A study published in the online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, says taking medical marijuana can reduce chronic nerve pain. The research explains that pain relief is provided by decreasing connections between the areas of the brain that integrates emotions and sensory signal processes.
Precisely, the study examined radicular pain, a form of nerve pain that radiates from the spine into the legs; for example, sciatica. "Pain is a complex experience that involves both the senses and emotions," said study author Haggai Sharon, MD, of the Sagol Brain Institute, Tel Aviv Medical Center in Israel.
Researchers examined a component of marijuana known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); one of the multiple cannabinoids present in marijuana.
"Our study results link pain relief from THC with a reduction in the connections between areas of the brain otherwise heavily connected, suggesting that THC may alleviate pain by disrupting signals between these pain processing pathways,” explains Brain.
The study included 15 participants who were all males with an average age of 33 who were also diagnosed with chronic radicular nerve pain. Participant’s pain relief ranged from medium to high radicular pain for over six months. Additionally, prior to treatment, individuals would rate their own pain relief before receiving THC.
Furthermore, the researchers found that THC decreased pain when compared to the placebo, "Interestingly, our results also show that the more connected the areas of the brain that process emotion and sensory prior to treatment, the greater the pain relief experienced when taking THC," said Sharon. "Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings."
Researchers are hopeful for more studies on the marijuana plant in relieving pain.
Source: American Academy of Neurology
