CBD and THC combination: Good for Pain

Jul 19th 2022

Marijuana edibles, pills, and leaf with a dark background

As people look for healthier alternatives for pain management than regular prescription medication, one possibility that people have begun to turn to is a combination of CBD and THC. As a result, these two cannabinoids have gained traction as an effective alternative in helping people manage chronic pain and other types of pain and conditions.

Today we’ll look at how this combination could help you manage your pain. Then, we’ll look at how this can help you and what ratio you could use depending on your situation. But first, let’s look at what CBD and THC are. So if you’re looking for a pain-management alternative or curious about how CBD and THC can help, we’ll show you what you need to get started.

Related: CBD for Sleep

What are CBD and THC

Before we jump into how CBD and THC can help with pain, let’s review what exactly CBD and THC are. Then we’ll examine how these two can help you manage your pain.

CBD

CBD, otherwise known as cannabidiol, is a chemical found in hemp. This cannabinoid treats anxiety, pain, seizures, Parkinson's disease, and other conditions. CBD is often administered as an oil capsule, CBD oil edibles, a topical massage oil, or vape oil.

While there are some traces of THC found in CBD, these amounts are too small to have any effect. This chemical also has been known to help as an anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-psychotic, and neuroprotective.

Looking for CBD oils to help reduce inflammation? Bordertown Farm has a wide selection of products just for you.

THC

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is a chemical found in the marijuana plant. THC is a psychoactive compound that can affect your mood, feelings, and sensations. THC stimulates the cells in the brain to release dopamine and create euphoria. This chemical can treat most of the same conditions as CBD.

But, it is widely known for treating pain, anxiety, and insomnia. Marijuana has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. It’s now legal for medical use in more than half of the United States.

Why and how do these two help with pain?

assorted gummies and a marijuana leaf

These two natural chemicals help with pain management by activating specific biological processes in the brain that reduce pain sensation. For example, THC activates a group of receptors in the brain that, in turn, trigger nerve cells to lessen the feeling of pain.

THC is known for relieving mild to moderate levels of pain. For example, it has helped people who had pain caused by migraines to larger-scale levels of pain, such as cancer or childbirth. CBD, similarly to THC, is often used by those who suffer from pain. It is more widely known to treat pain caused by arthritis and fibromyalgia. But these are only a couple of conditions it treats.

Related: Using CBD Oil for Lymphedema

Benefits of using THC and CBD together

These chemicals have become regularly prescribed for pain relief in the last ten years and continue to increase in popularity. Alone, they can relieve pain to a certain point, but together, the effectiveness increases, and they empower each other to maximize their pain-management benefits.

Using these two together creates a phenomenon called the “entourage effect.” This phenomenon is where some cannabinoids are known to enhance the effects of other cannabinoids that occur naturally in the cannabis plant. By combining CBD and THC, you can experience not only the pain-relieving benefits of the THC but also experience anti-inflammation properties, the relaxation of tense muscles, and lowered anxiety from the CBD.

Common side effects

Most side effects resulting from using this combination include fatigue, dry mouth, and nausea. However, most say that these combined chemicals' benefits outweigh the minimal side effects.

Some less common side effects include anxiety, diarrhea, and insomnia. You can lessen side effects by adjusting your ratio of CBD to THC.

Which ratios are best to use

Generally, these ratios work by using a high amount of THC and a low amount of CBD. Next, we’ll look at the specific ratios that you can use and which types of pain these bring relief. You can try different ratios of CBD and THC, but these are the ones we recommend trying.

  • 1:1 This is a good ratio for those newer to using cannabinoids and anxious about the side effects. This ratio is suitable for migraines and other types of mild pain.
  • 1:9 This ratio is what’s commonly used for maximized pain relieving efficiency. Using a lot more THC and supplementing this with a lower dose of CBD is the best ratio.

Finding the correct ratio for you is an essential aspect. For example, if you are experiencing more side effects with a larger dose of THC, you can experiment a bit and find a more appropriate ratio. Another example is if you are experiencing paranoia from the THC, add a large intake of CBD to the combination.

Related: CBD for Sunburns: What You Need to Know

How you can use this

You can use these in the form of tinctures or edible gummies. In addition, you can buy products that contain a premade mixture of the two. Using these products is one of the more effective ways of getting the correct ratio of the two cannabinoids.

Other popular ways of using CBD and THC include vapes and oils placed under the tongue. You can combine the two chemicals, but this isn’t necessary. These must be taken in conjunction with each other. So as long as you take one after the other, you’ll receive the maximized benefits.

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Conclusion

If you’re looking for an excellent alternative for pain management, the THC and CBD combination is an appropriate route for you. This innovative alternative can help you with many different types of pain and conditions.

You can experiment with ratios or use some tried and true ones. Whether you use gummies, gel capsules, or other administering methods, CBD and THC can help you find some pain relief.