Finding your perfect strain can bring real relief from pain.
What’s the best strain of cannabis for pain?
The best strain for pain is whichever works best for your unique needs, so go ahead and sample! As a guideline, the best marijuana for pain will be strains with a higher percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Most people prefer indica strains over sativas or hybrids for pain management as indicas produce a stronger feeling of body relaxation and even sleepiness.
Some examples of the best cannabis for pain are popular high-THC indica strains like White Widow, OG Kush, and Bubba Kush.
What’s the best method of consuming cannabis for pain?
Pain is a personal and variable experience. How you choose to consume cannabis for your pain depends on the level of pain you’re experiencing, how quickly you need the effects to kick in, and how long you’d like the effects to last. Smoking cannabis (whether in a joint, pipe, or bong) will take effect quicker than other methods, but can wear off quickly and is often not the most portable or discreet option.
Vaping is often more portable than smoking cannabis, but will result in an even shorter high. Using edibles for pain will produce a longer-lasting effect and can be used discreetly in the form of confections, oils, or capsules.
What kind of pain can cannabis help ease?
Cannabis can be used to treat pain from many sources and conditions. To choose the best strain for pain, consider what the source of your pain is and its severity.
Some of the most common conditions to treat with weed include:
- Headache and migraine
- Neuropathy (nerve pain)
- Joint pain and arthritis
- Menstrual cramps
- Sprains
- Muscle pain
- Centralized pain (fibromyalgia)
Cannabis can be an effective pain management tool for acute or chronic conditions. It can also be used to alleviate pain from medicinal treatments, such as radiation. However, it’s important to keep in mind that marijuana may not be a suitable option to address extreme pain from sources like broken bones or surgery.
Why are people switching to cannabis from traditional pain relieving medications?
Cannabis is a plant. It’s natural and non-addictive. Other pain-relieving medications are often chemical-based synthetics that are addictive and have long lists of side-effects. People often switch to using cannabis for pain after getting fed up with narcotics that produce unwanted side-effects.
The shift from traditional medications to marijuana for pain treatment is also increasing in regions where weed has only recently been legalized. As legalization continues, it’s expected that cannabis will become an increasingly popular pain relief option.
How does cannabis work to alleviate pain?
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the active ingredient in cannabis that produces a high by bonding to cannabinoid receptors in the brain. The brain’s reward center becomes flooded with dopamine, often referred to as the “feel good” chemical, reducing feelings of pain. THC is also a noted anti-inflammatory and can alleviate pain by blocking chemicals that cause swelling in the body. High-THC strains are often also some of the best strains for inflammation control.
How can I alleviate pain without feeling high?
If you don’t like the feeling of being high, microdosing is the solution for you. Microdosing is the practice of using small amounts of cannabis on a daily or as-needed basis to experience the pain relieving benefits without becoming intoxicated. Using edibles for pain is a popular option since they are discreet and come in low-dosage multi-packs. You get the freedom to choose the right amount to treat your pain, even on the go!
