Cannabis: a healthy alternative to other pain relief solutions

Medical marijuana is a healthy and 100% natural alternative to pain relief solutions. So many people suffer from chronic and acute pain for various reasons and the use of medical marijuana is known as an effective treatment for these types of pain. In fact, medical marijuana is most commonly used to relieve pain, and there are a variety of different consumption methods that are used, like dry herb vaporizers, dab rigs, bongs, and more, most available online, at sites like Grasscity. Besides pain, cannabis can be used to treat a variety of other health conditions including anxiety, depression, nausea, and even the side effects of chemotherapy treatment. If you are someone who suffers from pain and are looking for holistic treatment, this article will touch on how medical marijuana can be used to help you out.

What is cannabis?

Cannabis is an ancient plant that grows naturally all over the world and in many different climates. For ages, cannabis has been used for recreational use as well as medical use by many people. There are 2 main active ingredients in the cannabis plant which are THC and CBD. THC is the active ingredient that produces psychoactive effects while CBD is used strictly for medical purposes and produces no psychoactive effects. Some of the main conditions that people use cannabis to treat include the following:

• Pain 
• Inflammation
• Anxiety
• Depression
• PTSD
• Insomnia and other sleep disorders
• Nausea 
• Loss of appetite
• Seizures
• Alzheimer’s
• Parkinson’s disease  
• Headache
• Acne
• Eczema 
• Psoriasis 

There are many other conditions that cannabis is used to treat and since legalization started spreading, there has been a rapidly growing interest in medical marijuana and many people are choosing to ditch harmful pharmaceuticals for this form of holistic healing with no harmful side effects. There have been many studies done on the benefits of cannabis for medical use and the results all show the effectiveness and healing potential. There has also been proven to be a 94% positive response rate in patients using marijuana for therapeutic benefits. 

Cannabis and pain relief 

As previously mentioned, cannabis is widely used to treat pain whether it be bodily or neurological pain. Marijuana can relieve pain by interacting with the cannabinoid receptors in the body and further reducing the pain signaling as well as pain receptors. Whether you are suffering from chronic pain, inflammation, or any other pain, cannabis can help you because it has natural anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers have found that consuming the indica strain of marijuana significantly reduces joint pain, headaches, spasticity as well as neuropathy. Many trials of the effects of marijuana for pain have shown positive results and a 2016 study showed the benefits of cannabis use in cancer patients. It was shown that marijuana use reduces the use of opioids by 64% and improved the quality of life of patients with the need for fewer medications. 

How to use cannabis for pain relief

When it comes to marijuana consumption methods, you are spoilt for choice. There is a method to suit every person and with technology and innovation in the industry, these methods keep advancing. When it comes to pain relief, the best methods of consumption include:

• Inhalation: This should be done using a dry herb vaporizer that produces vapor by heating the dry herb at a controlled temperature. The onset is very quick which is ideal for those consuming to relieve pain. Avoid smoking because of the harmful health risks.
• Tinctures: This is a liquid that is made from dry herbs dissolved in alcohol. You must consume tinctures sublingually by placing 3-4 drops underneath your tongue and then swallowing after 2 minutes, this is a discreet, convenient, and very effective method of consumption that is extremely popular amongst medical marijuana patients. 
• Topicals: This is a lotion or cream containing cannabis and is perfect for targeted pain relief.

When choosing a consumption method consider your needs such as when and where you plan on consuming. You need to determine if you want to consume on the go or if you want to consume strictly at home. Before consuming, you need to determine your correct dosage which usually has to do with the type of pain you are treating as well as your weight and tolerance level. If you want to consume cannabis solely for medical purposes, stick to CBD and avoid THC because it has psychoactive effects.