Chronic pain is a global health challenge, with current treatment options often limited by side effects, addiction risk, and diminished effectiveness over time. In a new study, Yale researchers identify alternative compounds with therapeutic potential — chemicals found in cannabis that lack the mind-altering effects associated with the drug.
The chemicals — cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabinol (CBN), which belong to a group of molecules known as cannabinoids — reduced the activity of a protein that is central to pain signaling in the peripheral nervous system, the study showed. Cannabinoids may also yield more effective pain management than other opioid alternatives, the research found.
“These findings open new avenues for the development of cannabinoid-based therapies,” said Mohammad-Reza Ghovanloo, lead author of the study and an associate research scientist in the Department of Neurology at Yale School of Medicine. “Our results show that CBG in particular has the strongest potential to provide effective pain relief without the risks associated with traditional treatments.”
The findings indicate that these three cannabinoids — and CBG in particular — can prevent sensory neurons in the body from sending pain signals to the brain. The researchers are optimistic that these compounds could provide a safer alternative for pain management and reduce reliance on opioids.
