Did you know that pain prevalence among adults in the US has increased 25% over the last two decades? This has resulted in high healthcare costs, adversely impacting a person’s quality of life. Also, chronic pain has become a significant concern. However, you will be happy to know that cannabis can help manage chronic pain. Note that it is not just CBD and THC that provide relief. The best pain-fighting elements in cannabis are cannabinoids, but terpenes can also provide relief. People have been using CBD and terpenes for pain management.
Sometimes a disease or an injury may cause changes in your body that leave you more susceptible to pain. In many cases, these changes can be long-lasting and result in chronic pain. Chronic pain and acute pain may be caused by dysfunctional nerves or inflammation. It is also worth noting that more and more individuals are starting to choose cannabis and THC for pain management and inflammation over prescription medications.
However, no single cannabinoid is responsible for the painkilling and healing power of cannabis. Although various cannabis compounds work together to bring results, you may be pleasantly surprised about the significant role terpenes play in the plant’s amazing healing powers. You can use the amazing properties of terpene for inflammation to lower pain and lead a healthier life.
Understanding Terpenes
When discussing cannabis, people usually concentrate on cannabinoids and their various benefits. However, many other compounds are also present in the plant. Like many other plants, marijuana also contains terpenes. So, what are terpenes? Terpenes are aromatic organic substances that give the cannabis plant its specific scent and flavor. Cannabis terpenes or terpenes CBD are why every specific strain has its unique smell.
You may know that terpenes are produced by many fruits, plants, and even insects. Some researchers think that these sweet aromas or scents have evolved to attract pollinators and repel animals that may eat them. The cannabis plant is naturally high in terpene content. And if you’ve used essential oils, the soothing and therapeutic beneficial effects you might have felt would have been produced by terpenes.
Two plants growing in the same climate and condition may have a slightly different scent. This is because each strain has a different and unique terpene profile. If you are looking for the best terpenes for pain relief, we have you covered.
How Terpenes Work to Help with Pain
Many research studies indicate that certain terpenes in cannabis may have strong pain-relieving properties. Terpenes, such as myrcene, act quietly similarly to cannabinoids in that they communicate with specific protein cell receptors in your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). And it is this interaction with the ECS that promotes the beneficial effects of consuming CBD. This has led many researchers and scientists to pursue the potential of using cannabis terpenes for pain relief. To better understand how terpenes work and learn more about terpenes and their effects, let’s look at why inflammation occurs.
Our immune system causes inflammation when our body tissue is damaged or endangered. This happens when our body is defending the tissue from a potential foreign invader. However, in this process, the inflammation can also irritate nearby nerves, resulting in pain and discomfort. The main reason terpenes help with pain relief is because of their amazing potential to reduce inflammation.
In 2008, researchers discovered that the terpene caryophyllene could directly activate your body’s CB1 and CB2 receptors. This indicates that other terpenes may also activate certain cell receptors in the ECS, promoting the same healing effects and benefits as cannabinoids. Keep in mind that this can potentially suppress an overactive immune response to pain and inflammation.
When various cannabinoids and terpenes CBD work together, they can maximize each other’s power — a phenomenon known as the entourage effect. Different types of terpenes seem to address pain and inflammation in different ways. For example, some terpenes have strong anti-inflammatory properties. On the other hand, others seem to impact how your brain processes pain signals.
Did you know that pain-relief products can become more effective and potent when paired with terpenes? Because of terpenes benefits, it is also possible to design effective pain-oriented products, such as topicals, that only contain terpenes.
How to Choose the Right Terpene for Your Pain
People have successfully used various herbs, including cannabis, in order to fight pain and inflammation for centuries. While many cannabis studies focus on popular cannabinoids, such as CBD and THC, researchers and scientists have started looking at non-cannabinoid elements of cannabis, such as terpenes, for pain-reducing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Terpenes help boost the efficacy of cannabinoids and increase physiologic effects. There is no doubt that terpenes deliver a variety of different effects, including anti-nausea and anti-inflammatory effects.
If you want to find the right terpene strain to deliver powerful pain relief, it does not matter much if you are consuming an indica or a sativa. Also, strain names are not a good indicator. This is because they are not regulated.
So you may wonder what you should use. If you have pain or inflammation, the presence of THC is usually most helpful in determining the best terpene. As a result, a type I or type II strain is typically preferred. If you do not like the effects of THC, you may benefit considerably from the presence of CBD, as it can modify the high.
Here are some other tips to consider as you determine which terpenes should be included in your pain products:
- Nearly all cannabis strains tend to have high concentrations of caryophyllene and myrcene. So, many strain-specific terpene blends are suitable for pain products
- You should focus on the particular results you need by differentiating between various terpenes, such as linalool, which have been well researched for inflammatory pain relief, and those that have been studied for neuropathic pain relief
The Best Terpenes for Pain
Recently, numerous research studies have found CBD terpenes to have therapeutic and healing properties ranging from anxiolytic and antidepressant to anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-relieving). However, with so many different terpenes to choose from, you may wonder which ones are the best terpenes for pain.
The following terpenes have been shown to assist in inflammation and pain relief. They are usually most effective when combined with other terpenes, flavonoids, cannabinoids, and other essential oils.
Linalool
Linalool is commonly used in perfumes and is also naturally found in citrus, mint, and lavender. Linalool has demonstrated excellent anti-inflammatory properties and can treat inflammatory pain. Note that linalool:
- Lowers the excitability of several spinal cord cells that transmit pain signals to your brain
- Increases your brain’s levels of adenosine, thereby helping with pain relief as well as sleep
- Targets acetylcholine, which is a brain chemical that promotes muscle movement
A 2003 research study in the European Journal of Pharmacology revealed the nociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of linalool. The researchers also found that linalool interacts with your body’s cholinergic and opioidergic systems.
Linalool can fight inflammation and is an excellent choice for treating arthritis, chronic pain, MS, and even insomnia.
Myrcene
One of the best and most popular terpenes in cannabis is myrcene. In addition to cannabis, myrcene is also found in hops and is one of the best terpenes for pain. It is responsible for the spicy, peppery, balsam aroma in beer.
Many scientific studies have been done into the potential benefits and power of myrcene for neuropathic pain. For example, a 2016 study in Planta Medica demonstrated the beneficial effects of myrcene and another important terpene, eugenol, on the pain triggered by sciatic nerve injury.
Limonene
Limonene is an aromatic and flavorful cannabis terpene usually produced in the flower’s resin glands. And when isolated, limonene is commonly associated with citrus and fruity aromas. It is well known for its healing power as well as the ability to stimulate the immune system.
Limonene is best known for its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. When you consume it with cannabis, limonene is absorbed by inhalation. It can also help improve mood, support the immune system, and reduce stress.
Final Thoughts
While terpenes are effective on their own, note that they are more powerful when you combine them with cannabinoids, such as CBD and THC. This is because terpenes can modulate the impacts of individual cannabinoids. As a result, you can combine them to target specific problems and issues like pain and inflammation.
Although terpenes are great for treating pain, they are also used to reduce anxiety and promote feelings of relaxation. These were some of the best terpenes for pain and inflammation. If you are looking to buy weed, hemp, or cannabis products online from a licensed and reputable dispensary, you should trust HOTBOX for all your needs. You can check out our products that promote pain relief, such as flowers and prerolls. These products are tested for potency and purity, and you receive unmatched customer service. Got a question on our products? Fill out our online form or email us at hello@smokehotbox.com!
