A new study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology finds that essential oil from Moroccan cannabis may help alleviate peripheral neuropathic pain.
Researchers from University Cadi Ayyad in Morocco and Sapienza University in Italy found that daily administration of the oil significantly reduced pain sensitivity and improved functional recovery in an animal model of sciatic nerve injury.
For the study, mice with peripheral neuropathic pain were treated daily with cannabis essential oil for 21 days. Behavioral tests were conducted on days one, seven, 14, and 21 to evaluate thermal, mechanical, and cold sensitivity. The essential oil’s chemical composition was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS).
“The main constituents of the essential oil were (E)-caryophyllene (41.59%) and α-humulene (14%)”, states the study’s researchers. “Daily treatment with the essential oil significantly reduced pain sensitivity and improved functional and histological recovery over time. These effects are linked to the activity of the dominant terpenoids in the oil.”
They conclude by stating that “Moroccan Cannabis sativa essential oil shows significant therapeutic potential for managing peripheral neuropathic pain. By enhancing recovery and alleviating pain symptoms, it offers a promising alternative for treating chronic pain caused by nerve injuries.”
To extract the essential oil, researchers did the following:
The leaves of Cannabis sativa were subjected to a four-hour hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus, a process repeated multiple times to ensure an optimal yield of essential oil. This technique involves heating water in a flask to generate steam, which passes through the aromatic plant material, extracting the essential oils. The steam is then condensed at low temperature (freezer conditions), leading to the formation of a mixture of water and essential oil. The extracted essential oil is subsequently stored in a light-protected environment at 4 °C.
The full study can be found by clicking here.
