Chronic Pain Management
Marijuana’s compounds can help in chronic pain management. The herb can be used as an alternative to medications. In many states, total prescription drug spending in Medicare was significantly reduced by $165 million per year with the implementation of cannabis laws in 2013. Opioids, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants were the most common drug substitutions.
Also Read- Chronic Joint Pain & Opioids, Why Big Pharma Hates Cannabis?
In this post, we are going to shed light on the top pain conditions marijuana can help.
Fibromyalgia
Patients with fibromyalgia may experience headaches, pain, nausea, etc. Research says that chemical compounds in cannabis can help in managing these symptoms. THC and CBD are the two important cannabinoids, which possess medicinal properties. THC has a similar chemical structure as that of anandamide. It interacts with the cannabinoid receptors and activates the brain’s reward system, thus decreasing pain levels.
CBD, cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive compound that provides health benefits without causing feelings of pleasure and euphoria.
The best cannabis strains for fibromyalgia treatment are—Harlequin, Cannatonic, Tahoe OG, Granddaddy Purple, GSC, and Blueberry.
Arthritis
The two most common types of arthritis are-
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
It causes inflammation in joints, thus resulting in pain. The symptoms may worsen over time. Patients with this condition often have swollen hands and feet.
Osteoarthritis (OA)
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that is caused by cartilage degeneration. It usually affects joints in knees, hands, hips, etc.
According to some animal studies, CBD has amazing pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, it can help in chronic pain management, anxiety relief and boosting sleep.
According to a 2006 study, Sativex, a marijuana-based mouth spray, was beneficial in relieving arthritis-related pain. The spray contains both CBD and THC.
Cancer-Related Pain
CBD is effective in managing cancer-related pain.
Dronabinol and Nabilone, the FDA-approved synthetic THC pills, are used for managing symptoms associated with chemotherapy, such as vomiting and nausea.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that 50 percent of the participants reduced vomiting with THC as compared to placebo.
According to a recent report published by the International Journal of Oncology, cannabinoids in the marijuana plant contain anti-cancer activity whether taken alone or in combination with chemotherapy.
Research by Yale Cancer Center shows that the majority of pediatric cancer providers are preferring cannabis for managing advanced cancer symptoms in children patients.
The best strains for managing cancer-related pain are—Blackberry Kush, Harlequin, Northern Lights, Blueberry Diesel, and Bubba Kush.
Migraine
Migraine causes intense headaches, which are usually accompanied by nausea, vomiting, trouble speaking, etc. Research says that cannabis can be used as an effective migraine medication because of the presence of amazing compounds. CBD can help in treating stress-induced migraines. It also limits inflammation throughout the body.
A study published in 2019 in the Journal of Pain found that cannabis helped in reducing migraine and headache symptoms. Researchers reported that with cannabis use, the participants were able to reduce headaches and migraines by about 50 percent.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple Sclerosis is a condition that attacks the brain and central nervous system. There’s scientific evidence that cannabis can help in easing the MS symptoms such as muscle spasms, stiffness, nerve pain, and nausea. Additionally, the cannabinoids can help cope with sleep problems and depression in patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis.
As per a 2005 trial, researchers found that a marijuana-based medication with 1:1 THC:CBD was as effective as a placebo for managing pain. Additionally, the medication was three-time more powerful for sleep.
Multiple Sclerosis is listed as a qualifying condition to get a medical marijuana card in many states.
Lower Back Pain
Back pain can cause physical discomfort in the back. However, in some cases, pain may travel to legs and other adjacent areas. Marijuana works way better than prescription pain medications. It doesn’t cause any unpleasant side-effects.
According to a 2004 study, cannabis helped in reducing pain. The study was conducted on 34 chronic pain patients who were given various strains.
Moreover, marijuana is beneficial in managing conditions that are linked to pain, such as anxiety, insomnia, etc.
Neuropathic Pain
Also called nerve pain, neuropathic pain occurs due to a forceful injury or stabbing that result in nerve damage. However, some conditions are also linked to neuropathic pain, such as Multiple Sclerosis, HIV, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease.
Marijuana helps in relieving neuropathic pain by binding to the receptors in the nerves, thus stopping them to send pain signals to the brain.
It’s important to note that over-activation of CB1 receptors with THC may link to weaker effects. Thus, you should use cannabis products with balanced THC and CBD levels to receive long-term benefits.
Some of the best marijuana strains for neuropathic pain management are—Blue Dream, Cannatonic, and Harlequin.
Final Words
Marijuana provides natural pain relief because of its amazing chemical compounds. Medical studies have found that cannabis can help in managing various pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, migraine, low back pain, neuropathic pain, and cancer-related pain.
THC and CBD are the two important cannabinoids. When they are delivered into the body, they bind to the receptors in ECS, thus managing chronic pain. Experts recommend using cannabis products with balanced CBD and THC to receive long-term benefits.
THC is a psychoactive compound while CBD is non-psychoactive. CBD products can help you reduce pain and inflammation and get various health benefits without experiencing high effects.
Have you ever used marijuana for pain management? What’s your condition before and after using medical cannabis? Share your story in the comment section below. We will publish the best story in our new post.
