MEDICINAL CANNABIS: AN ALTERNATIVE FOR PAIN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/arev7n12-085Keywords:
Cannabis, Medicinal, Cannabinoids, Treatment, PainAbstract
Cannabis sativa L is a medicinal plant that has been used for thousands of years. It is composed of phytochemicals, such as cannabinoids, which are its main bioactive components. This plant has gained much popularity due to its recreational use and, more recently, for its medicinal, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects, becoming a natural alternative for pain treatment in various pathological conditions. Currently, pain is the main reason for cannabis use among the population. Its cannabinoids act by interacting with CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors present throughout the body to regulate pain through different mechanisms of action. It has been reported that the combination of cannabinoids presents in the plant, along with non-cannabinoid compounds, may work together to enhance the final therapeutic effect through a phenomenon known as “synergy.” In some regions of the world, cannabis is being used as a sole treatment for pain or as an adjunct to pharmaceutical treatment, enhancing drug effects and reducing their use. However, healthcare professionals who recommend its use must have the necessary training to do so, and must also consider the physiological, pathological, and lifestyle characteristics of each patient before prescribing it.
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