Tylenol and uncomfortable ice packs, be gone.
Alleviating your next headache could be as easy as taking a swig of a marijuana-infused sports drink.
New research from the Ontario-based University of Guelph has revealed that a pair of flavonoids found in cannabis could be a game-changer for pain relief. It’s all thanks to Cannflavin A and Cannflavin Bm – a dynamic duo of cannabis compounds with powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
Scientists confirmed the naturally derived treatment is 30 times more powerful than Aspirin, and without health concerns like addiction that may coincide with long-term usage.
“There’s clearly a need to develop alternatives for relief of acute and chronic pain that go beyond opioids,” said Prof. Tariq Akhtar, who worked on the study with Steven Rothstein, another professor in the university’s department of molecular and cellular biology. “These molecules are non-psychoactive and they target the inflammation at the source, making them ideal painkillers.”
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Flavonoids aren’t exclusive to cannabis – they’re found in every plant, giving each one with their color. Many benefits attributed to flavonoids include reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, asthma, and stroke. They could also play a special role in protecting the brain.
Cannflavins A and B were originally identified by scientists in 1985, but further research was halted by prohibition. In other words, if Canada didn’t legalize marijuana in 2018, it could have been years until they made this discovery.
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Now, the research team is partnering with Anahit International Corp. to commercialize the compounds so they are made accessible as everyday consumer products. Chief operating officer Daren Carrigan says they’re working with options like creams, pills, sports drinks and transdermal patches.
“Being able to offer a new pain relief option is exciting, and we are proud that our work has the potential to become a new tool in the pain relief arsenal,” Rothstein said.
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