How Cannabinoids Help To Ease Chronic Pain

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Often, you see cancer patients or other people dealing with chronic illnesses promoting the benefits of cannabis. But, in many respects, it’s heavily underutilized for pain management. Cannabis still has a negative reputation in many circles, and not enough people know it is actually considered an analgesic medication. This means it can be as effective as opioids without the severe side effects, making it a convenient and sometimes safer alternative for patients with chronic pain.

When a patient finds relief in CBD or medical marijuana, they are experiencing the effects of cannabinoids. These are the chemical compounds found within the fibers of cannabis. With most marijuana strains, our bodies react to either high doses of the psychoactive cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or anxiety-reducing cannabidiol (CBD). We know the “what,” but the science behind the ‘how’ continues to develop.

What Are Cannabinoids?

Cannabinoids are the natural compounds that are found in the cannabis sativa plant, with over 100 compounds produced in a single plant. The most commonly known cannabinoid, Delta 9-THC, is the most psychoactive ingredient found in cannabis strains.

Cannabinoids such as THC, CBD, CBN, CBG, and CBC interact with the body’s cannabinoid receptors, known as CB1 or CB2, present on the surface of our cells. When cannabinoids interact with these receptors, they inhibit the release of neurotransmitters and reduce neural inflammation. In other words, they have the power to connect or disconnect the communication pathways to the brain. This means that ingesting cannabis could slow the brain's reactivity to pain, or alter the brain to ignore feelings of nausea or other uncomfortable symptoms.

The effects of cannabinoids vary. Memory, cognition, and situational responses all have the potential to be altered, but not all cannabinoids affect the body the same way. In fact, each compound is differentiated by its level of psychoactivity. The potency of THC has stronger effects on cognition because of its high levels of psychoactivity whereas CBD provides much less brain stimulation. When interacting together in marijuana strains, the two compounds tend to balance out the psychoactivity levels for a calmer, relaxing experience.

Oxidation can affect the potency of cannabinoids. When marijuana is exposed to air for long periods of time, the oxidation process naturally lessens the strength of the present THC.

What Do Cannabinoids Look Like?

Cannabinoids are present in any cannabis-derived products. In our modern age, this spans a long list, including:

1. Cannabis plants or leaves
2. Marijuana-based edibles like gummies or capsules
3. Oil tinctures
4. Bath products: THC-infused lotions, bath bombs, bath soaks, etc
5. Body products: Oils, oro-mucosal sprays, CBD-infused facial masks

While the CBD-infused bath bomb may bring you the peaceful self-care moment you deserve, not every product that contains cannabinoids will provide a buzz. Even certain pantry spices – cinnamon, black pepper, oregano – can activate your cannabinoid receptors for anxiety-relieving benefits. People looking for high-quality strength relief for anxiety or physical pain will reap the most benefits from the high levels of CBD found in medical-grade cannabis.

Cannabinoids For Pain Relief

Medicinal marijuana been trusted for thousands of years for its pain-relieving effects. This can be a big advantage of patients with non-cancer and cancer-related chronic pain. Moments of therapeutic relief from cannabinoids include:

1. Antiemetic relief: Effective against chemo-induced or non-chemo-induced nausea and vomiting.

2. Pain Management: Patients who use cannabis or cannabinoids are more likely to experience clinically significant improvements in pain relief.

3. Muscle Spasticity Relief: Adults who experience extremely stiff or achy muscles because of multiple sclerosis have reported improved symptoms with short-term use of orally ingested cannabinoids.

Patients dealing with chronic illnesses will often turn to cannabis in order to combat symptoms of illness or side effects of treatment or both. In one study, two-thirds of the patients with chronic pain reported health benefits from using medical cannabis, including improved pain management and sleep. There is evidence that cannabinoids do provide therapeutic benefits to a percentage of medical marijuana users.

A New Medical Avenue

Of course, cannabis is not a cure for chronic illness, but its promise as a home pain remedy is certainly worth exploring. Experimenting with moderate use of medical marijuana will not hinder treatment or forever impair a person’s ability to function. It can provide just as much therapeutic pain relief for medicinal patients as it can for sore muscles or a serious migraine.

If you are dealing with chronic or non-chronic pain and are seeking relief, talk to a referring doctor about your symptoms and your eligibility for a medical marijuana card. Once you obtain a medical card, you’ll be able to access an entire world of cannabis strains that provide relief. Dispensary employees can point you in the direction of products worth trying, especially if you have preferences about consumption. Our knowledge of cannabis and its benefits continues to evolve, so consider a trip to the dispensary next time you are looking to ease your unique pain.