Cannabis For Pain and Inflammation
More athletes are turning to cannabis to help with post-workout pain management, as well as recovery. Angelina Blessed, founder of Blessed -- a cannabis company focused on athletes and active lifestyles -- recently told the Growth Op that high-level athletes are a perfect study group when it comes to exploring how cannabis may be able to help manage a range of health issues, calm the mind and boost performance.
The human body has an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that translates signals from cannabinoids. THC is a psychoactive compound that binds to cannabinoid receptors in your body and produces the euphoric feeling associated with being “high.” CBD is one of more than 100 compounds found in cannabis. It does not cause the feeling of being high, however, it does have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects.
“What I feel that everyone needs to do is start with a basic, full-spectrum CBD oil and then figure out how much THC you kind of put on top of that,” Blessed suggests.
Year after year cannabis proved to alleviate pain. Even as far back as 2015, a review on the use of cannabis for chronic pain conditions reported that several trials had positive results that cannabis may be effective for treating neuropathy (nerve pain). A research paper from 2016 found that cannabis use for cancer pain led to a 64-percent reduction in opioid use. A 2018 article published in Medical News Today referenced numerous animal studies that demonstrated CBD's pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects. A 2020 review reports that CBD could have benefits for improving sleep.
TYPES OF PAIN TREATED BY CANNABIS
Neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain is pain caused by damage to the nerves. This type of pain is common in diseases such as multiple sclerosis, injuries such as herniated discs, and infections such as shingles.
Chronic pain
Researchers compiled the results of multiple systematic reviews covering dozens of trials and studies. Their research concluded that there is substantial evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic pain in adults.
A separate study in the Journal of Experimental Medicine supports these results. This research suggests that using CBD can reduce pain and inflammation.
The researchers also found that subjects were not likely to build up a tolerance to the effects of CBD, so they would not need to increase their dose over time.
Strains for pain
Sour Diesel (Sativa)
As a potent THC strain, not only will you experience pain relief but this strain will give you plenty of energy for the day.
White Widow (Hybrid)
This Indica-dominant hybrid is commonly used for insomnia, anxiety, and pain relief. Potent for beginners, this popular strain gets its name from distinguished white buds and crystal resin.
Northern Lights (Indica)
Perfect for pain and relaxation, this strain has intense body-numbing effects. It will likely lull you to sleep after a long day.
