How Cannabis Helps Relieve Pain (Pain Relief)

How Cannabis Helps Relieve Pain (Pain Relief)

Smoking cannabis from a pipe could significantly reduce chronic pain


Prescription drug abuse is a pandemic problem in the United States today, with more than five million Americans now addicted to painkilling drugs such as OxyContin (oxycodone). The analgesic or pain-relieving effects of cannabis are due in part to its chemical similarity to compounds produced naturally in the body, but without the potential for addiction. The endocannabinoids produced by our bodies are normally released by the brain under conditions of high stress or pain. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, found that cannabis significantly reduces HIV-related neuropathic pain when added to a patient’s already-prescribed pain-management regimen, and is an effective option for pain relief in those whose pain is not controlled with current medications.

Cannabis is also known to make anesthetics far more “efficient


A further study was carried out by researchers from McGill University in Canada, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health, and published in the peer-reviewed Canadian Medical Association Journal. They reported that smoking cannabis from a pipe could significantly reduce chronic pain in patients with damaged nerves, adding that improvements in sleep and anxiety were also helpful to sufferers. In another unconnected study, THC administered intravenously to dental patients in doses of 44 nanograms per kilogram before undergoing tooth extraction was shown to produce a longer-lasting and positive analgesic effect compared to other analgesics, with no significant side effects noted.
Cannabis is also known to make anesthetics far more “efficient,” so if
you are scheduled to undergo general anesthesia for whatever reason you are advised not to use any for at least 12 hours prior to the operation. If you are under the influence of cannabis, your anesthetist will panic as you will go too far under when they administer the drug. You can use as much cannabis as you require once the anesthetic has worn off.