How Does CBD Help in the Treatment of Muscle Spasms?

Muscle spasms can occur at any particular time, regardless of age. Some people are vulnerable to muscle spasms and get them often with any physical exertion. Did you know that CBD may be useful in treating muscle spasms? This article will help you understand how CBD may help treat muscle spasms.

Almost everyone has experienced muscle spasms at least once in their lives. When these spasms become chronic, they need medical attention. Muscle spasms cause sudden pain and tightness in the muscle, and they tend to get in the way of everyday activities. Athletes and overweight people are more likely to experience muscle spasms though anyone else is at risk of getting them. Some patients experience muscle spasms as a side effect of their medication. For instance, the medicine used for asthma, blood pressure, and Alzheimer's is likely to cause muscle spasms. Most people with muscle spasms now rely on CBD medicine to relieve their symptoms. CBD relieves pain and inflammation to help you feel more comfortable. This article will help you understand how CBD can help treat muscle spasms.

What are Muscle Spasms?

According to Maughan et al. (2019), muscle spasms are also referred to as muscle cramps and involuntary contractions. Anyone can experience muscle spasms. The most common affected areas include thighs, arms, claws, hands, and feet. The level of pain ranges from mild to severe pain. When you get muscle spasms, the affected area gets harder and looks distorted. The spasms can last for a few seconds, up to ten minutes, or more. Muscle spasms happen anytime, like when you're exercising, sleeping, walking, swimming, and so on. they can happen to anyone regardless of age. However, some people suffer more compared to others. For instance, people with arthritis, diabetes, or spinal injuries can suffer more from muscle spasms than people in perfect health.

What Causes Muscle Spasms?

Below are some of the issues that can cause muscle spasms:

• Stress
• Dehydration
• Muscle Fatigue
• Electrolyte imbalances
• Excess caffeine
• Lack of sleep
• Lack of enough stretching before physical exercise

How to Reduce Muscle Spasms

There are other ways you can reduce muscle spasms. However, if you suffer from an illness or take medication that results in muscle pain, the following pointers may not benefit you. You may benefit from the tips below if you regularly experience muscle spasms.

• Hydrate
• Ensure you stretch before any physical activities
• Try lowering your stress levels
• Rest well at night
• Cut down on caffeine
• Take mineral supplements that include magnesium, potassium, and sodium
• Avoid over-exercising.

Muscle Spasms and the Endocannabinoid System

The endocannabinoid system comprises cannabinoid receptors: CB1 and CB2. Endocannabinoids are cannabinoids that are manufactured inside the body, and they help modulate various functions and processes. Here are some processes regulated by the endocannabinoid.

• Moods
• Memory
• Fertility
• Appetite
• Sleep
• Immune response
• Metabolism

Endocannabinoids interact with the body in the same way that cannabinoids from the hemp plant do, and they do so by interacting with CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are located in the nervous system, in connective tissues, the intestines, and gonads. CB2 receptors are located in the white blood cells, the spleen, thymus, and lymphatic system. These receptors interact with CBD and other cannabinoids. Gugliandolo et al. (2020) stated that CBD influences receptor activity. The study above suggested that CBD interacts with neurotransmitters to alleviate inflammation and relieve pain.

A muscle contracts, causing spasms due to a chemical message from the central nervous system. The endocannabinoid system can handle this and reduce pain and contractions. However,  if the body fails to produce enough endocannabinoids to prevent the chemical signals, muscle cramps will continue causing discomfort, and that's where CBD comes in handy. CBD interacts with CB1 receptors in the central nervous system and efficiently decelerates the chemical signals causing spasms. This helps the muscle relax and lessens muscle contractions.

Can CBD Relieve Muscle Spasms?

CBD interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system to alleviate muscle spasms and related pain.

CBD Relaxes Muscles

According to Baron et al. (2018), CBD is among the best muscle relaxants. It works to eliminate muscle cramps, unlike painkillers which just numb the pain. The best thing about CBD is that it deals with a problem at its root and impacts the chemical signals that bring about muscle spasms.

Unlike spasmolytic muscle relaxants, CBD works with your body's natural functions, not against them. Spasmolytic muscle relaxants may be harmful, especially for aged people. They increase heart rate and blood pressure. CBD is safe, doesn't increase heart rate, and has no cases of addiction to the cannabinoid.

