According to the CDC, more than 20.4% of Americans suffer from chronic pain as of 2019. 7.4% suffer from chronic, high-impact pain that interferes with their daily lives and their work activities. This may affect their mental health.
If you’re experiencing chronic pain yourself and you’re reading this article, that means you’ve probably heard about cannabis’ pain relief benefits–particularly tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Did you know there are many types of THC? There is the Delta-9 THC and the Delta-8 THC. Both are very popular. We used to refer to Delta-9 simply as THC before it became popular.
This is because Delta-9 has the highest concentration of THC in cannabis while Delta-8 makes up only 0.01%. Delta-8 THC was first discovered in the 1960s. However, it has not been studied as extensively or as widely as Delta-9. Recent research has shown that Delta-8 THC might be an alternative to Delta-9 for pain relief.
Delta-8 products are gaining more attention in the medical and cannabis worlds due to their many medical benefits. Numerous Delta-8 brands are popping up, offering different Delta-8 products. We compiled the best five Delta-8 pain relief products and ranked them according to the reviews. After reading the comparison of Delta 8 and delta 9, you can return to these brands.
What Is Delta 8 THC, And How Does It Differ From Delta 9 THC/
Delta-8 THC, a minor cannabinoid in cannabis plants, is one of the most important. It is a psychoactive compound that can get you high, but not as much as Delta-9. This cannabinoid is often extracted from hemp because cannabis plants only produce a small amount of Delta-8 THC. By treating hemp with solvents, Delta-8 can be extracted from the plant and is then isolated.
Once the extraction, filtering, and distillation processes are complete, you will have a ready-to-use solution of Delta-8 THC. You can use it raw or in a variety of products, such as edibles and vape cartridges. You can even find it in hybrid and Indica strains.
The Molecular Structure Varies
Their molecular structures are the main difference between these cannabinoids. Although they share the same chemical properties, there are minor differences in their molecular chains. The double bond of Delta-9 THC is found in the 9th carbon chain, but the double bond of Delta-8 can be found within the 8th.
Although it may seem insignificant, this minor variation is what allows us to have two cannabinoids at work. This is what results in the different effects that each cannabinoid has.
Delta-8 THC has many benefits that are similar to Delta-9 but the potency is much lower. The side effects of Delta-8 are less severe than those of Delta-9. Although some may think this is a disadvantage, many people believe that Delta-8 THC is actually more potent than Delta-9. This makes it easier to use in the day or for those who do not have legal delta 9 THC. This is a great option for anyone new to cannabis.
Why Do Some Prefer Delta 8 THC To Delta 9 THC?
Every person is unique and each individual experiences the hallucinatory effects that Delta-9 can produce. Delta-8 is preferred by most people who don’t want to get high and are looking for medicinal benefits. Delta-8 gives you a high but it doesn’t send you into a state of mind-bending couch lock. Instead, it puts your body in a deep relaxed, mellow state, which leaves you feeling happy and relieves pain.
Delta-9 can also trigger paranoid delusions and anxiety. It is not a good idea to use Delta-9 for pain relief. Although it can help with chronic pain, it could also cause anxiety and panic attacks that can last for hours. For pain relief, it’s better to use Delta-8. You can not only get rid of the pain and prevent anxiety, but it also boosts productivity, clearer thinking, and helps eliminate stress.
Delta-8 is also legal at the federal level (state laws might differ), making it easier to access than Delta-9. It can be purchased online or in physical shops. It is legal in 39 states and Delta-9 in 11 states.
You can ship Delta-8 products to any state from online retailers. As long as the product is legal in your state. Before you buy Delta-8, make sure you do your research about the marijuana laws in your state.
What Does Delta 8 Do To Help With Pain Relief?
In the 1990s, a few scientists experimented with THC. They discovered that the body had a natural cell signaling system that functions like cannabinoids. It also bonds well with THC. This system is called the endogenous cannabis cannabinoid (or endocannabinoid) system and regulates many systems in our bodies 2.
The ECS has many roles in our bodies. They affect reproduction and fertility, sleep patterns, mood changes, eating habits, and memory. And, of course, pain relief is the main topic.
Before we get into the details of how Delta-8 works with ECS, let’s first look at the components that make up ECS.
The Endocannabinoid System Explained
There are two main receptors in the ECS that can be found throughout the body: CB1 receptors and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors can be found in the brain’s central nervous system, while CB2 receptors can be found in the peripheral nervous system.
There are many sensory nerve receptors in the peripheral nervous system that respond to different stimuli. These include the photoreceptors and mechanoreceptors as well as the thermoreceptors and photoreceptors. The most important sensory nerve receptors are the nociceptors, which are responsible for pain.
Our brains are essentially told by our nociceptors that we are in pain. This tells the brain how severe the pain is and where it is coming from. This allows your brain to send back signals that stop your nociceptors from sending more pain signals to it. Your body will experience minor pain relief by doing this.
The ECS is limited in its ability to relieve pain. It sends signals to warn us not to cause more pain. If you break a bone, for example, your brain would tell you to stop moving in a certain direction to avoid more pain. However, it doesn’t relieve the pain completely. This is where Delta-8 THC can be of assistance.
Delta-8 and the Endocannabinoid System
Even though our ECS is not activated by cannabinoids it continues to function. However, ingesting cannabinoids will increase its effectiveness. Inhaling or ingestion of Delta-8 THC activates the ECS and activates its receptors.
THC is able to bond with CB1 receptors in the brain. These receptors help to block pain signals from our nociceptors. The THC binds to the CB1 receptors and helps relieve pain further. Additionally, the high can be used as an analgesic or relaxant.
Numerous studies have shown that Delta-8 can relieve pain in both animals and humans. It was also discovered that Delta-8 works well in chronic pain relief, rather than acute. One study was done on patients with fibromyalgia. This is a chronic musculoskeletal condition. The analgesic properties in cannabis helped to improve the condition of those who took 8.3 grams of cannabis every day for 11 months.
A placebo-controlled study was also conducted on 21 patients aged between 25 and 69 who were suffering from chronic neuropathic symptoms. The results showed that Delta-8 THC patients experienced a significant reduction in chronic pain. Patients were able to take 40-80 mg. Three hours after the dose, the analgesic effect was much stronger. They were also more effective in relieving mild to moderate chronic pain than they were for severe chronic pain.
Another study on mice showed that Delta-8 had both analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
More studies need to be conducted, particularly on humans, to fully understand the potential of Delta-8 THC for pain relief and its anti-inflammatory effects. Studies have shown that Delta-8 THC can be used as a medical treatment for chronic pain. Delta-8 THC would be safer than opioid pain relief medications because it is less potent and has a lower risk of addiction and abuse.
This article was written by a cannabinoid medicine specialist at DRIP Cannabinoids. https://www.dripcannabinoids.com/ joined the market in June 2020. We quickly established our mission: providing customers with the purest oil on the market, and in tandem providing a premium final product. Through each and every one of our products, DRIP strives to relieve people from the discomfort, stress, and anxiety of daily life by giving them access to cutting-edge cannabinoids such as Delta-10 and Delta-8 THC. DRIP’s formulas and procedures are all designed with the purity and safety of the customer in mind.
