Cannabis for Pain: What the Experts are Saying

Approximately 50 million adult Americans suffer from chronic pain. A Johns Hopkins University study found that the U.S. market loses $635 billion annually to chronic pain, more than the annual price lost to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. In the past, treating this debilitating condition involved the prescription of narcotics, such as opioids. The statistics and recent history show this is a dangerous and even deadly response to pain treatment. Enter cannabis for pain.

Why use Cannabis for Pain?

The all-natural plant is ideal for safe and effective pain treatment. Research shows patients can reduce inflammation with cannabis. Research shows it works for mild-to-moderate pain. For anyone experiencing severe pain, experts have found it can help reduce opiate use. Although this doesn’t end the patient’s use of narcotics, it reduces their dependence on them.

What the Experts Say

Most pain, including chronic conditions, results from inflammation. One characteristic of THC, the primary cannabinoid in cannabis, is anti-inflammation. When medical cannabis studies started popping up in the 1970s, experts studied its ability to treat glaucoma. Cannabis helps these patients by reducing ocular pressure, which, in return, decreases the damage to the eyes.

However, it takes a lot of THC to help with glaucoma. Instead, most patients are using cannabis for chronic pain. A 2018 study found that 90% of patients use marijuana to reduce pain.

There are hundreds of research reports that show cannabis can relieve pain by reducing inflammation. While most studies talk about joint, muscle, and bone pain, it also helps with inflammation from autoimmune disorders, such as colitis and Crohn’s disease.

How to Use Cannabis for Pain

Marijuana is a multi-use plant. One of the more confusing aspects of the potent flowers is the different methods for using it. Most patients know that they can smoke it. But you can also safely vape it to reduce the impact on the lungs (All smoke can cause damage.)

Additionally, consumers use tinctures, which absorb under the tongue and into the bloodstream. Edibles are also popular, although users should use these with caution. Many are very potent, and it’s best to remember a little goes a long way. Another option to reduce inflammation with cannabis is a topical application. These are applied directly to the source of the pain and don’t absorb into the bloodstream.

The Side Effects of Using Cannabis

Yes, everything has some adverse reactions. However, with cannabis, you’ll never experience a deadly overdose or serious, life-altering changes. The most common side effects when using cannabis for pain include:

  • Dry mouth
  • Dry, red eyes
  • Increased appetite
  • Anxiety and paranoia (with High-THC cannabis cultivars)
  • Sleepiness and lethargy (With specific cannabis formulations)
  • Short-term memory loss (More with new cannabis users)

Join thousands of Americans and many more patients around the world that reduce inflammation with cannabis. The safe and effective all-natural treatment is miles above the options with traditional pharmaceuticals. Most importantly, patients don’t have to worry about the dangers of physical opioid addiction and get to enjoy the side benefits, which can include sleeping better and an improved mood.

Feel and perform your best every day. Physician developed with a step-by-step usage guide.

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