CBD Alleviates Stress

According to Giacoppo et al. (2015), CBD helps alleviate stress, prompting muscle spasms. CBD is reported to help reduce stress and anxiety. Even though stress is not directly associated with muscle spasms, it may be one of the reasons you're experiencing muscle spasms. You ought to work towards eliminating them if your muscle spasms are caused by stress. CBD can be a long-term solution to muscle spasms by lowering stress levels.

CBD for Better Sleep

Lack of enough sleep can cause muscle cramps. Soleymanpour et al. (2021) stated that CBD could help you sleep better and achieve a full night's sleep. High CBD doses before bed can help you sleep better if you have difficulties sleeping. Stress is usually the main cause of lack of sleep. Hurd et al. (2019) indicated that CBD could impact cortisol levels. Cortisol is responsible for the regulation of sleep cycles. People who have insomnia have high cortisol levels, which keeps them up. High CBD doses at night reduce cortisol levels, enabling you to sleep easily and faster.

CBD Helps Muscle Recovery

CBD can aid in muscle recovery. Most fitness enthusiasts and athletes use CBD since it helps speed up muscle recovery. However, if you experience muscle cramps after exercise, CBD may help you get long-term relief. When one is exercising, muscles may tear and rebuild during the recovery period. During recovery, some individuals may experience spa you'll experience less discomfort when you recover efficiently.

How Much CBD Should One Take for Muscle Spasms?

According to Boggs et al. (2018), the amount of CBD you take depends on how your body responds to CBD. If it's your first time using CBD, starting with a smaller dose and increasing it is advisable. The dosage required to prevent muscle spasms varies from person to person, so you may be required to experiment until you find your balance. Slowly increase your dosages until you get the effect you desire.

Oils are the simplest to determine how many milligrams of CBD you require to manage muscle spasms. It's okay to adjust your dosage by increasing or decreasing the drops of oil you take.

Conclusion

CBD is an incredible way to alleviate muscle spasms and the pain they cause. Unlike other muscle relaxants, CBD has few negative effects on one's body and is a natural product. Not only does CBD solve the problem directly, but also it has other benefits that work together to alleviate muscle spasms fully. The amount of CBD one should take to relieve muscle spasms depends on your body's response to CBD. In case you experience difficulties dosing CBD, you can consult your doctor, and they may be able to help you determine your ideal dose.

References

Baron, E. P., Lucas, P., Eades, J., & Hogue, O. (2018). Patterns Of Medicinal Cannabis Use, Strain Analysis, And Substitution Effect Among Patients With Migraine, Headache, Arthritis, And Chronic Pain In A Medicinal Cannabis Cohort. The Journal Of Headache And Pain, 19(1), 1-28.

Boggs, D. L., Nguyen, J. D., Morgenson, D., Taffe, M. A., & Ranganathan, M. (2018). Clinical And Preclinical Evidence For Functional Interactions Of Cannabidiol And Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol. Neuropsychopharmacology, 43(1), 142-154.

Giacoppo, S., Galuppo, M., Pollastro, F., Grassi, G., Bramanti, P., & Mazzon, E. (2015). A New Formulation Of Cannabidiol In Cream Shows Therapeutic Effects In A Mouse Model Of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis. Daru Journal Of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 23(1), 1-17.

Gugliandolo, A., Silvestro, S., Chiricosta, L., Pollastro, F., Bramanti, P., & Mazzon, E. (2020). The Transcriptomic Analysis Of Nsc-34 Motor Neuron-Like Cells Reveals Cannabigerol Influences Synaptic Pathways: A Comparative Study With Cannabidiol. Life, 10(10), 227.

Hurd, Y. L., Spriggs, S., Alishayev, J., Winkel, G., Gurgov, K., Kudrich, C., ... & Salsitz, E. (2019). Cannabidiol For Reducing Cue-Induced Craving And Anxiety In Drug-Abstinent Individuals With Heroin Use Disorder: A Double-Blind, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. American Journal Of Psychiatry, 176(11), 911-922.

Maughan, R. J., & Shirreffs, S. M. (2019). Muscle Cramping During Exercise: Causes, Solutions, And Questions Are Remaining. Sports Medicine, 49(2), 115-124.

Soleymanpour, M., Saderholm, S., & Kavuluru, R. (2021, December). Therapeutic Claims In Cannabidiol (Cbd) Marketing Messages On Twitter. In 2021 Ieee International Conference On Bioinformatics And Biomedicine (Bibm) (Pp. 3083-3088). Ieee.