Every time there is a study or research about new ways of treating physical and psychological health conditions, the topic of cannabis stirs up. Thanks to its therapeutic benefits, professionals have been considering cannabis for treating some of the side effects of rare conditions. The fact that cannabis helps in reducing muscle soreness comes as no surprise.
Muscle soreness
You may have experienced stiffening and inflammations of the muscles after hitting home from an intense workout. While it is quite common to experience such muscle soreness post strenuous activity, such as intense workout, training, running, etc., it may impact your workout routine. That’s because the soreness keeps increasing gradually and may even last for a week in some cases, and you may not feel motivated to hit the gym because of the discomfort. Taking an Advil followed by a hot shower may offer temporary relief, but all NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) impose serious threats, including organ damage as well.
In case you’re skeptical about inhaling cannabis, then you can consume edibles such as gummies, use oils, etc., to benefit from it. Twisted Extracts is one such company that offers the finest cannabis products. Let’s look at the six ways to reduce muscle soreness with the help of cannabis.
1. By alleviating stress
Stress and muscle aches share a strong bond. Any stress, be it physical or psychological, causes muscle tension, ultimately resulting in soreness and aches. Cannabis strains containing low THC and high CBD levels regulate catabolic hormones, mainly, cortisol responsible for the body’s reaction to stress. Cortisol causes the muscle tissues to break as a result of reduced muscle protein synthesis. That said, when present at normal levels, cortisol is good for the body. Cortisol levels increase when you’re stressed, and cannabis helps reduce it to normal levels and prevent any muscle soreness caused due to stress.
2. By reducing the effects of DOMS (Delayed-onset muscle soreness)
Fitness enthusiasts and athletes are aware of the term DOMS (Delayed-onset muscle soreness). After a heavy workout and intense training, muscles start to stiffen up due to microfiber damage to the muscle tissues. The muscle stiffening is the body’s natural response to the injury. DOMS usually begins a day after the strenuous physical activity. That explains why you experience muscle soreness the next morning. Many people associate DOMS and muscle inflammation. However, DOMS does not cause any inflammation but only stiffens the muscles. Cannabis alleviates the effects of delayed-onset muscle soreness and helps in muscle recovery post-workout. You can eliminate the stiffness and pain quickly with the help of cannabis.
3. By improving the quality of sleep
You can evade muscle soreness and pain if you follow a proper sleep schedule. One of the reasons you experience muscle soreness in the morning could be because of inadequate sleep. CBD rich cannabis strains can help people suffering from insomnia and prevent muscle soreness. Your body rests and restores from any damages when you sleep. Processes like protein synthesis, elimination of cellular debris take place when you’re asleep. Lack of adequate sleep also increases cortisol levels in the body resulting in inflammation or muscle soreness. Cannabis regulates the ECS (endocannabinoid system) of the brain and helps you relax and sleep peacefully without disturbance.
4. By reducing post-workout inflammation
Post-workout inflammation is one of the common causes of muscle aches and pain. Cannabis is known for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce any muscle inflammations reducing muscle soreness. It interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the ECS and reduces the release of inflammatory cytokines and soothing the affected areas, and reduces inflammations. It not only helps treat the affected cells but also prevents inflammations when consumed regularly. Post-workout inflammation affects your workout training and may furthermore cause severe injuries if ignored. Cannabis is safer with fewer side effects compared to synthetic medication such as NSAIDs for inflammation.
5. By helping cure other diseases and infections
Health conditions like multiple sclerosis and arthritis cause muscle spasms and trigger muscle aches. People consuming cannabis for medicinal use to treat physical health conditions is increasing. For instance, a survey conducted by the National Multiple Sclerosis in 2017 indicates that more than sixty-six percent of the patients suffering from MS (multiple sclerosis) were using cannabis as a medication. Cannabis interacts with the ECS and affects or alters the receptor’s response to stimulation, and reduces muscle spasms. A study performed by the Centre for Cannabis Medical Research department of the University of California has found that cannabis is efficient in reducing muscle spasms.
6. By boosting muscle protein synthesis
Here’s another way you can alleviate muscle soreness with the help of cannabis by boosting muscle protein synthesis in the body. Muscle protein synthesis refers to the repairing process of damaged muscles and initiating growth by synthesizing the proteins. By speeding muscle protein synthesis, cannabis speeds up the recovery process reducing the ache and also promotes muscle growth, making it a win-win situation for fitness enthusiasts.
Final Thoughts
Cannabis offers several therapeutic benefits associated with physical and psychological health. It can help alleviate chronic pain, stiffness, stress, etc. CBD rich strains of cannabis help immensely in reducing muscle soreness and promote better muscle health as well. CBD (cannabidiol), a non-psychoactive compound present in cannabis, is responsible for several therapeutic benefits. So ensure to use cannabis strains with high CBD levels to treat muscle soreness.
