How to Use CBD for Muscle Spasms
64% of CBD users in America confirm that they use CBD for pain and inflammation. Users find relief from CBD products for everything from period cramps to muscle spasms.
Consumers want more natural methods of managing their chronic pain. Over-the-counter painkillers come with a laundry list of negative side effects. This solves one problem but causes another.
CBD offers a natural alternative for muscle spasm pain management. Keep reading to learn how using CBD for muscle spasms might be the natural answer to all of your pain.
How to Know if You Have Muscle Spasms
Muscle spasms interchangeably referred to as muscle cramps, result from a muscle’s involuntary contractions. Muscle spasms are painful and strike at any time.
The most common muscle groups that experience muscle spasms include the back, legs, arms, hands, and feet. Muscle spasms last anywhere from a few seconds to 15 minutes or longer.
Muscle spasms do not discriminate. They happen to people of all ages, genders, and physical activity levels. However, certain situations put individuals at a greater risk of developing muscle spasms.
These include people with:
- Diabetes
- Anemia
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Spinal Injuries
- Kidney Disease
Other factors increase the risk of muscle spasms. The common problems below may put individuals at an even greater risk of developing sporadic or chronic muscle spasms:
- Too much exercise
- Ignoring stretching before and after exercise
- Dehydration
- Muscle fatigue
- Exercise in hot climates
- Insufficient or imbalanced electrolytes
- Fatigue from lack of sleep
- Increased stress
- Prescription medications such as Wellbutrin, Prozac, Zoloft, and Zyrtec
Muscle spasms may feel mild to debilitating depending on the location and severity of the spasm. Luckily, there are ways to care for sore muscles and achieve pain relief using CBD.
What Is CBD?
CBD is short for cannabidiol which is one of the chemicals extracted from the marijuana (hemp) plant. CBD contains minimal or no THC. THC, short for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical component of marijuana that gets people “high.”
People who avoid CBD products always fear that it is illegal or will make them high. CBD is a different chemical from hemp that is perfectly legal and does not give that “high” effect.
Over-the-counter CBD is primarily used for reducing pain and inflammation as we’ll explain more below.
CBD and the Endocannabinoid System
The endocannabinoid system is part of everyone’s body. It naturally exists in human biology and was discovered in the 1990s.
The endocannabinoid system is a cell-signaling system. This means it works with neuro receptors in the body to control things like muscle spasms.
The endocannabinoid system creates cannabinoids within the body. This helps regulate many biological functions including:
- Metabolism
- Sleep
- Memory
- Hunger
- Reproductive health
- Immunity
- Emotion and mood
Just like the body’s cannabinoids interact with cell signaling, external cannabinoids from CBD also interact with the endocannabinoid system receptors.
Endocannabinoid Receptors: CB1 and CB2
The endocannabinoid system contains two primary receptors known as CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors exist in the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord of the body). They are also in connective tissues surrounding muscles.
CB2 receptors lie within white blood cells which exist throughout the lymph.
The central nervous system sends messages to muscles to contract. The body’s own cannabinoids connect with receptors to relax muscles and stop the pain. However, when the body is not functioning in an optimal state (due to a number of factors) it cannot produce enough cannabinoids to relax the muscle and control the pain.
Luckily, CBD applied topically or taken internally supplements any low cannabinoids at the moment. The CB1 receptors interact with the CBD and signal the central nervous system to relax by slowing the chemical signals.
CBD intervenes as a faster, quicker way to fight muscle spasms on the spot.
Five Ways to Use CBD for Muscle Spasms
CBD products come in many forms. The best CBD for muscle spasms depends on the intensity of your pain and your lifestyle.
These two factors help in creating the right treatment and maintenance protocols. Below we have five different product use ideas that leverage the power of CBD for tension relief.
1. CBD Cooling Roll-on Gel
These rolling cooling gels combine the luxury of a manual massage, the relief of CBD, and the cooling effect of an ice bag. It’s a powerful triple threat for muscle relief.
Often many rolling CBD treatments contain menthol. Menthol is a chemical from peppermint. It causes the skin to cool and then warm.
This reaction provides instant pain relief. In the long run, it eases inflammation of achy muscles.
2. CBD Oil
CBD oil is a natural muscle relaxant. However, it works without the annoying side effects of over-the-counter muscle relaxants that make it hard to perform regular activities.
CBD oil can be applied anywhere on the body. There is even CBD oil to reduce inflamed skin and help with acne.
3. CBD Supplement
Depending on your pain and needs you might want to try an internal treatment over a topical treatment. Topical treatments are generally better for targeted pain relief.
This is because you can simply apply the CBD exactly where you are experiencing the pain. A CBD supplement is helpful at reducing symptoms associated with muscle spasms and causing an overall feeling of relaxation in the body.
4. CBD Patch
There are a few CBD patches on the market that have a highly concentrated, but slow release of CBD. These patches enter the bloodstream, so they work quickly but lack the moisturizing properties of an oil or salve.
5. Thick Overnight Salve Treatment
CBD salves make a great overnight muscle spasm remedy. If you have regular spasms, be proactive and apply a salve.
A salve is a bit thicker than a cream, so it stays in place at night and will leave you feeling relaxed upon waking.
Combat Sore Muscles With Natural CBD
CBD for muscle spasms is an effective natural remedy for simple and effective pain management. CBD’s special ability to connect with the body’s natural endocannabinoid system reduces contractions and pain.
CBD naturally interacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors. Unlike a pain killer that acts as a bandage, CBD gets to the root of the problem.
CBD works with the body to reduce pain and inflammation, which in the long run should help muscles stay relaxed. Whether you have muscle spasms due to dehydration or muscle fatigue, give CBD products a try and you will feel the difference!
Get in touch if you have any questions on which product is right for your symptoms.
