Study Finds Thyme Essential Oil and Cannabinoids Show Synergistic Benefits for Inflammatory Skin Conditions

Thyme essential oil (left) and cannabis tincture (right).

Researchers from the Universidade de Lisboa focused on Thymus mastichina essential oil, which is rich in terpenes like thymol, linalool, eucalyptol, α-terpineol, γ-terpinene, and terpinolene. The team developed three terpene-enriched formulations, testing them both alone and in combination with a cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) blend. In laboratory testing, the terpene formulations reduced free radicals and were found safe in human keratinocyte cells. Under inflammatory stress, they also modulated inflammatory gene expression. While the terpene fractions alone showed moderate anti-inflammatory activity, the effect was noticeably stronger when combined with CBD and CBG.

Animal testing further supported these results. In a mouse model of acute skin inflammation, the gel formulations reduced swelling, with the cannabinoid-enhanced versions producing the most significant improvements.

The findings suggest that thyme-derived terpenes, especially when paired with CBD and CBG, may provide a safe and effective topical approach for managing inflammatory skin diseases. Researchers note that this combined strategy could open new therapeutic pathways for treating common and often difficult-to-manage skin conditions.

The full text of the study can be found here.