Muscle spasms affect millions of people in different ways. Some struggle with chronic pain due to degenerative diseases, like multiple sclerosis, while others have issues with muscle spasticity during menstruation. So, does marijuana relax muscles?
At LeafMed, a leading Mississippi medical cannabis dispensary, we help you understand all the science-backed health benefits of medical marijuana. According to the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, multiple sclerosis is a qualifying condition for medical cannabis. Read on to learn how the marijuana can relax muscle spasms.
Using Medical Marijuana for Muscle Spasms
Medical marijuana’s active component and effectiveness when relaxing muscle spasms differ depending on the source of your spasm. We discuss everything you need to know, including what the research says about how medical marijuana can help with muscle spasms.
Are Muscle Spasms Common?
Because so many conditions cause muscle spasms, they’re incredibly common.
Approximately 2.5 million people suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS), while another 15 million have spinal cord injuries causing similar symptoms. Both conditions can lead to muscle spasticity, uncontrollable spasms, tightness, and pain. Aside from these severe, common conditions, muscle spasms come in many other forms.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), for example, can cause spontaneous contractions in the colon characterized by severe stomach discomfort. Similarly, menstrual cycles can cause the uterus to contract and relax, creating cramps. Additional conditions, like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), fatigue, dehydration, stress, and blood flow restriction, can all cause similar reactions.
Simply hitting the gym and working out your muscles may leave you with a painful twitching or tightness sensation. Overuse of muscle relaxers or poor nutrition can lead to the same result.
Symptoms of Muscle Spasms
Muscle spasms cause a range of unique symptoms depending on the cause. For example, patients with MS versus spinal cord injuries likely experience different forms of spasms, despite the similar symptoms. The most common symptoms of muscle spasms include the following:
- Sudden muscle contractions
- Forceful or involuntary muscle contractions
- Muscle or joint pain and stiffness
- Side stitch sensations
- Skin feeling hard to the touch
- Skin numbness
- Pins and needles sensations
- Paralysis
If you’ve experienced any of the above symptoms, you’re likely desperate for a remedy. So, does marijuana relax muscles during a spasm?
How Medical Marijuana Can Relax Muscle Spasms
Medical marijuana includes numerous cannabinoids that bind to your endocannabinoid system, which is in charge of monitoring your immune responses, central nervous system, and critical organs. Essentially, cannabinoids can activate or relax many of your major bodily functions.
Medical cannabis relaxes muscle spasms by suppressing immune responses to triggers and activating an anti-inflammatory mechanism to prevent spasms after injury. At the same time, cannabinoids regulate the central nervous system, slowing MS progression and improving flare-ups.
In clinical research, patients using medical cannabis saw a significant reduction in muscle spasticity by double the rate of the placebo group. A study by the American Academy of Neurology confirmed similar results for MS patients seeing reduced muscle spasms. Overwhelming research agrees that medical marijuana can alleviate muscle spasms and the pain associated with them.
Preventing Spasms With Improved Muscle Recovery
Medical marijuana may be able to alleviate muscle spasms mid-flare-up, though another key benefit is its ability to potentially prevent them. Athletes with aggressive training regimes know how severe muscle spasms can become after workout sessions.
Medical cannabis can reduce muscular inflammation, exercise-induced oxidative stress, cell damage, and general pain. By doing so, the natural remedy can improve muscle recovery and prevent the painful spasms for athletes.
You can use CBD oil to relieve or prevent muscle spasms in numerous ways, including vaping, applying topicals, consuming edibles, taking tincture oil drops, and more, depending on your preferences.
Learn More About Medical Marijuana’s Role in Improving Muscle Spasms
So, does marijuana relax muscles during a spasm? According to clinical research, it can. If you’re interested in medical marijuana for muscle spasms, visit one of our LeafMed dispensary locations in Mississippi, or call our team to learn more (228) 382-5323.