Study Explores Cannabis Terpenes as Pain Management Alternative
Four terpenes were tested for their effects in management of post-operative and fibromyalgia pain.
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A March 11, 2025, news release (1) from the University of Arizona (U of A) Health Sciences explained results from a recent study on cannabis terpenes for pain management. The four terpenes studied were geraniol, linalool, beta-caryophyllene, and alpha-humulene, and the types of pain were post-operative and fibromyalgia pain. The study (2), “Select terpenes from Cannabis sativa are antinociceptive in mouse models of post-operative pain and fibromyalgia via adenosine A2a receptors,” was published in Pharmacological Reports in December 2024.
In this mouse-model study, the baseline pain reaction of the mice was first measured, and then they were either given paw incision surgery or reserpine-induced fibromyalgia. The mice were given istradefylline, an adenosine A2a receptor (A2aR) antagonist, to determine mechanism of action for the terpenes. The mice received 200 mg/kg of one of the terpenes, then sensitivity was measured over three hours. As a control, hot plate pain testing was conducted.
The terpenes were found to raise pain thresholds for both types of pain, with geraniol as the most effective, followed by linalool or α-humulene. The A2aR antagonist istradefylline treatment blocked pain suppression, suggesting that the terpenes were acting through the A2aR.
“Our research is showing that terpenes are not a good option for reducing acute pain resulting from an injury, such as stubbing your toe or touching a hot stove; however, we are seeing significant reductions in pain when terpenes are used for chronic or pathological pain,” stated study author John Streicher, PhD, professor in the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson’s Department of Pharmacology (1). “This study was the first to investigate the impact of terpenes in preclinical models of fibromyalgia and post-operative pain and expand the scope of potential pain-relieving treatments using terpenes.”
“The research that is being done by Dr. Streicher's lab on terpenes and their potential to help those who suffer from chronic pain demonstrates the importance of basic research,” added Todd Vanderah, PhD, director of the Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction at the U of A Health Sciences. “There are hundreds of unique chemicals that plants make, including the Cannabis plant, that are undiscovered. Nature is incredible at making unique chemical structures, and many of these chemicals are unknowns when it comes to their abilities to aid in human health, diseases and disorders.”
The study results helped establish a pain management option that did not involve opioids or cannabinoids.
“With fibromyalgia, there isn’t much understanding of what the pain state is, and there are not a lot of great options for treating it,” Streicher added. “Our findings show that terpenes may be a viable treatment option for fibromyalgia pain, which could potentially have a large impact and make a difference for an undertreated population.”
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
References
- Pigott, S. Cannabis terpenes offer potential new way to treat fibromyalgia pain https://healthsciences.arizona.edu/news/releases/cannabis-terpenes-offer-potential-new-way-treat-fibromyalgia-pain (accessed Mar 17, 2025).
- Seekins, CA.; Welborn, AM.; Schwarz, AM.; Streicher, JM. Select terpenes from Cannabis sativa are antinociceptive in mouse models of post-operative pain and fibromyalgia via adenosine A2a receptors. Pharmacol. Rep. 2025. DOI: 10.1007/s43440-024-00687-1
