Everyone looking for ways to manage their pain has most likely been following the news about the hemp industry and came across articles about Delta 8 THC and its effects. Unsurprisingly it has gained great popularity over the last years due to its wide availability and health benefits.
However, we should mention that Delta 8 THC is the new kid on the block in the hemp sector, as it was brought on the market later than its siblings. It’s a minor cannabinoid in the hemp plant, considering that there’s only 0.1% delta 8 naturally occurring in the plant material, while there is 25% of CBD. Specialists have isolated the cannabinoid to add value to the hemp plant and provide the public with a concentrated formula with more intense effects. Similarly to the other cannabinoids in the hemp plant, it also has several uses, and studies highlight its benefits for pain management.
Those who struggle to manage their pain should know they’re not alone. Studies show that one in five Americans experiences chronic pain regularly and has limited treatment options. If you’re looking for a natural solution and came across delta 8 THC, here’s what you should know about it.
What is Delta 8 THC?
The hemp plant contains several cannabinoids, but the most popular ones among the public are CBD and Delta 9 THC. Delta 8 is a relatively new discovered cannabinoid that has recently burst onto the market. Specialists describe it as a less psychoactive compound than Delta 9 THC, as its chemical structure has a double bond in the eighth atom, which makes it steadier than Delta 9. Because the hemp plant isn’t rich in delta 8, the plant contains about 0.01% naturally. Manufacturers must extract, convert, and refine the compound using other cannabinoids like CBD. This is usually how they make delta 8 in the form of edibles, sprays, oils, and tinctures.
Experts state that delta 8 is the natural result of aged delta 9 because when the cannabinoid ages in the plant, it’s transformed into delta 8 (which is why they share some characteristics).
What do we know about Delta 8 effects on pain?
The cannabinoids from the hemp plant influence your endocannabinoid system that regulates essential bodily functions like mood, inflammation, chronic pain, memory, learning, digestion, appetite, reproductive system function, and metabolism. But considering that the endocannabinoid system was recently discovered, scientists still lack information about it. However, a series of studies reveal that it has a crucial role in regulating pain.
To understand how delta-8 THC and other cannabinoids help patients manage pain, we should research how the endocannabinoid system functions and activates its analgesic abilities. The endocannabinoid system has three parts: enzymes, endocannabinoids, and cannabinoid receptors. Delta 8 THC and other cannabinoids from the hemp plant impact the endocannabinoid system by binding to the CB1 receptor, a major cannabinoid receptor in the human body. The National Cancer Institute states that delta 8 THC binds to the cannabinoid G-protein coupled receptor CB1 in the central nervous system. Studies show that the CB1 receptor is crucial in regulating pain, as it’s located in the nervous system’s strategic areas that signal pain. Because it binds to the CB1 receptor, delta 8 improves pain and can make you feel some mild psychotropic effects. Delta 9 also binds to the CB1 receptor but has a different chemical structure, making you experience a more potent high effect.
Since delta 8 is a recently discovered compound, further research on its analgesic effects is needed. However, past exploration shows that it works similarly to the other cannabinoids that help relieve pain. Each cannabinoid in the hemp plant binds with different receptors from the endocannabinoid system and has distinct properties. Delta 8 has unique characteristics because it binds primarily with CB1 receptors from the central nervous system and boosts the regulatory properties for known cannabinoids. The nervous system has multiple pain receptors attached to nerve endings that send signals to the brain when you experience an injury. The cannabinoid receptors from the nervous system regulate the sensitivity of the pain receptors, and when delta 8 binds to them, they make you feel pain less acutely. You can find fire delta-8 THC products by OCN near you if you want to use a natural treatment to manage your pain.
How to take Delta 8 for pain relief?
If you want to use delta-8 to alleviate chronic pain, it’s essential to know you can choose from several delivery methods. Research how each affects your pain levels to pick the ideal one for you.
Inhalable products – you can use vape cartridges to inhale delta 8 into your lungs if you want to experience fast-acting effects. This delivery method is ideal when you experience chronic pain and are looking for a way to relieve it immediately. Even if the effects are short-lived, they are quite potent due to the nature of absorption.
Tinctures – you take them sublingually. You find delta 8 tinctures in bottles with dropper caps to easily portion your doses and administer them under your tongue. The tinctures need from 30 minutes to an hour to deliver effects and can last for around 6 hours.
Capsules and edibles – work similarly, in which the delta 8 product gets into your digestive system that processes it before releasing it into the bloodstream. As a pain sufferer, you may prefer edibles because they have long-lasting effects, around 8 hours and even more. However, keep in mind that it might take 1 to 2 hours to kick in.
Topicals – are not as popular as the other delta 8 products but are also effective in improving pain. Cannabinoids efficiently absorb through the skin and bind to the cannabinoid receptors in your joints and muscles, offering pain relief. You can choose from a wide variety of topicals like salves, gels, and creams.
Delta 8 is a potentially new holistic solution for pain relief!
If you want to address chronic pain with delta 8, we hope this article helps you understand how it functions.
