Cannabis Guide: The 5 Best Strains For Pain Management

Pain is no fun, and it can have a big impact on your everyday life. Recent studies (CDC) estimate that over 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. That’s nearly 20% of US adults who experience ongoing pain, the search for alternative medicine to help with pain management has increased. That’s why medical marijuana has become a popular natural remedy and has been reported to be an effective solution with its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. Some of the most common uses for medical marijuana include headaches, muscle aches, spine injuries, nerve pain, fibromyalgia, and more. Cannabis can also help with the side effects that come along with chronic pain, such as insomnia, anxiety, and depression. If you are 1 in 5 Americans live with chronic pain, you may be interested in the medical benefits cannabis can provide. It can be difficult to find the right strain for your ailments, but we are here to show you the way. We will not only tell you how cannabis can help with pain relief but also recommend some of the best medical marijuana for pain. 

How Cannabis Helps with Pain Relief

Now, there is some science behind how cannabis helps with pain relief. Cannabis flower contains THC and CBD, which are types of cannabinoids. Our bodies have their own receptors that respond to cannabinoids, known as the endocannabinoid system. When trying to find the best marijuana for pain, the different levels of THC and CBD that are in a strain have a big impact on the experience it will provide. THC is known to help with headaches because it responds to the receptors located in the brain, but its psychoactive effects aren’t for everyone. CBD responds to receptors located throughout the body and can alleviate pain without the mind-altering effects. Since each cannabis strain has a different cannabinoid profile, some strains may provide more relief for certain afflictions than others. Next, we will dive into the best cannabis strains for pain relief. 

5 Best Strains for Pain

Before we get into the best strains for pain, you should also know that different strains of cannabis can be categorized into three different types: indica, sativa, and hybrid. Indica strains typically have higher CBD levels so they would be one of the best types for pain relief. Indica's are also known to make users sleepy but if you experience chronic pain and insomnia, an indica strain would be a great choice to help you rest. Sativa strains usually have higher THC levels so they can help ease headaches and increase your energy level, which also makes this a good option for daytime cannabis use. Finally, we have hybrids strains that offer the best of both worlds, a cross between indica and sativa. Hybrids with equal parts THC and CBD are some of the most popular strains for pain relief, as they tackle many types of pains and side effects. This overview should give you a pretty good idea about how our recommendations will go! 

Best Strains for Pain and Fatigue

If your chronic pain leaves you feeling tired and drains your energy, you’re not alone. Fatigue is a common side effect of ongoing pain so you will want a strain that can combat both. Sativa-dominant hybrids are some of the best strains for pain and fatigue, helping you feel more energized while relieving your physical pain. Strains like Jack Herer, Sour Diesel, and Durban Poison are known for their uplifting effects that will give you that boost of energy you need and are also effective for chronic pain relief. You won’t be disappointed! 

Best Strains for Broken Bone Pain

Dealing with pain from broken bones isn’t easy but luckily there are cannabis strains that can help ease the discomfort of breaks and fractures during the recovery phase. Some of the best strains for broken bone pain are indica-dominant because the high CBD levels help alleviate pain throughout the body and reduce inflammation. Indica strains will not only help to relax your body, but they also will help you get some much-needed sleep if your bone pain is keeping you awake at night. Some indica-dominant strains that are effective at promoting pain relief and relaxation include Girl Scout Cookies (GSC), Granddaddy Purple, and Northern Lights.

Best Strains for Aches

No matter what kind of aching you are experiencing, the continuous dull pain will leave you feeling frustrated all day long. Body aches can be caused by many different factors, like stress or even lack of sleep. A well-balanced hybrid strain will provide CBD to relieve your aches and THC to help reduce the stress and anxiety that causes them. Hybrid strains like Skywalker, White Widow, and Strawberry Diesel are a few of the best strains for pain that will soothe your aches, reduce your stress, and improve your overall mood to help you feel productive again.

