Ah, pain management. It’s a hot topic that keeps popping up on the Cornerstone blog, and no wonder — dealing with pain can be a real struggle. The available treatment options may offer some relief, but let’s be real: most of us with chronic pain are still left wanting more.
The thing is, pain isn’t just a one-size-fits-all problem. There’s no “magic bullet” pain med that can tackle all the different sources of pain we might experience. And that’s where medical science comes in. Dedicated researchers are on a mission to uncover new pain treatments that could be game-changers and give us some much-needed relief.
But here’s the kicker: finding effective treatment options to provide pain relief is easier said than done. But as medical marijuana has become more widely accepted as an alternative form of pain relief, some people are turning to vaping as a viable option. But does it really work? Can it really help relieve pain? Let’s take a closer look and find out.
Alternative vs. Opiate-based Treatments
First, let’s talk about the differences between alternative treatments and opiate-based medications.
The Opiate Option
Picture this: doctors are standing on the front lines, trying to navigate the risky waters of pain management. They’ve got a patient in front of them pleading for relief. The catch? They have to decide whether to prescribe opiates, like morphine, and risk the slippery slope of abuse, addiction, and illicit drug trading. Not to mention the potential for serious side effects like liver damage or respiratory problems. Talk about a tough call.
While sometimes these medicines are completely necessary, it’s important to understand how they work. Opiates bind to receptors in the brain and act on the nervous system, providing relief from acute pain. But while they work quickly, their effects tend to wear off over time, requiring patients to increase dosages for continued pain relief — a recipe for disaster.
So, if opiate-based treatments aren’t ideal solutions for long-term management, what are?
Cannabinoids To The Rescue?
Well, this is where medical marijuana comes in. We all know that THC and CBD have been hailed as potential superheroes in the battle against pain. Both of these molecules have been studied for their potential to provide relief from different types of pain. THC is known to act on the central nervous system, reducing inflammation and providing mild to moderate pain alleviation. On the other hand, CBD targets receptors that are found throughout the body, also providing pain relief from many types of chronic pain like arthritis.
Even better? Cannabinoids like CBD bring something special to the table — their abuse potential is practically non-existent. This is why more and more researchers are turning to medical marijuana as an effective treatment option for pain management.
So it’s clear why we need more options in a doctor’s arsenal — options that won’t leave us vulnerable to the dark side. We crave non-abusable treatments, alternatives that can deliver the goods without the strings attached. Because let’s face it, when it comes to pain, we deserve solutions that work and won’t throw us into a whirlwind of trouble.
But the biggest question remains: do these alternative treatments really work?
Advancements in Cannabinoid Research: What Does It Offer?
As medical researchers unravel the mysteries of cannabinoids and our body’s own endocannabinoid system, a consensus is starting to emerge — there’s a whole new world of relief just waiting to be tapped into.
Imagine new cannabinoids that take pain reduction to a whole new level. We’re talking about game-changers that don’t mess with our heads, no psychoactive effects here. We’re talking about enzyme inhibitors that can work their magic, allowing our bodies to hold onto those precious natural cannabinoids right where they belong.
Now, here’s where things get a bit tricky. We’ve had a little hiccup on the road to progress. A recent attempt at testing enzyme inhibitors in France didn’t pan out as well as desired. So while it’s hopeful, we’re still years away from turning these groundbreaking discoveries into reality, and we’ll need to navigate through a maze of legal hurdles.
In the meantime, there’s one legal option: whole cannabis or its derivatives and concentrates.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Vaping Cannabis for Pain Relief
So how effective is whole cannabis? Aside from molecular studies and petri dishes, how effective is vaporizing cannabis in treating pain? Does cannabis actually reduce pain in the way that a normal patient would use it to manage it?
The University of California took the reins on this one, rounding up 42 individuals with treatment-resistant chronic pain to be their vaping candidates. Each received four puffs of vaporized cannabis and an additional 4-8 puffs three hours later.
And because the researchers wanted to keep it honest and wanted to mimic the true-blue experience of the medical cannabis culture, they chose the renowned Storz and Bickel Volcano vaporizer as their weapon of choice. Then, they took it a step further and set some ground rules to ensure consistency:
- Each participant had to hold the mouthpiece close to their lips, inhale for a solid five seconds on cue, and hold that vapor in without exhaling for an additional ten seconds.
