Cannabis, which has been in use for the management of pain for thousands of years is becoming more mainstream. According to science, the consumption of cannabis either by taking edibles, using a topical product, or by inhaling its smoke is effective for the treatment of many painful maladies, including rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and neuropathic pain.
So how does it work?
The three main pain systems are nociceptive, neuropathic, and central.
Nociceptive pain is caused by damage to body tissue and is usually described as sharp, aching, or throbbing pain.
The abundant cannabinoids, THC and CBD, found in cannabis can reduce pain at the
site of injury. Both have potent anti-inflammatory effects.
Neuropathic pain is caused by damage to sensory or spinal nerves, which send inaccurate pain messages to higher centers.
In the case of neuropathic pain, cannabis can weaken the strength of pain signals in
the spinal cord and their processing in the brain.
Centralized pain, a classic example of which is found in fibromyalgia, is the result of amplification of peripheral signals due to persistent central nervous system dysfunction. Like other types of central pain, the origin of fibromyalgia is largely unknown but studies have found that many fibromyalgia patients have reported benefits from cannabis use and half stopped taking their other medications.
Medical Marijuana/Cannabis can be a very beneficial tool in the management of your pain. Please speak with your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions that you may have regarding a medical condition.
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