Muscle spasms happen when one or more of your muscles contract involuntarily and are not able to relax. They are very common in the muscles of regions like:
- Thighs
- Calves
- Wrists
- Shoulders
- Abdomen
- Foot Arches, etc.
These spasms are sudden and can be very painful. As a consequence, they can render those muscles temporarily unusable.
With more and more therapeutic uses of medical cannabis being explored every day, people ask, “Can medical cannabis provide relief from such spasms?” And research says yes! The pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory traits of the herb make it the most effective medication for muscle spasms and the associated pain.
What Causes These Muscle Spasms?
It doesn’t matter if you are a great athlete or a slacker. Muscle spasms can affect anyone. They can be caused by:
- Working and exercising in hot environments
- Overuse of muscles in intense activity for a long time
- Stretching the muscles beyond a certain limit
- Muscle fatigue
- Dehydration
- Inadequate stretching before any physical activity
- Excessive weight
- Hormonal imbalance
- Side effects of prescription drugs, etc.
Conventional Treatment Effects
Common ways of getting relief from spasms are rehydration, rest, gentle massage, stretching, etc. In some cases, the spasms might be caused by a medical condition, injury, or a neurological disorder.
These can lead to more chronic and severe variants of muscle spasms and demand pharmaceutical interference. But conventional prescription drugs come with a myriad of side effects, like:
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Chest pain
- Difficulty in breathing
- Dry mouth
- Nausea, etc.
Enter the Herb: Medical Cannabis for Muscle Spasm Relief
This is where medical cannabis comes in. Ayurveda doctors, healthcare experts, and medical professionals endorse it as an efficacious medication for muscle spasms.
Researchers and medical experts have been conducting many clinical trials in this direction. They are experimenting with different combinations of THC and CBD in medical cannabis to aid in spasm relief.
The University Of South Carolina School Of Medicine conducted one such study based on THC/CBD combination treatment for muscle spasms. They found out that the cannabinoid combination from medical cannabis decreased muscle spasticity and suppressed neurological inflammation.
That is because of its high anti-inflammatory properties. Cannabinoids like THC and CBD bind with the cannabinoid receptors in our bodies.
As a result, they reduce the number of inflammatory proteins produced. This reduction in the inflammatory proteins helps suppress the muscle spasm response in people. Furthermore, it is documented as a safe treatment mode for spasticity, even in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
New York’s University of Rochester MS Center looked at the effects of medical cannabis in managing MS and its symptoms. As a result of that study:
- Over 77% of patients found it helpful for their symptomatic spasticity and pain management.
- They showed no side effects.
- A majority of them reported improved quality of life.
- They even reduced other prescription medications used earlier.
Medical Cannabis for Muscle Recovery
There are substantial studies that support the effectiveness of medical cannabis in providing relief from muscle spasms. But in addition to acting upon the receptors in the endocannabinoid system and reducing inflammation, there is another way the herb works upon the spasms.
One of the chief courses of action of medical cannabis on muscle spasms is recovering the muscle itself. This has attracted the attention of athletes worldwide who are resorting to it for their muscle recovery and relief. The muscle growth process in any exercise leads to pain and inflammation because the muscle tissues are torn down and regenerated.
Medical cannabis is helpful in alleviating such pain, muscular inflammation, exercise-induced oxidative stress and lessening inflammation’s effect on it. As a result of this, it aids in the recovery of the hampered muscle tissues.
Common patients and elite athletes alike have reported a significant reduction in the severity and frequency of their muscle spasms and pain with the consumption of medical cannabis based medication. They also reported a smoother and better muscle function.
Conclusion
Research and studies have made it clear today that medical cannabis can provide remarkable relief from muscle spasms and aid muscle recovery. In addition, it acts as an excellent analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.
Moreover, its chemical secretions have quick action on the body’s endocannabinoid system and influence the body’s response to symptomatic pain and inflammation.
Anecdotal evidence, testimonies, experiments and clinical trials; all acknowledge medical cannabis as a safe and potent treatment aid for muscle spasms, that too without any side effects shown by conventional drugs.
If you are considering using medical cannabis as a muscle spasm treatment and muscle recovery, then our expert team at Hempstreet is here to aid you. Feel free to contact us to know more about Hempstreet products and their usage. We are always here to help you with the right medical consultation and the most suited medication regime for you.
References
Medical Marijuana and Muscle Spasms
Medical Marijuana For Muscle Spasms
Discover How Patients With Muscle Spasms Are Using Medical Cannabis
