More Evidence That Vaporized Cannabis Helps Neuropathy

Today's post from medicaljane.com (see link below) looks at the benefits of vaporized cannabis for people such as neuropathy patients living with chronic pain. The most common means of using cannabis is smoking it and according to most research papers this too has a beneficial effect for chronic pain patients. However, smoking cannabis also carries the same risks associated with smoking cigarettes and many people just can't face the thought of starting smoking anything anyway. Vaporizing cannabis via various methods, may well be a much safer option while providing the same results. Definitely worth a read if you're at your wits end as to how to control your pain.

Vaporizing Cannabis: Possible Treatment For Neuropathic Pain 
Drake Dorm August 16, 2013

A recent study performed in California found Cannabis to be successful in reducing neuropathic pain intensity.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis recently completed a study on the effects of vaporized cannabis on neuropathic pain. The study was sponsored by the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research and the VA Northern California Health Care System.

Neuropathic pain is an result of nerve damage. It causes sensations like: pins and needles, itching, wetness, and burning.

Neuropathic pain refers to the perception of pain when there is no reason, biologically. It is the result of damage or disease to the somatosensory system, which controls the sensations associated with touch. The somatosensory system covers the skin, bones, joints, skeletal muscles, and internal organs; it is responsible for the perception of pain, temperature, and tactile touch. 

Vaporized Cannabis Significantly Reduced Neuropathic Pain

Because it affects the nervous system, neuropathic pain is very difficult to treat. Cannabinoids present in cannabis are known to interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors within the nervous system, and even have analgesic (pain-killing) effects. It’s this knowledge that led to the study, which was titled “The Analgesic Effect of Vaporized Cannabis on Neuropathic Pain.”

Only 26% of the placebo group reported a significant reduction in pain intensity. This is compared to 57% and 61% in the two groups given cannabis.

The same group of people were studied for the amount of pain they experienced when exposed to 3 levels of treatment. There was a mild THC-dose treatment, a low THC-dose treatment, and a placebo treatment. In order to gauge the treatment’s success, the participants were asked to rate their pain on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 100 (worst pain possible). They did so before treatment and every hour after treatment for 6 hours

In order for a treatment to be deemed successful, it must have caused at least a 30-point reduction in perceived pain. The “mild” treatment (3.53% THC) was found successful in 61% of the participants. Not far behind was the “low” treatment (1.29% THC); it was successful in 57% of the participants. As for the placebo treatment (trace amount of THC), it was only successful in 26% of participants.

Interestingly enough, one could easily argue that the success of the placebo treatment may be due to the trace amounts of cannabinoids. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is not the only cannabinoid with known analgesic effects and it’s possible that other cannabinoids were present in the placebo.

Nonetheless, the results of this study show that small doses cannabis could play a role in reducing neuropathic pain. Damage to the nervous system is often impossible to reverse, and vaporizing cannabis is a viable option that allows patients to enjoy a better quality of life.

http://www.medicaljane.com/2013/08/16/vaporizing-cannabis-is-an-effective-treatment-for-neuropathic-pain/