Cannabis may possibly promote the treatment to relieve the symptoms of muscle spasms.

In this comprehensive guide, we will be looking at how it works, why it may be helpful, what dosage is appropriate, and what form is the best. Read on to find out. 

What are Muscle Spasms?

Muscle spasms or muscle cramps are involuntary muscle contractions. Muscle spasms can become a problem, especially if the muscles cannot be relaxed naturally.

You’ve also probably come across the term Charley horse before when going through content about muscle spasms. Well, a Charley horse is essentially a muscle spasm. 

Muscle cramps can happen anywhere in your body. However, they are most common in the leg muscles. 

A muscle spasm is basically harmless but can be very painful, and it can affect anyone at any time. Heck, you can even get a muscle cramp while sleeping or even sitting still.

Some of the risk factors for muscle spasms include anemia, spinal injuries, diabetes, kidney disease, old age, and pregnant women. 

What Causes Muscle Spasms?

The above conditions are just risk factors. However, whether you have them or not, the following are among the common issues that can cause your muscles to spasm. 

  • Working your muscles too much/ over-exercising 
  • Not stretching enough before strenuous physical activity 
  • Poor blood flow
  • Dehydration
  • Muscle fatigue
  • Certain prescription medications 
  • Stress

Muscle spasms and the Endocannabinoid System 

The endocannabinoid system is a complex cell-signaling system made up of the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2.

Everybody has one of these, regardless of whether you use cannabis or not.

This system is responsible for synthesizing endocannabinoids to help you regulate a range of internal functions and processes including:

  • Appetite and metabolism 
  • Immune response
  • Fertility 
  • Sleep
  • Memory
  • Mood and emotion 

Cannabinoids from the hemp plant, including CBD, may interact with the body in the same way endocannabinoids do by interacting with the CB1 and CB2 receptors. They can interact with the body’s neurotransmitters to possible reduce inflation and aid in pain relief.  

Muscle cramps are usually a result of a chemical signal from your central nervous system. Your endocannabinoid system can counter this by producing endocannabinoids to reduce muscle contractions and, consequently, pain.  

Muscle spasms will potentially continue to cause you pain and discomfort if your body’s endocannabinoid system cannot produce enough endocannabinoids.

This is where cannabis comes in. It can potentially interact with your central nervous system’s receptors(CB1), to possibly slow down the chemical messages that are causing your muscles to spasm. This may results in relaxing your muscles and possibly relieving your pain. 

How Cannabis Relieves Muscle Spasms 

Cannabis Potentially Relaxes the Muscles

Most painkillers will work to numb your pain only for a short while. Cannabis, on the other hand, may possibly get to the root of your issues. It has the potential to possibly influence the chemical signals that cause your muscles to spasm, to support pain relief. 

Cannabis Reduces Stress

When it comes to stress and anxiety, CBD is commonly used by patients all over the world. 

Cannabis may potentially focus on the root cause of the muscle spasms by reducing your stress levels, and may serve as a great option for long-term treatment if the cause is stress. However, studies on cannabis need additional research to produce conclusive results. 

Cannabis Aids Muscle Recovery

The key to experiencing less discomfort if you’re an athlete or fitness fanatic is to speed up the muscle recovery process after you’ve engaged in strenuous activity. 

Cannabis has the possibility to promote relief, but it also has numerous possible benefits to promote long-term support by potentially speeding up the muscle recovery process if you normally experience muscle cramps after engaging in excessive physical activity. 

What Dosage is Appropriate?

How much cannabis you should take to possibly relieve your muscle spasms varies from person to person. Depending on the level of your muscle cramps, it may take some time to come up with the right balance. 

You can choose to take it in whatever form that appeals to you the most. However, we recommend oil for those who want to know exactly how many milligrams they need for potential support.

For more information on cannabis and the topic of muscle spasms, visit Transformative Health today and our staff will be happy to help.