So, it looks like a number of us want pain relief, to be alert enough to appreciate the reduction in pain, AND be able to function. IMO, I should not have to be passed out to reduce joint pain. That seems counter-productive to me.
Some of the methods here are way above my head, so I go dumb and simple: ingest the leaves, buds, and pods as a tincture, as a mash for capsules, or powdered for cooking and drinks. All of it is naturally decarbed, (cured), but from what I'm reading, this results in a partial decarb, which is fine with me.
I also watch how much I use, because I get royally couch-locked when I cook with too much powered leaves. ;-)
Hear hear on the joint pain relief without becoming catatonic.
SweetSue posted somewhere yesterday (either in the FHO thread or the holy grail thread, can't remember) that a partial decarb would leave more THC N (I think it was N) which is suspected to be anti-inflammatory. So I think it may actually be better in many cases where pain is part of an inflammatory condition (like RA, fibro or ME for example).
I'm thinking I'll do half the time next time I make an oil and see...
I'm like you with the heavy couch lock issue sometimes with certain parts - leaf seems to do it more for me.
I've been using a vaporizer a lot lately and I'm wondering if there's anything I can do with this vaped material that's not a waste. I thought about making some kind of edible with them but I can't imagine it tasting very good. On the upside it should all be decarboxolated already right? Am I spelling that right?
Anyway I'm not really sure what it would go well with for edibles and I wonder if using it for butter or oil would be any better. I don't really make a lot of stuff with butter or oil in the first place.
My other idea is a topical. I remember reading here a recipe for making coconut oil and then mixing that with beeswax.
Whether it's fully decarbed or not is going to depend on the temp you vape at. Because I never vape above 380deg F I know there's plenty left in the 'ABV' (recently learned this what the vape community call the left overs, stand for 'already been vaped').
I think your idea about a topical is the best - but maybe edibles too. I was thinking I'd try a topical for pain with it - THC is the desired thing in topicals...
But wait - just checked a chart I have and assuming it's accurate, after 400degF there's only THCV and CBC to go. THCV blocks THC so I don't think the topical would give much, but maybe I'm wrong. Both THCV and CBC are sedative, and have anti-oxidant and other great properties, including 'euphoriant' listed against the THCV. So , thinking about it again. You may be more onto something with the cooking- for some nighttime snacks. It may taste alright - it always smells kind of nutty.
That said I also know someone who quite happily takes it off my hands and smokes it - says it works just fine for getting stoned. So that's euphoria with possibly very little THC in the mix except as THCV...
I'm a bit delerious today. I could be rambling
I reckon if you did a web search for ways to use ABV you find a few gems.
And the place for topicals is Magnus8's thread... Canna cream & canna butter etc. ...
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