Cannabis has been used for at least 2,500 years in managing a wide range of ailments. The plant produces more than 100 pharmacologically beneficial extracts, known as cannabinoids.
Popular cannabinoids include cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabichromene (CBC). These compounds are particularly effective against diseases whose main symptoms include pain, anxiety, sleeplessness, inflammation, and nausea.
Thanks to marijuana’s immense therapeutic benefits, cannabis-based products are now standard in industries other than the health and wellness sector. It’s not unusual to find marijuana in beauty and cosmetic products, pet treats, and sports and fitness supplements.
Whether you’re a professional athlete or a fitness buff, there’s a lot to gain by incorporating weed into your health and fitness routine. This post looks at the various ways cannabis may aid muscle recovery.
Which Cannabis Compounds Are Most Useful For Muscle Recovery?
We’ve just pointed out that marijuana produces at least 100 cannabinoids. Out of this number, cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol are the most widely studied ones.
Cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol are the most abundant compounds in weed, accounting for around 40% of the plant’s total extracts. It’s virtually impossible to miss CBD and THC in cannabis products by https://weedsmart.co/ or other reputable suppliers.
Both cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol offer immense therapeutic benefits. However, there are fundamental differences in how these two cannabinoids impact your body (and, by extension, your workouts).
Like all cannabis products, CBD and THC enter the body via the endocannabinoid system. It is a complex cell-signaling system that plays a vital role in regulating homeostatic balance.
The endocannabinoid system has its receptors (known as endocannabinoid receptors) and neurotransmitters. Typical endocannabinoid receptors include CB1 receptors and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are widely expressed in the brain and central nervous system, while CB2 receptors are more abundant in peripheral body organs such as the gut.
Cannabidiol interacts with CB2 receptors, while tetrahydrocannabinol predominantly binds to CB1 receptors. CB1 receptors are more widespread near the brain explain why THC induces mind-altering effects while CBD does not.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
Ways Cannabis May Aid Muscle Recovery
Cannabis May Relieve Pain
All forms of workouts, regardless of the duration or intensity, involve a degree of pain. Pain is the biggest impediment to muscle recovery.
But pain also happens to be the primary medical issue that cannabis doctors often recommend marijuana for.
Cannabis extracts mainly relieve pain through their positive interactions with the body’s endocannabinoid receptors responsible for pain mediation. One such receptor is the vanilloid receptor.
Cannabis may also ease muscle pain by increasing anandamide signaling. Anandamide is a popular neurotransmitter cited for its role in pain mediation. Marijuana may improve anandamide signaling by blocking fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), an inhibitory enzyme that degrades anandamide.
Cannabis May Alleviate Inflammation
Inflammation is a natural, usually spontaneous, response to foreign substances in the body, such as bacteria and pathogens. It could also result from microscopic damage to muscle tissues caused by strenuous workouts.
Workouts-induced inflammation usually resolves on its own. But it can cause excruciating pain while it lasts.
Over the years, cannabis has emerged as one of the most effective natural remedies against inflammation. Marijuana mainly alleviates inflammation by inhibiting the chemicals involved in transmitting inflammatory messenger activity, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines.
In addition to preventing cytokines from activating, cannabis may also alleviate muscle inflammation by inhibiting T-cell proliferation and metastasis.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
Cannabis May Relieve DOMS
It refers to the pain and soreness experienced in muscles about 24 – 72 hours following periods of rigorous workouts.
Like pain and inflammation, DOMS has a way of resolving itself. However, the condition can induce workout downtimes while it lasts.
Fortunately, this is another area where marijuana has proven to be incredibly useful.
Numerous studies have shown that cannabis may relieve the pain and inflammation associated with DOMS.
Marijuana extracts like cannabidiol are also potent vasodilators. The vasodilatory properties of CBD may help in dilating constricted blood vessels, thereby promoting blood circulation to your tender, inflamed muscles. The net result is faster relief from various symptoms of DOMS.
Cannabis May Aid Sleep
Sleep is crucial to our physical health. It’s by having an adequate sleep that our muscles heal and repair themselves from all the microscopic damages caused by strenuous workouts.
A good night’s sleep can also boost our mental focus and overall daytime productivity. Not to mention its ability to improve our respiratory health and blood circulation system.
But despite the central role sleep plays in our life, cases of insomnia are ever rampant. Sleeplessness is a severe condition, particularly for professional athletes and fitness freaks.
Now, cannabis has demonstrated remarkable potential for improving sleep quality and duration. The herb boasts powerful sedative properties, which may help to shorten sleep onset time.
Studies have also shown that marijuana may shorten rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the stage during sleep marked by intense dreaming. This is especially beneficial for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who may experience sleep-disrupting nightmares.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
Final Word
There are several ways cannabis may help with muscle recovery. However, it’s recommended to consult your doctor before integrating marijuana into your fitness routine.
Also, remember to consume cannabis in moderation. Although weed has a relatively higher safety profile than other medicinal herbs, an overdose could trigger a host of adverse effects.
