A Worthy Alternative?...
With more and more people turning to cannabis as a recovery aid, we need to understand how it works. The endocannabinoid system is part of our bodies' natural chemical balance, but the commonly known compounds THC and CBD are not the only ones that affect this system. In this article we'll explore what makes cannabinoids so powerful when it comes to healing from injuries or chronic pain.
Cannabinoids 101
Cannabinoids are a class of chemical compounds that trigger cannabinoid receptors in the body. Cannabinoids are a chemical compound found in the cannabis plant and are the keys to the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which regulates homeostasis in your body.
There are hundreds of cannabinoids that have been identified in this plant. THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol) are two of those most well-known cannabinoids that can be synthesized by nature or created synthetically in a pharmaceutical lab.
"We can consume and incorporate additional natural cannabinoids from sources such as Hemp Oil Supplements or Oral Sprays... This can help balance out any deficiencies in our body's ECS."
Although cannabinoids occur naturally within our bodies and are also synthesized by cannabis plants as they grow; We can consume and incorporate additional natural cannabinoids from sources such as Hemp Oil Supplements or Oral Sprays which contain high concentrations of CBD and other minor cannabinoids. This can help balance out any deficiencies in our body's ECS.
There is no one perfect strain or cannabinoid for recovery; it depends on the individual and their desired effects. It also depends on what kind of recovery you want: muscle, mental/emotional (like stress/anxiety relief), or both. If your goal is to get an intense high with a lot of focus and energy, then THCV strains will be better suited for your needs than those with THC, which may help promote calm and relaxation.
How Can Cannabis Help Recovery?
Many minor cannabinoids have been shown to aid in recovery. Popular options for those seeking relief include CBD, CBDA, CBT, CBG, CBGA, THCP, CBDP and Delta-8-THC. These compounds are known for their pain relief properties, which makes them a perfect addition to your recovery regimen.
Cannabinoids like CBD, CBDA, CBG, and CBGA are also a great way to get more hemp into your diet and increase intake of CBD without any psychoactive effects from compounds like D9THC. Cannabis for recovery can take the form of various products. You can use cannabis oil extracts in many different forms including tinctures and edibles.
Fun Facts:
Cannabis can help you in your recovery by relieving pain, reducing inflammation and easing muscle tension. Some compounds like D8THC are said to boost your appetite when you’re feeling sick or on a fast, which is especially helpful if you want to gain weight after being sick for a long time... On the opposite end, THCV is claimed to reduce appetite and promote energy and focus, which can be great in aiding weight loss.
Cannabis compounds can help you in your recovery by reducing anxiety and depression. THC has been found to act as an antidepressant by increasing dopamine levels in the brain and improving sleep quality. CBD is being studied for its role as an anti-depressant and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) substance.
Cannabinoids like CBG (Cannabigerol) have been shown to improve gut health – another essential part of any recovery plan!
Cannabidiol (or CBD) is one of the most promising compounds in cannabis research. It has been shown to help people with a variety of conditions including pain, anxiety, depression and PTSD. A 2018 study found that CBD may even be more effective than common anti-anxiety drugs such as SSRIs or SNRIs.
Minor cannabinoids are an important part of the cannabis plant because they can help with your recovery. By adding them into your diet, you will be taking advantage of their medicinal properties and supporting your body as it heals.
"By understanding what cannabinoids do and how they interact with each other, you can choose infused products that have higher concentrations of the cannabinoids that work best for you."
There are three major types of secondary metabolites in the cannabis plant: terpenes, flavonoids, and minor cannabinoids (also known as phytocannabinoids). These compounds work together to create a synergistic effect on our bodies that produces more significant benefits than any one compound alone could achieve. By understanding what cannabinoids do and how they interact with each other, you can choose infused products that have higher concentrations of the cannabinoids that work best for you.
Minor Cannabinoids For Pain Relief
The most well-known cannabinoid is tetrahydrocannabinol (D9THC), which is responsible for giving users that "high" feeling. But there are other cannabinoids—or minor cannabinoids—that can also help manage your pain without making you feel high or groggy.
