What is Linalool?

Linalool is a terpene that occurs naturally in some spice plants and flowers of over 200 in total. Many people who are allergic to linalool assume that linalool is an artificial chemical used to produce skincare products. However, linalool is natural, although it can be made synthetically too. Linalool is a colorless oil that has a sweet and pleasant scent. Linalool is used commercially because of the spicy and delightful scent that it produces. Linalool also possesses many health benefits, including the production of Vitamin E, which aids in the proper functioning of the human body.

Origin of Linalool

Linalool is a naturally occurring oil, so it has its origin in some plants and flowers of not less than 200 plants. Some of the sources of linalool are wintersweet, oregano, basil, Chinese parsley, Camellia Sinensis, lemon, Laurus nobilis, coriander, etc.

Uses of Linalool

Linalool is an essential oil that occurs naturally and can be used in many ways. The uses of linalool are highlighted below.

1. Linalool is used to manufacture insecticides. It is used to control fruit fly, cockroaches, and fleas.

2. Linalool produces a sweet smell, therefore it is used as a scent in perfumery products and cleaning agents such as lotions, detergents, shampoos, and soaps.

3. Linalool is used in the production of some products that serve as repellants to mosquitoes.

4. Linalool is used as a method to control pests for codling moths.

5. Linalool is used in the production of cosmetics and medicinal products.

Health Benefits of Linalool and why myAir bars contain it

There are several health benefits attached to the use of linalool. Many researchers carried out various studies to determine the health benefits of linalool; some of the health benefits of linalool as discovered are considered below:

1. Linalool helps to reduce pain and prevent inflammation

With inflammation comes pain, redness, a sensation of heat, and swelling. Even though inflammation response in our body plays some crucial roles sometimes in our body, it could also lead to chronic inflammatory diseases if not well managed. The studies suggest that linalool possesses anti-inflammatory properties that are useful and capable of dampening an over-reactive response to ailments or injuries in the body. In another study, some scientists used the essential oils in linalool to treat rats with edema, and they concluded that linalool is capable of blocking pain signals to the brain.

After many studies were carried out, the researchers concluded that linalool could reduce pain and prevent inflammation on the skin.

2. Linalool can help to improve sleep

People usually use essential oils of lavender (containing linalool) to aid their sleep because studies reveal that it increases slow-wave sleep. This type of sleep helps to relax the muscle and reduce the heart rate. In a study, the researchers discovered that when 31 American men and women sniffed lavender oil, which contained linalool, before sleeping, the quality of their sleep increased as well as their energy refreshed the following morning. The stems and leaves of peanuts also have a high level of linalool, and studies suggest that linalool is a vital component responsible for relaxation and improvement in sleep.

Linalool is very effective in relaxing the body, renewing energy, and improving sleeping time.

3. Linalool can help to reduce stress

A study was carried out in which rats were tested to inhale linalool; it was discovered by the researchers that linalool helped reduce anxiety in the rats. Scientists also placed stress-inducing restraints just for two hours and after inhalation by the rats; the result showed that the stress level of the rats dropped drastically to a healthy, non-stressed baseline measure. The stress and anxiety got reduced in their blood profiles and genes, suggesting an immune system that is very healthy and capable of fighting against infections and diseases.

Linalool is very powerful in reducing stress and anxiety. Linalool will not do that alone but also strengthens the immune system to fight against any form of infection or disease.

4. Linalool helps to increase anti-microbial properties

High levels of essential oils are needed in the medicines and cosmetics industries to maintain their microbial purity. However, some users who have sensitive skins or allergies tend to suffer adverse effects and become irritated because of the high levels of these essential oils. However, studies also suggest that increasing linalool to an existing essential oil can help to increase its anti-microbial properties without causing these adverse effects. Furthermore, the study discovered an increase in the anti-microbial effectiveness of oils such as T. Vulgaris oil and S. aromaticum oil against harmful bacteria combined with additional linalool.

Linalool possesses anti-microbial effects that help reduce microbial activities and prevent adverse effects when combined with some oils.

5. Linalool can serve as a repellant

Mosquitoes are one of the insect species that produce so much on the planet. However, you can give yourself peace of mind by keeping mosquitoes away from your vicinity through the use of linalool. A study was carried out in 2009 to test the potency of various repellents against mosquitoes. Linalool was determined the best and most effective repellent, both outdoors and indoors. Outdoor diffusers repelled potentially dangerous insects by 58% within a distance of 6m to the diffuser, while 20g of linalool diffusers placed indoors repelled mosquitoes by 93%.

Linalool is useful in repelling insects like mosquitoes, thereby preventing bites that may cause ailments.

6. Linalool can help to prevent epilepsy

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared that up to 450 million people worldwide had experienced a neurological, behavioral, or mental problem at one point or the other in their lives. However, some working on plants and their derivatives discovered that linalool had potential therapeutic effects when treating diseases relating to the Central Nervous System (CNS). Epilepsy is one of the diseases that are related to the Central Nervous System. Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by a recurrent spontaneous seizure, and around 1-2% of the population of the world battles with it. The research showed that linalool reduces convulsions and seizures by decreasing the activity performed by the brain chemicals in muscle contraction. In 2010, a study was carried out to check the anticonvulsant property of linalool, and the result showed that linalool is very potent in its anticonvulsant ability.

Linalool is very potent and effective in the treatment of epileptic patients.

Conclusion

Linalool has a lot of proven and potential benefits that outweigh its adverse effects. It is used in healthcare, body care, as insect repellants, and lots more. For these benefits, it is recommended for use. Good news - myAir bars are packed with Linalool!

Footnotes

Terpene Profile: Linalool

https://monq.com/eo/terpenes/linalool/

Linalool modifies the nicotinic receptor-ion channel kinetics at the mouse neuromuscular junction

L Re et al. Pharmacol Res. 2000 Aug

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10887049/

Stress repression in restrained rats by (R)-(-)-linalool inhalation and gene expression profiling of their whole blood cells

Akio Nakamura et al. J Agric Food Chem. 2009.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19456160/

Efficacy of the botanical repellents geraniol, linalool, and citronella against mosquitoes

Günter C Müller et al. J Vector Ecol. 2009 Jun.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20836800/

 Effects of Inhalation Aromatherapy on Symptoms of Sleep Disturbance in the Elderly with Dementia

Ai Takeda, Emiko Watanuki, and Sachiyo Koyama

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5376423/

 Linalool Affects the Antimicrobial Efficacy of Essential Oils

Anna Herman et al. Curr Microbiol. 2016 Feb

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26553262/