Best Strains for Muscle Pain

Whether it is localized or widespread, muscle pain can greatly limit your ability to move. Muscle pain can be caused by injuries, sprains, stress, and even illnesses like fibromyalgia. If you need some relief from your chronic muscle pain, an indica strain will help reduce inflammation while relaxing your muscles while they heal. Indica strains are also effective at reducing the symptoms of all types of nerve pain. Some of the best weed strains for pain and tension in the muscles include Blue Dream, CBD Critical Mass, Cannatonic, and Bubba Kush.

Best Strains for Headaches

Headaches and migraines make it impossible to get anything done and sometimes over-the-counter medicines are ineffective at relieving the throbbing pain. Because sativa strains have higher THC levels, they are the best strains for conditions like headaches and migraines. There are many popular sativa strains that can soothe your headache and relax your mind. Green Crack, Runtz, and Harlequin have been reported to be very successful at relieving painful headaches and are some of the best strains for pain.

How to Smoke the Best Weed Strains for Pain

So, you have decided on a strain to try to help relieve your chronic pain but what’s the best way to smoke it? Newer methods like vaping and dabbing are some of the most popular ways to smoke weed and the traditional ways of smoking cannabis for pain include loading it up in a pipe or waterpipe. When it comes to alleviating pain, sometimes a quick and easy method is best! But if you are trying to get the most out of your weed, you may want to take a more potent approach. Or maybe you like to just keep it old school, nothing wrong with that! Each smoking device has its own benefits, and we will go over each method next!

Pipe

Some people prefer more traditional ways of smoking cannabis, like using a hand pipe. While smoking cannabis from a pipe may give you a harsher hit compared to other methods, it is still a quick and effective way to relieve your chronic pain. Even though there are many different sizes of pipes available, you can have control over how small or big of a dose you take by only loading a certain amount of flower into the bowl. If you only need to take a quick puff here and there to soothe your aches and pains throughout the day, then smoking cannabis with a pipe will be a great method for you to try!

Water Pipe

Water pipes are similar to hand pipes, but they have a few differences. They are generally larger than a regular pipe so expect an overall bigger hit. The water filters the smoke, which reduces the harshness and provides a smoother hit than a traditional hand pipe. Sometimes water pipes will have percolators and ice catchers for extra filtration, making for an even smoother inhale. Because of the extra filtration and cooling effects, water pipes will also help you take longer and bigger hits, which means you can inhale large doses of cannabis. Smoking cannabis with a water pipe will surely help relieve your pain but wait a few minutes before taking another hit to see how it affects you.

Vape Pen

Using a vape pen is very convenient and effective way of consuming cannabis to relieve pain, especially if you are weary of actually smoking it. Vape pens have a compact and discreet shape so you can also take them with you on the go. Most vape pens are just a battery that you can connect to a pre-filled cannabis oil cartridge, or cart for short. These pre-filled carts are available in many different cannabis strains so your options are not limited, and you can easily switch between different carts. There are also vape pens that are designed to be used with dry herb if you prefer using flower over cannabis oil. When vaping cannabis, it is easy to overdo it so it's best to start slow and gradually build your high until you have reached the desired effects.

Dab Pens

Dab pens are very similar to vape pens, as they both used to vaporize cannabis, but they were designed to be used with different types of cannabis products. Instead of cannabis oil, dab pens are meant to be used with thicker cannabis concentrates, which are also known as dabs. Dabs are the most potent form of cannabis, and you will feel the pain-relieving effects after one single puff. While they do require some routine maintenance, the potency you can get from a dab pen is well worth the added chores! Dab pens are a popular choice for those who are looking to get the most out of their weed and elevate their cannabis experience to the next level. This will be the quickest way to “take your medicine.”

Vaping Essentials from Strio

There are many strains of cannabis available so even if one strain does not relieve your chronic pain symptoms like you had hoped, don’t give up the search just yet! All cannabis strains will affect you differently so it might take some trial and error to find the perfect strain for your needs. While you’re here, don’t forget to check out the Strio Shop for the most innovative devices and accessories in the world of smoke culture. Whether you prefer vaping, dabbing, or smoking your cannabis, our products are designed to elevate your experience to the next level.