CBD
CBD is the second most common cannabinoid in the cannabis plant and has many medicinal benefits. It does not have psychoactive effects and can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including anxiety disorders, depression, and chronic pain. CBD oil is available in different forms such as capsules and tinctures that are applied under the tongue. CBD is not a cure for pain but it can help with management by lowering inflammation and reducing muscle stiffness. This can be especially important if you are going through withdrawal symptoms from opiates or other drugs. CBD can also help to reduce anxiety and depression caused by chronic pain, which may result in less stress overall.
CBDA
CBDA is an "acidic" cannabinoid in the hemp plant, which is known to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. It has demonstrated effectiveness as a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory agent. The CBD content of the hemp plant comes from a raw acid form of the compound called CBDA, which can be decarboxylated to CBD using heat or acid.
CBDA is best eaten in food or used topically on skin for the most pronounced effects. CBDA oil is also known as cannabidiolic acid, which means it contains CBD but not THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). CBDA has been shown to reduce inflammation by inhibiting an enzyme called cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) that causes swelling in the body.
CBT (Cannabitriol)
Cannabinoid CBT was first isolated from cannabis in 1966. While CBT has many of the same therapeutic effects as THC, it has several advantages over its parent compound:
CBT is non-psychoactive. This means that you don’t get high or experience any altered perception when you use it.
CBT isn't associated with withdrawal symptoms when stopped abruptly. In fact, there's no evidence for tolerance development even after long-term administration of high doses (a benefit that can't be said about opioids!).
Unlike its more famous cousin THC, CBT has a low ability to cross the blood–brain barrier; making it unlikely for abusers to develop an addiction issue.
CBT is a very potent anti-inflammatory, able to reduce pain and swelling in animal models of inflammation. It's been shown to reduce pain directly through its action on sensory neurons. The antinociceptive effects of CBT have been confirmed by measuring the amount of time mice spend licking a paw after being injected with an inflammatory agent.
You'll also likely find CBT in plants that contain CBD. A study published in the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology found that CBT, like CBD, can be an effective treatment for eczema. It's possible the two cannabinoids may work synergistically to relieve symptoms associated with this common skin condition.
CBG (Cannabigerol)
Cannabigerol (CBG) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that has been shown to have analgesic properties. CBG is a precursor to many other cannabinoids and has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in some models of inflammation. CBG possesses anti-nociceptive properties without producing catalepsy in mice or hypothermia in rats, suggesting it may be useful as an analgesic without the unwanted side effects of other pain medications.
In addition, cannabigerol (CBG) has been shown to have neuroprotective properties against seizures and convulsions via inhibition of voltage-sensitive calcium channels (VSCCs). These studies suggest that CBG might be beneficial for treating epilepsy as well as other seizure disorders like Dravet Syndrome.
What A Relief!
As you can see, there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a cannabis strain for recovery. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be complicated—if you know what symptoms you want to treat and which cannabinoids can help with those symptoms, then all you have left is picking the best ones for the job!
So, what does this mean for you? Well, if you’re looking to find a natural way to relieve pain without the side effects of prescription drugs or other medications, then these are some promising options. Some things to keep in mind include:
Cannabinoids have been shown to be effective in treating neuropathic (nerve) and inflammatory pain. If you have either of these types of pain, it might be worth trying one or more of the strains listed above.
Each cannabinoid has different properties and affects on your body so make sure that whatever strain you choose contains the ratio of cannabinoids that will benefit you most! I always recommend asking your doctor about this before making any decisions about which strain might work best for your specific condition(s).
What we hope this article has taught you is the power of cannabinoid analysis: knowing how individual cannabinoids affect our bodies and minds allows us to make more informed decisions about how we consume cannabis. This information also helps us understand why some strains work better than others at treating our symptoms or providing us with an enjoyable experience. If you want to learn more about cannabinoids, check out our beginner's guide to cannabinoids. We also have a lot of other articles and research on specific cannabinoids!