Caryophyllene
Spicy, anti-inflammatory
Terpene
What is caryophyllene?
Caryophyllene (beta-caryophyllene) is the spicy, peppery terpene found in black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, and hops — and up to a third of the essential oil of some cannabis strains. Its aroma is warm, woody, and peppery.
The CB2 connection
Caryophyllene's claim to fame: it's the only terpene known to bind directly to a cannabinoid receptor — specifically CB2. As covered on the cannabinoids page, CB2 is most active when inflammation is present, which is why caryophyllene gets so much attention for anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving potential. A landmark 2008 study showed it acts as a functional CB2 agonist with real anti-inflammatory effects in mice.
Effects
Because it targets CB2 rather than CB1, caryophyllene isn't intoxicating on its own — but it can add a grounding, pain-relieving dimension to the rest of the profile. If inflammation is part of your reason for using cannabis, caryophyllene is a terpene to look for.
Conditions that cite this compound
These condition guides point here — they cover the same compound from the patient side.