Benefits of Marijuana for Chronic Pain Living with chronic pain? Struggling with depression? Having trouble falling asleep? If you’re suffering from chronic pain and all its other associated illnesses (depression, stress, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia), you might want to consider using medical marijuana. Cannabis have been used for decades for pain management due to its natural benefits proven to be effective.
Marijuana has been used to relieve different conditions and symptoms: cancer, Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, irritable bowel syndrome, lupus, multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain, osteoarthritis, pains treated with opioids, post-traumatic stress disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, seizures and severe nausea. The most important thing to consider when using cannabis is to place a safe strategy of use, where to buy, how and when to use it, and consider the possible side effects.
What the Research Shows The main pathway for the medicinal effects of cannabis is its interaction with the human body’s endocannabinoid system. Cannabis’ two core
cannabinoids are THC and CBD. The human body’s endocannabinoid system consists of CB1 and CB2 receptors, endogenous cannabinoids, and enzymes that facilitate the breakdown of cannabinoids. CB1 receptors are found in the central nervous system and affect a person’s pain experience. CB2 receptors play a role in the body’s immune response. Marijuana’s cannabinoids’ THC and CBD act directly on both the CB1 and CB2 receptors. A research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) showed that three puffs of marijuana a day can help people with chronic pain (experienced from surgery or injury) feel relieved and sleep better. Twenty-one men and women were evaluated, averaging to 45 years old, and is suffering from neuropathic pain. The researchers tried three different concentration of marijuana, with 9.4% THC, 2.5% THC and 6% THC into gelatin capsules. “Each person was in the study for two months, and used all four strengths of cannabis (including placebo). It’s been anecdotally, about 10% to 15% of patients attending a chronic pain clinic use cannabis as part of their pain control strategy,” says researcher Mark Ware, MD, the assistant professor at McGill University in Montreal. Some studies also suggested that medical marijuana may be a better alternative for relieving pain than opioids.
How to Use Medical Marijuana for Chronic Pain First Step: Get A Doctor’s Recommendation Getting a doctor’s order is the first step to getting medical marijuana. Read for state-by-state information about legal marijuana. Second Step: Method of Consumption There are many ways to consume marijuana. You need to decide which one suits you best. Go to a w eed delivery website and you will likely find an array of cannabis products suited for different consumption. The four main ways are: Inhalation – includes smoking or vaping. Inhaling marijuana allows the active components to enter the blood-brain. It is an effective way to decrease the CNS response to pain. This is ideal for treating neuropathic pain such as fibromyalgia. People who smoke cannabis can instantly feel
the effects after two minutes, lasting up to 2 to 4 hours. The human body typically absorbs 30% of the active compound. The absorption in vaporization is even greater. Vaporization results to 35 percent absorption of cannabinoids. Eating edibles – edibles are in the form of gummies, cookies, lollies, beverages, brownies, pastries, and other snacks. Eating marijuana edibles has slower and less foreseeable uptake. When consuming edibles, marijuana travels through digestive tract just like any food or drinks, making the effects delayed and long lasting. This is the reason why people over consume edibles. If the effects are not felt right away, careful not to take more. Some studies suggested that digesting cannabis may have increased benefits due to its direct interaction with our digestive system. Tinctures and Oils – they are taken sublingually or under the tongue. Tinctures and oils are easily absorbed into the bloodstream. They are a good option for people who want to have control over their doses because they are easier to measure. Topical application – in the form of lotions, creams, oils, and salves. Topical application is best used to relieve localized pain and inflammation. It doesn’t provide any high compared to smoking, eating and tinctures. Third Step: Examine the THC: CBD ratio Properly To anticipate the effects of medical marijuana is by knowing its THC and CBD content. CBD helps in balancing the psychotropic effects of marijuana and both have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. If you’re concerned about the psychoactive effect, you’ll want to try the product that has greater THC. Just like any supplement, your metabolism, age, weight, and body composition matter with regard to your personal dose. You should clarify this with your physician and from marijuana delivery in Los Angeles or dispensary before buying or ingesting anything.
Other Compounds Although not necessary, you may want to select some products that have additional compounds such as terpenes, flavonoids and other cannabinoids for the “entourage effect.” Terpenes are the compounds responsible for the aromatherapy that will work with your unique biology
and tolerance upon consuming. These include myrcene, caryophyllene, limonene and terpinolene. However, the most important compound to focus on is the THC and CBD.
Conclusion Although there is still a stigma surrounding the use of marijuana, the recent changes in its legality have open doors for many to experience its medical benefits. Understanding how marijuana works and its use requires a lot of research, perhaps trial and error. There’s still a lot of scientific study needed to back it up, but we do know many have tried and attested to the positive effects it brought specially for chronic pain. Marijuana is generally safe. There has been no recorded overdose ever. As medical marijuana becomes more known, it is important that we not consider it as cure-for-all, but rather, a complementary treatment along with a healthy lifestyle and prescribed medication. At the end of the day, you alone can decide how to manage your pain. Your pain is your own experience. Whatever you choose, it should make you healthy, happy and pain-free. The best thing you can do is educate yourself about the state laws and potential benefits of medical c annabis delivery.
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