Borneol is one of the most popular terpenes used in the perfume industry due to its cool, minty, and spicy scent. The application of borneol far outreaches its cosmetic benefits though, and has an established history of use in a variety of healing capacities.

Borneol is most commonly found in camphor but can also be found in a multitude of plants around the world such as ginger, thyme, rosemary, sage, marjoram, cardamom, cinnamon, mint, nutmeg, sagebrush, tarragon, turmeric, wormwood, mugwort, sunflowers, artemisia, and cannabis. It has been used in Chinese medicine to treat chronic and acute pain since roughly 475 – 221 BC as what is known as “moxa,” which is compounded from mugwort.

Modern science continues to confirm that this terpene has powerful healing applications such as the systemic and topical¹ use treat pain without drowsiness,² unlike many western pain relief medications. Borneol also has significant medicinal and therapeutic implications in cancer treatment,³ as an anti-inflammatory,⁴ cardiovascular treatment (anti-coagulant),⁵ antioxidant, neuroprotective (potential prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease),⁶ antiseptic, bronchodilation, gingivitis treatment,⁷ and digestive tract facilitator. Borneol also has therapeutic applications in the treatment of anxiety, mental clarity⁸ and energy, memory retention, and overall wellness. 

What’s more, borneol has been found to have compound “synergistic effects” when combined with other terpenes, cannabinoids, and medications because it lowers the blood-brain barrier⁹ which allows greater absorption of other medicines a patient might receive.¹⁰

Borneol can be found in significant amount in cannabis plants such as OG Kush, Amnesia Haze, Golden Haze, K13 Haze, Gold Country, Afgoo, Coconut Goji Berry, Sour Diesel, and Girl Scout Cookies.