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After a hard workout session, having a tight cramp in the arm or other area is common. Sometimes muscle spasms are chronic and may range from uncomfortable to painful.
There’re certain disorders and diseases that cause muscle spasms. And, many take traditional prescription medicines, change in diet, etc. for relief. However, in some cases, traditional prescription medications fail to provide the required results.
Medical marijuana has become increasingly popular as a natural alternative to medications for muscle spasms. It’s listed among the MMJ qualifying conditions in many states like California. You can easily get your 420 recommendation letter consulting with MMJ doctors in San Diego.
Read along to learn about how effective medical marijuana for muscle spasms is and what are the best cannabis strains for this condition.
Cramps or muscle spasms are common, and the risks are greater among overweight older people. In athletes, the chances of occurrence of muscle spasms increase due to their physical activities.
Spasms can last a few seconds, minutes, and even hours. Usually, they occur in legs, but people can also experience in arms, back, etc.
Medical cannabis contains a wide range of cannabinoids. The two most studied are-
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)- It’s a psychoactive component in the plant, and is responsible for causing the feelings of being HIGH.
CBD (cannabidiol)- It’s a non-psychoactive component, which doesn’t cause any HIGH and provides medicinal benefits.
Medical marijuana is an anti-inflammatory agent, thus helps reducing inflammation, which causes muscle spasms. According to a study conducted by the University of South Carolina, THC deactivates the inflammatory proteins and the immune system’s response is reduced to certain conditions such as muscle injury.
THC interacts with the receptors found in the endocannabinoid system (ECS) of the body, thus reducing the feelings of pain & inflammation, which cause muscle spasms.
A study on muscle spasms concluded that inflammation caused by MS can damage nerve fibers, and medical cannabis can be helpful in relieving inflammation. Also, a 2013 study confirmed that marijuana’s primary components THC and CBD reduced the phenotype that develops inflammation associated with muscle spasms.
In 2011, a study was conducted on 500 subjects, and over 20% of them reported significant improvement in spasticity with an oral cannabis spray named Sativex. The study found that cannabis extracts are beneficial in improving spasticity at twice the rate than placebo.
Seeing the medicinal benefits of marijuana, more pharmaceutical companies are producing and distributing cannabis products. And, researchers are also putting efforts to know the inside story of how exactly medical cannabis works for chronic muscle spasms and how to use it.
Usually, Codeine and other medicines are prescribed for muscle spasms, but the results may vary from patient to patient as everyone’s condition is different. In 1990, a study was done to compare the effectiveness of Codeine and THC for treating muscle spasms. It concluded that THC is more effective over the common pain reliever.
Also, the American Medical Association noted that THC is helpful in patients with muscle tremors caused by trauma and multiple sclerosis.
For people suffering from muscle spasms (whether minor or severe), it’s important to go for CBD-dominant cannabis. Start with a low dose, and analyze how your body responds to medical cannabis. You can try different cannabis strains, and choose what works for your condition the best.
A topical or transdermal patch is effective for patients with severe muscle spasms. The topical cannabis products are easy to apply and effective for localized pain caused by cramps, neuropathy, and fibromyalgia.
Tinctures are good for epileptic conditions and ALS. However, some studies concluded that smoking or vaporizing is highly effective when it comes to using medical cannabis for the treatment of muscle spasms. But, again it depends on how severe your condition is and how your body responds to cannabinoids. You can seek professional help regarding cannabis consumption from a medical marijuana doctor in San Diego.
Medical cannabis has amazing therapeutic effects, and MMJ doctors in San Diego are recommending it for patients with muscle spasms. Also, many US states (California, Alaska, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, etc.) have included muscle spasm in the list of qualifying conditions for 420 med evaluations.
When compared with traditional prescription medications for muscle spasms and pain management, medical marijuana is an affordable, natural and effective solution. If your loved one or you have muscle spasms, and you would like to use medical marijuana for the treatment, you should obtain a doctor’s recommendation.
Talk to a medical marijuana doctor in San Diego to apply for your MMJ card and seek professional help in choosing the right cannabis strains for your condition.
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Santa Ana, CA 92705
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