Pain is one of the more common reasons why people turn to medical marijuana. Cannabinoids like THC and CBD have shown promise as potential pain relievers with minimal side effect profiles. According to the CDC, more than 50 million Americans struggle with chronic pain every year – and more than ever before are turning to cannabis in order to cope.
Pain And The Endocannabinoid System
When cannabinoids enter the body, they interact with cell receptors inside the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) in order to produce their many therapeutic and psychoactive effects. It’s believed that the pain-relieving properties of cannabinoids may come from their ability to interact with these receptors in the same way that endocannabinoids do.
The ECS is a physiological signaling system that uses naturally produced cannabinoids called endocannabinoids (actually neurotransmitters) to keep the body balanced by regulating functions such as mood, sleep, appetite, and yes, pain, too.
A study from 2002 found that “endocannabinoids function to control pain”, similarly to endogenously produced opioids, but through different mechanisms. Cannabinoids are similar in form to endocannabinoids and stimulate ECS cell receptors the same way they do. It’s possible, if not likely, that cannabinoids like THC and endocannabinoids like AE-2 actually work in similar ways to help the body achieve balance by eliminating pain.
Cannabis And Inflammation
One of the ways that cannabis is able to alleviate pain is by reducing inflammation. Inflammation typically leads to pain, and inflammatory pain is often the main culprit behind conditions like arthritis and chronic pain.
Research indicates that cannabinoids like THC and CBD could potentially help in minimizing inflammation. A 2009 study on lab mice found that cannabinoids could be a “potent treatment” against inflammation. Researchers believe that cannabinoids may be able to fight inflammation by suppressing t-cell-mediated immune responses and suppressing inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.
These findings aren’t just limited to lab animals. A 2006 study in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis with cannabis saw direct improvement in human patients. The study used Sativex, a cannabis-based spray containing both THC and CBD, to dose patients suffering from the complications of this condition. The study found that after dosing with Sativex, patients showed significant improvements in “pain on movement, pain on rest, quality of sleep, and in the present”.
If you’re looking to treat your pain with cannabis from a New York medical marijuana dispensary and delivery service, a product featuring both THC and CBD may be more effective in alleviating your pain than just one or the other on their own.
Cannabis And Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain can happen as a result of many different conditions including HIV, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, and more. THC, the most prominent cannabinoid in marijuana, has also shown potential in treating neuropathic pain.
A 2007 study from the University of California found that patients suffering from HIV-related neuropathic pain found relief from cannabinoids. Researchers concluded that cannabis was effective in reducing the pain caused by damaged nerves, providing subjects some degree of relief. Another 2007 study dosed multiple sclerosis patients with 20mg of CBD and 22 – 32 mg of THC, finding that these cannabinoids were “efficacious and well-tolerated” in lowering the nerve pain of study subjects.
Looking for an all-natural treatment for neuropathic pain? It’s possible that medical marijuana from a New York medical marijuana dispensary and delivery service could help!
Breaking Down Endocannabinoids
One of the ways that cannabinoids may be able to produce their therapeutic effects is by preventing the breakdown of certain endocannabinoids. After endocannabinoids have done their job, they are broken down by enzymes to be recycled. However, cannabinoids may be able to slow down this process, allowing these endocannabinoids to continue doing their job for longer.
Research shows that CBD may function as an anandamide reuptake and breakdown inhibitor. It seems that when CBD enters the ECS, endocannabinoid levels in the brain’s synapses are higher since the breakdown of these and other neurotransmitters is delayed.
CBD also inhibits the breakdown of the neurotransmitter adenosine. This leads to both increased adenosine levels in the brain and increased adenosine receptor activity. Since adenosine receptors are thought to modulate wide-reaching anti-inflammatory effects throughout the body, this means that CBD could indirectly provide relief from inflammatory pain by inhibiting the breakdown of these neurotransmitters and endocannabinoids.
Flavonoids And The Future of Pain Relief
Flavonoids are compounds that give plants (like cannabis) their color. Flavonoids are also believed to be able to module cell-signaling pathways, potentially giving them neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Over 23 different flavonoids have been identified in the cannabis plant so far. Most of these flavonoids also appear in other plants, but not all of them.
Cannaflavins are flavonoids that are unique to the cannabis plant. In 1985, researchers were able to isolate and study two specific cannaflavins that they named Cannflavin A and Cannaflavin B. During their study, researchers came to find that these cannaflavins actually demonstrated anti-inflammatory potential 30 times more potent than aspirin.
However, due to the illegality of cannabis, research into cannaflavins stalled and much more work needs to be done before we can discover the true therapeutic potential of these compounds. Do cannaflavins currently contribute to marijuana’s pain-relieving effects? Could cannaflavins be the future of cannabis pain relief? Who knows!
Next time you’re looking to beat the pain, check out your nearest New York medical marijuana dispensary and delivery service.