Research from the University of Arizona Health Sciences shows that Cannabis sativa terpenes are as effective as morphine in treating chronic pain and have fewer side effects. Combined with morphine, they offer enhanced pain relief, presenting a promising alternative to opioids with lower addiction risks. Future studies will focus on potential combination therapies to optimize pain management.
A study from the University of Arizona Health Sciences , published in the journal PAIN , discovered that terpenes from Cannabis sativa were as effective as morphine in alleviating chronic neuropathic pain. Additionally, combining these two analgesics improved pain relief without negative side effects. Some prior studies have shown that the Cannabis sativa plant and its two primary cannabinoids , tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and cannabidiol , or CBD, can be effective in managing chronic pain; however, the effects are generally moderate and can come with unwanted psychoactive side effects.
Terpenes, the compounds that give plants their aroma and taste, offer an alternative path to pain relief without adverse side effects. “A question that we’ve been very interested in is could terpenes be used to manage chronic pain?” said lead researcher John Streicher, PhD, a member of the Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction and a professor of pharmacology at the College of Medicine – Tucson. “What we found is that terpenes are really good at relieving a specific type of chronic pain wit.
