In the meantime, there are many medicinal hemp and CBD products available in some countries, including those produced from the whole plant and containing THC. In addition, a lot of medical cannabis varieties with different cannabinoid profiles are now available. Therefore, it is not always easy for patients to navigate and find the right strain or cannabis product for themselves.
Because cannabis and cannabinoids such as THC and CBD work differently for each person, patients must first gather and observe their own experiences until the appropriate effective product or the right strain or combination is finally found. In the context of treating pain, certain strains are more effective than others.
The question arises, which is more effective for pain: CBD or THC?
This question is not so easy to answer. Each of these components in cannabis has its own specific properties to combat pain. According to current knowledge and patient experience, both cannabinoids are useful and effective for pain relief and management. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) work best in combination with each other, because this way they can work synergistically with each other and thus increase the overall pain-relieving effect.
THC is considered the cannabinoid mainly responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis. Many patients find that cannabis oils with a high THC content can provide sufficient pain relief. At the same time, it is often necessary to experiment to find out the exact dose for oneself and the right combination of cannabis products. Different products or strains may be useful in different situations.
CBD has an effect on the brain, but is far from comparable to the psychoactive effects of THC. Unlike THC, CBD does not cause a noticeable poignant high that can be strongly sedating or even markedly euphoric. CBD has mild sedative and balancing effects. It can also reduce the mental effects of THC and combat pain and inflammation.
Many patients use CBD-rich cannabis strains to relieve pain caused by spasticity and cramps. For both high-THC and high-CBD cannabis oils, patients report positive experiences and successful reduction of pain. Research suggests that the best pain therapy consists of a large number of different cannabinoids.
The synergistic interactions between THC and CBD create the so-called entourage effect. It is assumed that all cannabinoids and terpenes in the cannabis plant work together and thus many positive effects are achieved. Therefore, for many pain patients, the entire cannabis flowers or extracts from them are even more effective than isolated individual cannabinoids.
Not only do THC and CBD interact with each other in the treatment of pain, but these compounds also interact with various terpenes.
Terpenes are aroma molecules found in the resin glands of plants. This is why choosing a specific cannabis strain is of great importance for pain patients.
In Canada, the cannabis product Sativex is also available to cancer patients for the treatment of pain. Sativex is originally a multiple sclerosis drug , containing a 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD as well as some helpful terpenes. Cannabis plants produce more than 100 different cannabinoids, which have not been fully and adequately researched due to decades of restrictions. Israel has been researching the medical benefits of cannabis since 1970.
Besides THC and CBD, the cannabinoids cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabinol (CBN) and the terpenes myrcene and β-caryophyllene are also considered analgesic.
When looking for the right cannabis strain to treat pain, there are a few things to consider:
Many patients have no or insufficient access to the very cannabis strains that might help them. Each person reacts differently to individual strains. While some patients find THC-rich strains particularly helpful and perceive the psychoactive effects as an additional way of forgetting their pain and distracting themselves, other patients cannot do anything with the high and experience it rather as unpleasant.
Some useful tips:
- Sedative indica strains are considered the most effective in treating chronic pain.
- A strain that contains some CBD in addition to THC can be more effective for treating pain than a strain that contains only THC.
- A high THC content leads many patients to forget the pain more easily.
- CBD-rich strains are generally preferred for daytime use because they do not make you tired and are less or hardly psychoactive.
- Sativas are often used for neuropathic pain and also chronic pain. The effect is always subjective, because it depends on how the respective high is experienced and on which person it hits.
- A cannabis strain that is also very aromatic and contains many terpenes is particularly recommended.
Here are some cannabis strains that have proven to be very helpful when used for pain:
Find the right strain to treat pain: Here you will find the detailed guide.