The reasons people consume cannabis are as varied as her strains -some consume purely for social/recreational reasons, while others claim that it provides added health and therapeutic benefits, improving their overall quality of life. According to one of our community members who consumes regularly as an appetite stimulant: “Marijuana has made it possible for me to eat again. I constantly battle nausea which often deters me from wanting to eat. Since I began taking marijuana-infused gummies, I’ve noticed an increase in appetite and fewer bouts of nausea. I’m truly grateful for it.” [J. Gates, personal communication, July 22nd, 2022] We’re happy to hear cannabis is aiding her battle with nausea! There’s a myriad of research supporting cannabis’ effectiveness in treating pain, nausea, inflammation, and much more.¹ Cannabis has shown success in treating several conditions/ailments. These include: nausea, loss of appetite, insomnia, inflammation and muscle spasms, arthritis, HIV/AIDs, cancer, chronic pain, etc. In the first part of this series, “Why I Consume” we’re going to be honing in on chronic pain, and how users claim cannabis can help manage, or resolve their symptoms.
Why I Consume: What is Chronic Pain?
Pain is typically felt to the body after sustaining an injury. A signal is carried from your body to your brain to notify it that something is wrong. Generally, if the issue has been resolved, so will the pain that resulted from it. Chronic pain, however, isn’t so easily sueded. Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for 3-6 months or longer and can greatly impair functionality. According to one of our community members, chronic pain has been a debilitating experience: “I’ve struggled for years to manage my pain. I didn’t want to turn to opioids because of their addictive potential. So, my wife decided to hop on the CBD train. That opened me up to the world of cannabis and now, I’m able to manage my pain and become more active in my families’ lives.” [B. Daniels, personal communication, July 17th, 2022] It’s testimonies like these that really warms our hearts – chronic pain can be challenging to remedy, or to adapt to. Success stories like Mr. Daniels are a reminder to us that this potent plant has a ton of potential! According to a case study assessing cannabinoids effectiveness against chronic pain, most patients experienced a positive outcome. “Furthermore, Abrams et al3 researched HIV-related sensory neuropathy and found that smoking three cannabis cigarettes daily for 5 days improved neuropathic pain in 34% of those who used them (compared to 17% of placebo-matched controls—p=0.03). Interestingly, the first cigarette (at the start of the 5-day period) reduced pain ratings by 72% among the cannabis group compared with 15% of the placebo cigarettes (p<0.001).” [T. Reynolds²] Cannabis is said to also be utilized to help with unpleasant symptoms of some prescription medications; this is more common in cancer patients undergoing chemo or radiation treatments. Some of the side-effects from these treatments can be challenging, and drastically impact their quality of life. “In cancer patients, cannabinoids have primarily been used as a part of palliative care to alleviate pain, relieve nausea and stimulate appetite. In addition, numerous cell culture and animal studies showed antitumor effects of cannabinoids in various cancer types.” [B, Dariš. et all³] Did you catch that, Campers? In various case studies, marijuana has shown to be anti-tumoral, too!
What Causes Chronic Pain?
According to an article published by Medical News Today, an estimated 25.3 million adults in the United States live with chronic pain every day. This can take a toll on both their mental and physical well-being. The good news is their symptoms can be managed! A combination of different therapies, (including the green kind) and medications can help to manage chronic pain’s symptoms and improve the patients’ overall quality of life!
What causes pain to persist? Well, according to doctors, there can be a myriad of reasons; some can result from chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, diabetic and peripheral neuropathy, or osteoarthritis. Chronic pain can also develop from physical injuries like surgical trauma, or stroke. Even after medication is administered and the injury heals, the patient can still experience pain symptoms in the afflicted area. Doctors believe that this is caused by our brains developing a high-sensitivity to pain reception. “When the initial condition improves through medications or other therapies, for most people, the pain stops. However, some individuals continue to experience chronic pain. Doctors believe the reason for this may be that nerve cells in the brain, responsible for the transmission and processing of sensory information, become hypersensitive to pain signals.” [Sherrell⁴] Overtime, the patient can develop depression, anxiety, or in some cases; substance dependency while trying to cope with their symptoms. Cannabis has been cited in many discussion forums as a potential aid in opiate withdrawal and dependency. According to a case study published by PubMed, “Growing evidence suggests that CBD could potentially be added to the standard opioid detoxification regimen to mitigate acute or protracted opioid withdrawal-related symptoms.” [Kudrich et al.⁵] CBD has shown to have many therapeutic properties, like being analgesic, or anti-inflammatory. The FDA has also approved the cannabidiol (CBD) based medication, Epidiolex, which is used to treat epilepsy; seizures can also develop in patients that are experiencing opioid withdrawal.
Whether the patient is trying to manage symptoms that have developed from chronic pain, or as the result of an opioid addiction; research and case studies support the use of cannabis in long-term pain management.
The Happy Camper’s Got Your Back!
We just learned about chronic pain and how cannabis is said to help manage it! Which is music to our ears. At The Happy Camper, we’re advocates for plant medicine, and cannabis education. We’re passionate about getting the best, and most beneficial products to our customers and providing the most updated information possible. While we are not physicians and the following claims are not meant to treat, cure, or prevent any disease; we do offer products that might be beneficial to you along your chronic pain journey.
Psilly Gummies
Our Psilly gummies are packed with medicinal mushrooms (and a little ganj) that’ll work their magic on your health system! Turkey Tail, Lions Mane, and Reishi are powerful antioxidants with adaptogenic properties to reduce the body’s stress and have us feeling our best. We added just the right amount of THCP to have you FEEL your best, but our trifecta of fungi will help you BE your best. This holistic synergy encompasses the vibe of our spirit and we’re so excited to share them with you!
Hempnotics Vapes: Do Si Do
For those of you that don’t mind the blaze, our Hempnotics’ brand vape carts provide a stellar experience on an interstellar level! Our Campers like the Do Si Do strain in HHC. The strain Do Si Do is renowned for its sedative properties! Users claim that it induces deep relaxation, without the feeling of couch-lock. As Leafly perfectly puts it: “These classic OG aromas blend nicely with medical-grade body effects that lean toward the sedative side with the addition of Face Off OG genetics.”
If you’re vibing the chill train, we’ve got your ticket covered!
References:
- Koren, G., & Cohen, R. (2020, January 30). The use of cannabis for hyperemesis gravidarum (hg) – journal of cannabis research. BioMed Central. Retrieved July 27, 2022, from https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-020-0017-6
- Reynolds, T. D., & Osborn, H. L. (2013, July 26). The use of cannabinoids in Chronic pain. BMJ case reports. Retrieved July 27, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3736518/
- Dariš, B., Tancer Verboten, M., Knez, Ž., & Ferk, P. (2019, February 12). Cannabinoids in cancer treatment: Therapeutic potential and legislation. Bosnian journal of basic medical sciences. Retrieved July 27, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6387667/
- MediLexicon International. (n.d.). Chronic pain syndrome: Symptoms, causes, treatment, and more. Medical News Today. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/chronic-pain-syndrome#causes
- AL;, K. C. H. Y. L. S. E. W. (n.d.). Adjunctive management of opioid withdrawal with the nonopioid medication cannabidiol. Cannabis and cannabinoid research. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34678050/
