When it comes to relieving nerve pain, both CBD and THC have been studied for their potential to reduce pain. Studies on CBD alone are limited to preclinical data, but evidence suggests that it may suppress chronic neuropathic pain and have a protective effect after nerve injury. THC has been shown to alleviate central and neuropathic pain, as well as pain caused by cancer, AIDS and fibromyalgia. Patients in the 9.4% THC group reported significantly less pain and better sleep, with an average pain score that decreased from 6.1 to 5.4 on an 11-point scale.
Research has also shown that it can increase the effect of glycine receptors, which help regulate pain at the spinal level and, therefore, suppress neuropathic pain. The application of DH-CBD appears to be the most effective way to suppress hypersensitivity to mechanical and thermal pain in conditions of both inflammatory and neuropathic pain. The researchers found that participants preferred indica strains for pain control, sedation and sleep, while they opted for sativa strains to improve energy and mood. Treatments included an oromucosal spray with a combination of plant-based THC and CBD, nabilone, inhaled herbal cannabis and plant-based THC.
The amount needed to treat to achieve a 30% reduction in pain was approximately 3 for both cannabis groups compared to placebo. If you're interested in trying CBD or THC to control pain, talk to your doctor and experiment to see if CBD or THC (or both) ease the pain a little. Ideally, patients being considered for treatment with cannabis would have a type of neuropathic pain that responds to cannabis, as well as evidence that first-line treatments have failed. This is not to say that people suffering from neuropathic pain should ignore cannabis as a treatment option; it may work for some, but not for others.
