Cannabis increases Pain

[freddie]

Cannabis increases pain

Article from: The Daily Telegraph

 

 

October 25, 2007 12:00am

 

THE pain-relieving qualities of cannabis have long been hailed, and several countries have made it available for medicinal purposes.

 

But quantity is key, according to the study in the journal Anesthesiology.

 

University of California researchers found moderate use had the greatest impact on pain in 15 volunteers, while large doses actually made pain worse.

 

The team recruited 15 healthy volunteers, in whom pain was induced by injecting capsaicin - the "hot" chemical found in chilli peppers - under their skin.

 

They were then given cannabis to smoke. The strength of the dose was determined by the tetrahydrocannabinol content, which is the main active chemical in cannabis.

 

Some of the volunteers were given a placebo.

 

Five minutes after smoking the drug, none of the doses had any effect on the pain felt.

 

But 45 minutes later, those who had smoked the moderate dose said their pain was much better, while those who consumed high doses said it had got worse.

 

They did, however, feel "higher" than counterparts who had taken moderate doses.

 

Dr Mark Wallace, the lead researcher, said the findings could have implications for the way medicinal cannabis was offered, both in pure and drug form.

 

Some experts are concerned that results on healthy volunteers could not be translated into how cannabis works in the bodies of those with cancer or multiple sclerosis, for whom the drug is increasingly seen as a potential form of pain relief.

 

Dr Laura Bell, of the MS Society, said: "Many people with MS report benefits to symptoms such as pain from taking cannabis, however studies to date on the effects of cannabis on pain are small and difficult to draw firm conclusions from.

 

"We would be interested to see the results from larger scale studies focused on people with MS.

 

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/stor...5006007,00.html

from the daily telegraph

 

I'm not sure I agree with this one. Interesting though. I smoke a lot more when in pain and it seems to help.

Edited October 24, 2007 by freddie

[Indycar]

Same here freddie...

 

Maybe if they elaborated more on the specifics of how the study was carried out. It might paint a clearer picture.

 

For all we know, the more intoxicated people may have been put in a empty room with nothing but a chair to sit on 'n had nothing to occupy their mind other than the discomfort the capsaicin created...

 

But yeah, can't say my experience and the study have much in common at all. I find i have a completely different result.

 

[Tarnicus]

This is wonderful news! Now I can stop consuming healthy cannabis for pain and instead dose up on liver-toxifying pills that mean I can't shit for a week!

 

This article certainly gave me a chuckle

[pipeman]

I have never found cannabis helpful for pain relief. But what I do notice is that when I got a headache, sometimes getting high can seem to make it throb even more. I guess its due to the fact smoking can cause your heart rate and blood pressure to increase, and this would tend to make some types of pain worse I reckon.

[euph0rix]

It all depends on the type. Indica is good for pain relief, sativa is pretty useless. Make pain worse? haha! funniest thing I've ever heard.

[mull]

Hate to be the ever sceptic on these studies, but this one sounds a bit suss too.

 

They start with only 15 people (less placebo), which would be a small number for any type of study on any drug.

 

For pain relief personally, cannabis is great. Aches, pains, mostly muscular from today strains or past injuries. But nagging back aches nicely become dull with any amount of pot, top ups or continual. I mostly vape.

 

However in case of a severe burn, e.g. to the arm, the very last thing on my mind, would be to sit down and mull up! Searing burning to my arm would call for something cool to calm the painful tissue. Thats what they did with the guineas in this test.

Injecting capsicum under the skin would be better treatment than deep heat for back aches!

 

That aside, it would be good to hear of cannabis studied closer on willing patients already in pain management treatment.

 

People with chronic pain have another side to their treatment that cannabis does help. It takes away some of the give a f--kedness about the situation. Bit of space to chill within a constant pain or acceptance of something terminal etc.

[PGHGreek420]

LMFAO....these damn scientists need to be doing studies with violent people and angry people on how th smoking of good budds wuld reduce their anger and weaken the violent urges but no they wont do a test studie like that because i would be to bneficial to gettin marijuan legalized...