As marijuana is being legalized in more states, more research is going into the medical benefits of THC and CBD. We all know that one of the most significant values of marijuana is its pain relieving affects, ranging from alleviating nausea in cancer patients, to calming burning sensations in patients suffering from nerve damage.
Medical marijuana is blazing a new trail for pain relief, and as time goes on, we are only going to learn more about how cannabis can help us.
But how does marijuana help alleviate pain?
In simple terms, THC excites the brain so that it gets distracted from the pain. When someone consumes cannabis, the THC fits into cannabinoid receptors in your brain, and alter how your brain functions. It ‘excites’ the receptors and your brain adjusts what it focuses on. The pain will still be present, but the excitement in the brain allows you to focus on other things. Essentially, the THC distracts you from the pain.
Most painkillers inhibit pain receptors from receiving pain signals, but THC does little to reduce any pain, instead it creates a more emotional response that eases the physical stress of pain. CBD works differently than THC, in that it has more physical benefits. It has been found to help physical issues by alleviating pain, curving nausea, and reducing anxiety, all while giving minimal psychoactive effects. CBD is suggested for those who want to avoid feeling a high and are searching for more direct medical relief, but CBD and THC both work best as a team. Patients receive the most benefits from a formulated mix of both cannabinoids.
What about topicals?
Topicals are best used for localized pain relief. A topical is a balm, lotion, oil, or something of the like, that contains cannabinoids but doesn’t create a high. The cannabinoids in topicals help relieve pain down to a cellular level. Cannabis has excellent anti-inflammatory effects and topicals utilize this aspect especially.
