Introduction
If you suffer from chronic pain, it’s likely you’ve looked into all sorts of options to help you manage it. Many people have tried and keep trying traditional medicines to help them cope, but they don’t get much out of it.
Today, many patients suffering from painful conditions are turning to organic medications for a safer and natural solution to their pain. One of these natural alternatives creating a buzz is cannabis.
The cannabis plant, which makes up marijuana and hemp strains, contains two primary substances: THC and CBD.
According to research, these compounds have many potential health benefits. While clinical studies looking into these findings are still ongoing, some of these benefits have already been proven.
For instance, studies show that marijuana has pain-relieving properties and can treat a diverse range of pain episodes.
Types of pain you can treat with marijuana
Here are some examples of pains caused by various conditions, which marijuana can relieve.
- Headaches and migraines
- Pain as a result of injuries
- Pain from nerve damage
- Mobility disorders and spastic pain
- Cancer pain
- Labor pain
How to Use Marijuana for Pain Relief
The type of pain you have and its location can affect how you use marijuana.
Here are different ways of using marijuana for pain relief
1. Use Infused Edibles
One popular way of getting marijuana into your system for quick pain relief is through edibles.
The good thing with infused edibles is that you’ll always get the dosage right as it’s predetermined. There’s no way you won’t know how much you’re ingesting.
Of course, there was a time when cannabis edibles were restricted to a few snack varieties with unmeasured dosages.
Now, with mainstream acceptance and legalization efforts on medical marijuana, companies are racing each other in making proper edibles using all sorts of foods.
Besides long-lasting effects, using edibles is one of the safest and healthy ways of dosing the drug.
2. Smoke It
Wondering whether the good ol’ joint works?
Well, it does.
Marijuana was always and still is smoked, and not just for recreational purposes but also for pain management. It’s a quick fix as the effects kick in pretty fast, but it’s also becoming less popular.
Some studies fear smoking weed could damage the lungs much the same way tobacco does.
However, if you’re into smoking, there’s another safer option for you in the form of vaporizers. The device was designed to do away with the potentially risky smoke by inhaling vapor instead.
3. Use Oil Concentrates
Cannabis concentrates offer the best value when it comes to quality and dosing. Concentrates are the oils and extracts prepared and packaged with precise dosage info.
If you’re looking for something safe, tasted, and with all the right ingredients intact, then this is it.
You see, the difference between concentrates and, say, vaping is that concentrates are prepared in a lab with all desired compounds and flavors retained. Usually, these properties are listed on the product’s label, so you know what you’re getting.
If you’re suffering from chronic pain, the precise dosing, fast action, and potency of concentrates make it a great choice.
4. Use Topicals
You no longer need to smoke marijuana or even taste it to enjoy its benefits because topicals are increasingly becoming a great alternative.
The markets are packed with cannabis-infused creams and balms for applying on the skin. They are pretty strong, too, with lasting pain relief.
However, topicals are more suited for localized pain. Patients with arthritis or lower back pain are turning to options for convenience and quick relief.
The upside is you get the benefits of using marijuana without getting stoned.
5. Use Skin Patches
Besides topicals, other medications that go directly on the skin are patches. Topicals and skin patches don’t have much difference as both are great for localized pain.
However, patches reach deep into the surrounding tissues offering a much better experience.
Basically, skin patches are an upgrade to topicals with deep-reaching effects.
Conclusion
What we’ve mentioned are just some of the ways to start using marijuana for pain management.
However, as we mentioned earlier, your options on what to use may depend on the type of pain you’re experiencing and its location.
You wouldn’t be using topicals for cancer-related pain, for instance, but something more far-reaching like concentrates.
