluble Pulegone terpenes in your favorite foods or beverages add a pleasant menthol-like flavor that can help to make you feel more alert, reduce anxiety, and make your coughs more productive.
Add Pulegone terpenes to essential oil diffusers and aromatherapy infusions to kill airborne bacteria, viruses, microbes, and fungal spores and help you breathe easier. The sweet and minty aroma is also great for promoting a burst of energy to your daily routine.
Add Pulegone terpenes to cannabis concentrates and hemp oils made from strains with higher citrus/floral terpene content, such as Pinene or Humulene since Pulegone is often found as a secondary terpene in a cannabis strain’s profile. Try it in products made from strains like OG Kush, Pink Kush, or Chemdawg. Pulegone 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 Pulegone 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.