There is an increasing trend of utilizing products obtained from cannabis that tend to alleviate symptoms of pain, insomnia, and lethargy in people suffering from chronic pain. Both CBD and THC are well-known for their therapeutic benefits; however, they are still debatable. Various research across the world help to figure out their advantages. These two compounds are helpful in managing pain in several conditions, especially arthritis or joint pain.
CBD and THC for pain are effective components extracted from hemp that are equally important for curing pain. There are several potential benefits of using CBD or THC as compared to other opioid-based medications for pain. Moreover, there is an increase in research work to check their effectiveness in relieving pain. The results of the research show that THC and CBD are useful to soothe different types of pain.
What is CBD?
CBD stands for Cannabidiol which is a compound obtained from the hemp plant. It is an active ingredient of marijuana that is utilized for medicinal purposes. Hemp plants have a considerably high amount of CBD that assists in relieving pain. In addition, CBD leads to a more relaxed state of mind because it does not cause intoxication or a state of “high” among people.
It is available in a variety of forms, like topically administering products, CBD oil, or CBD gummies. Safe usage of CBD extracted from Hemp leads to the curing of anxiety and seizure-related disorders. CBD oil for pain is most helpful in dealing with pain. The common CBD-containing pharmaceutical products include Epidiolex, which aids in the treatment of epilepsy in particular.
What is THC?
THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, taken out from the cousin of marijuana named the hemp plant. It is a psychoactive element that makes a person delirious as a person gets in a “high” mood. Moreover, when a person consumes THC, he feels at ease as it distracts from the pain along with relieving it. Being a receptor antagonist, THC combines with the CB1 and CB2 receptors and inhibits the binding of other components.
The extraction of THC from Hemp plants results in lower amounts. However, people get higher amounts of THC extracted from Marijuana. Keeping in view the effects of THC, a person gets euphoric, and the relaxing effect is noticeable.
How THC and CBD May Offer Pain Relief?
The course of action of CBD and THC follows the stimulation or inhibition of cannabinoid receptors in the human body. In conditions like arthritis or joint pain, the cause of pain is mostly inflammation in different organs.
CBD plays a role in blocking the inflammatory mediators, and the inflammation reduces in return. Consequently, the pain decreases. CBD is used by people suffering from nerve pain or spinal pain by improving the activation of glycine receptors.
THC for pain management is useful for people suffering from nerve pain or spinal pain. It works by activating cannabinoid receptors in nerve cells and immune cells. The stimulation of these receptors leads to a reduction in the sensation of pain. Usually, THC also causes stimulation of various neurotransmitters, including dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, etc. This activation, however, results in the regulation of mood and improved communication in the nerve cells.
A rather convincing fact about THC is that it works by changing the perception of pain. Hence, chronic pain lessens in severe diseases like Cancer, AIDS, etc.
CBD or THC: Which is Better for Pain?
Both CBD and THC extracted from the hemp plant have their benefits, whilst you can rule out a better treatment plan by combining CBD and THC. Their effectiveness is not that question because of their advantages in managing chronic pain. The cannabinoid receptors are a target of the action of CBD and THC. They act on these receptors and cause a decrease in pain.
CBD oil helps manage anxiety and acts as an anti-seizure agent. CBD mainly acts by reducing inflammation to soothe chronic pain. In comparison, THC acts by regulating mood and emotions by activating neural activity. It is no surprise that relief of both emotional and physical pain occurs by using these hemp-related compounds. CBD is still a better option as it does not cause sedation and helps deal with insomnia. The other benefits of CBD include its use in treating anxiety and pain, which dominates it over THC.
CBD and THC: Safety and Legality
You must be thinking about why CBD and THC are the least researched for their medical benefits in pain relief. The answer is that the legal status of CBD and THC is controversial because of their parent-compound Cannabis. Recently, in 2018 after many trials, FDA approved CBD based drug Epidiolex for epilepsy treatment.
CBD got legalized after hemp was legalized in the US, and researchers have started conducting studies on its role in pain management. However, THC is not legalized to date, so little research is possible to comprehend its impact on pain. But some researchers have supported the claim that THC is helpful in decreasing the sensations of pain. It does so by performing actions required to lessen the severity of pain.
Closing Thoughts
The in-depth discussion clears the confusion is CBD or THC better for pain by identifying their benefits. CBD and THC are quite useful as a treatment for pain caused due to various ailments.