of people using cannabis extracts and finding that they’re helpful in managing pain.”
A New Study Shows Cannabis Terpenes Can Be Just as Effective as Morphine in Relieving Chronic Pain
A groundbreaking study published in the research journal Pain on May 2 has revealed that cannabis terpenes may be just as effective as morphine in reducing chronic pain. The study, titled “Terpenes from Cannabis sativa induce antinociception in a mouse model of chronic neuropathic pain via activation of adenosine A2A receptors,” was conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Arizona and funded by the National Institutes of Health.
The researchers set out to explore the potential of cannabis in treating chronic pain. Lead author of the study, John Streicher, PhD, stated, “A question that we’ve been very interested in is could terpenes be used to manage chronic pain? What we found is that terpenes are really good at relieving a specific type of chronic pain with low and manageable side effects.”
While both CBD and THC have been found to have pain-relieving properties, the researchers noted that their effects are moderate and can come with unwanted psychoactive side effects. Terpenes, on the other hand, offer a non-psychoactive alternative for pain relief.
The study focused on five different terpenes: alpha-humulene, beta-caryophyllene, beta-pinene, geraniol, and linalool. These terpenes were tested individually and in combination on a mouse model of neuropathic pain, a condition caused by nerve damage from chemotherapy medications.
The results showed that each terpene individually had a significant effect on reducing pain, with some even surpassing the pain-relieving effects of morphine. When combined, the terpenes showed even more powerful effects on pain relief. Streicher stated, “That was really striking to us, but just because something relieves pain doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be a good therapy.”
One of the major concerns with using opioids for pain relief is the potential for addiction and increased tolerance over time. However, the researchers found that terpenes do not have the same negative effects. Streicher explained, “We looked at other aspects of the terpenes, such as does this cause reward? Is this going to be addictive? Is it going to make you feel awful? What we found was yes, terpenes do relieve pain, and they also have a pretty good side effect profile.”
The researchers also examined different methods of consuming terpenes, including injection, oral dosing, and inhalation. Surprisingly, they found that the effects were significantly reduced or absent when the terpenes were taken orally or inhaled. Streicher stated, “A lot of people vape or smoke terpenes as part of cannabis extracts that are available commercially in states where cannabis use is legal. We were surprised to find that the inhalation route didn’t have an impact in this study, because there are a lot of at least anecdotal reports of people using cannabis extracts and finding that they’re helpful in managing pain.”
