- Research suggests that compounds found in cannabis may be helpful for chronic pain relief.
- Called terpenes, the compounds show up in several THC-free plants.
- Studies into terpenes for pain relief are ongoing.
Pain can make it difficult to comfortably navigate life. Unfortunately, an estimated 21% of American adults suffer from chronic pain. And while opioid medications are prescribed in extreme cases for patients to find relief, they have a high potential for addiction, pushing doctors and patients to look elsewhere for relief. Now, new research suggests that a plant-based compound called terpenes, found in cannabis (a.k.a. marijuana), could help those with severe pain find relief.
Meet the experts: David Edwards, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the Division of Pain Medicine at Vanderbilt University; John M. Streicher, Ph.D., study…