- They repeated this process at the precise mark of 40 seconds.
Now, you might be thinking, “Wait a minute, is this really how we all vape?” Well, it’s pretty close. Sure, the timing might not be as stringent in our day-to-day sessions, but we can certainly relate to the ritual and the pleasure of a good puff.
Overall, they wanted to replicate the experience, measure the effects, and uncover the truth.
Controlling for Placebo Effect
The notorious placebo effect — you know how it goes: sometimes, just believing that something will work can make us feel like it’s working, even if it’s all in our heads.
To handle this, the researchers randomly divided the patients into different groups. Each group received cannabis with varying THC concentrations just to throw the placebo effect off its game. They dished out cannabis samples with THC concentrations of 0, 2.9%, and 6.7% to participants. These samples were loaded into the vaporizer, with a solid 0.4 grams of cannabis in each. They even got their stash from the University of Mississippi. Yep, they run a cannabis supply program administered by none other than the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Now, you might be wondering, “Why didn’t they get the high-THC samples from dispensaries?” Well, while those dispensary goodies can reach THC levels as high as 20%, the researchers wanted consistency. They wanted a known, reliable product that they could rely on for their experiment.
But the dosage was a wild card. It was randomized and provided by team members who weren’t administering the tests. Why? Well, they wanted to keep bias at bay. They didn’t want anyone sneaking in a little extra or holding back. And some participants didn’t receive any THC at all. Why? Because they wanted to strip away the placebo effect as much as possible, leaving us with real findings.
Before and After Results
To measure the impact of cannabis on pain intensity, the researchers had the patients complete an 11-point pain intensity numerical rating scale. A scale ranging from 0 to 11, where zero meant no pain at all. They wanted to know how many patients experienced a reduction of 30% or more in pain intensity — a significant drop that could make a real difference in the realm of pain treatment.
And guess what? The results spoke for themselves, loud and clear. It was a resounding victory for vaporized whole-plant cannabis. While 18 patients reported a 30% pain drop while on the placebo, a good 26 patients experienced that reduction with both lower and higher THC concentrations in whole-plant cannabis. Moreover, the number of puffs needed to achieve this level of pain relief averaged around three to four.
Now, pay close attention because this is crucial. Even when the researchers took into account the positive psychological effects of cannabis, the pain-reducing magic remained statistically significant. It’s like separating the “high” from the healing. So, no, it’s not just the buzz talking.
Unveiling the Findings
So, it turns out that there wasn’t much variation between the lower THC dose and the higher THC dose. This suggests that patients don’t necessarily need to vaporize massive amounts of cannabis to experience significant pain relief. Even a small dose can do the trick, providing the majority of the benefits while reducing psychoactive symptoms.
And while we’ve been focusing so much on THC, what if it’s not the superstar in the show? Our previous articles have hinted at this possibility — CBD might just be the key to unlocking the pain-reducing secrets.
But here’s the catch — and it’s a frustrating one. The cannabis samples used in this study didn’t disclose the CBD amounts. Without that vital piece of information, it’s tough to establish a solid correlation or test our hypothesis. However, let’s play with this idea for a moment. What if the CBD concentration was equivalent in both samples? That could easily explain the intriguing results observed.
Cornerstone CBD Products for All
In any case, here’s the bottom line: while we await the arrival of more advanced cannabinoid-based treatments that are still years away from hitting the market, we can turn to our trusty whole-plant cannabis for an effective method. It’s like a familiar friend, there to lend a helping hand. So, if you’re battling treatment-resistant pain, it’s time to have that heart-to-heart conversation with your physician. Ask them about cannabis, specifically high-CBD varieties that can help you take back control of your life.
Fortunately, at Cornerstone Wellness, we provide nothing but the best in CBD. You can shop CBD products for all your needs, helping you to find the right product to suit your lifestyle and alleviate your pain. From CBD oil to tinctures, topicals and vape pens, we’ve got your back.
Shop now, reclaim your power and win the fight against pain. With a little bit of cannabis-fueled courage, anything is possible. Let’s get to it!