The Top 5 Cannabis Strains To Treat Chronic Pain

by Martin B. · July 5, 2022

Chronic pain is a very uncomfortable experience for any individual, which can be debilitating and nerve-racking. It can keep you from performing your daily duties and from being at ease. Even when the pain is not chronic, the effects of pain on your life remain constant. Statistics indicate that around 50.2 million Americans, which translates to one out of every five people, suffer from chronic pain.

Medical research has provided different treatments that help relieve people of their chronic pain. Common medication for treating pain includes corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, and ordinary paracetamols. However, as the use of cannabis products continues to gain acceptability, many people have begun to appreciate the medicinal effects of cannabis in alleviating pain.

How Does Cannabis Treat Chronic Pain?

When one mentions cannabis, you probably consider it a drug that causes psychoactivity and makes you high. Therefore, you may be wondering how the product helps alleviate chronic pain.

There are three common pain types: nociceptive, neuropathic, and central pain. For nociceptive pain, such as inflammatory pain, the CBD oil derived from cannabis blocks the pain receptors in the body and reduces the inflammation in the injured cells. CBD helps treat the condition of neuropathic pain by increasing the body’s serotonin levels. Serotonin is responsible for the body’s perception of pain. Therefore, when the serotonin levels are high, the perception of pain is lower. While there is little research indicating how cannabis treats central pain, research subjects suffering from conditions such as fibromyalgia noted that cannabis helped relieve their pain and allowed them to stop other medication regimens.

Difference Between Cannabis and Other Medication in Treating Chronic Pain

While cannabis is not a recent medical discovery, its use has recently grown in popularity. Many people prefer to use opioids and corticosteroids to treat pain. However, using opioids for pain is falling out because of the risks associated with using them.

Opioids carry the risk of addiction primarily when used over a protracted timeframe, as is expected for someone suffering from chronic pain. They also trigger the release of endorphins in the brain, which create the sensation of pleasure and relaxation in mind. Therefore, you may be inclined to use it more to experience the satisfaction you first enjoyed. This continued usage leads to dependence and addiction.

Secondly, opioids could lead to overdose, causing life-threatening effects. Using high quantities of opioids directly affects your respiratory rate and drive. As such, using high amounts of opioid-based pain medication adversely affects your breathing and heart rates. When the drug causes your breathing and heart rate to slow, the effects could be unbearable and lead to death.

Therefore, cannabis has become preferable to opioids in treating chronic pain since it does not carry the same risks associated with opioids.

Top Cannabis Strains for Treating Pain

Here are top five cannabis strains known for treating pain.

1. Harlequin

The Harlequin strain is rich in Sativa. While Sativa strains ordinarily have a high THC content as opposed to CBD, the Harlequin strain has a 5:2 CBD to THC ratio. As such, the strain is less psychoactive. Therefore, the Harlequin strain helps to alleviate pain without causing any residual effects such as being high. You can use the Harlequin strain to treat your pain even during your active hours, such as during the day, without worrying that the cannabis will impede your effectiveness at work.

2. OG Kush

OG Kush is one of the most common and renowned Indica strains of cannabis. Since the CBD content in OG Kush is lower than the THC content, OG Kush also induces relaxation and sleep with decent levels of psychoactivity. The strain treats pain and allows you to sleep even in severe chronic pain. However, you may not want to use the OG Kush when active since it may affect your productivity.

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3. Sour Diesel

Just as with Harlequin, Sour Diesel is a Sativa cannabis strain. Thus, it has high THC content as opposed to CBD. While the strain causes psychoactivity, the high you experience gives an energy boost instead of a chill effect. Therefore, the strain provides pain relief without adversely impacting your energy levels.

4. White Widow

The White Widow cannabis strain is an Indica-dominant hybrid with high levels of THC content. The strain is very potent and is not desirable for beginners who recently joined the cannabis game. White Widow gives a sense of euphoria in the high you experience while also inducing sleep in its pain relief regimen. However, be careful not to take too much if you have a low tolerance to CBD.

5. Northern Lights

The Northern Lights strain is another typical Indica-dominant hybrid. The strain provides a body-numbing effect which is very beneficial in pain situations. Additionally, the strain helps to induce sleep, thus increasing your relaxation even during pain.

Parting Shot

As you start your journey of experimenting with different cannabis strains for pain relief, the general rule is to start small as you gauge your tolerance. You can always add some more depending on the feeling you want to attain. Also, consult your doctor to determine whether cannabis could interact with other pain relief medications.

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Martin B.

Ex-smoker, passionate vaper who loves to tell the world about the life-changing potential of vaping. Co-creator of Ecigclopedia with a background in Business & Finance. Prefers a dessert flavored vape and loves to innovate.