Looking at some of the potential health benefits and upsides of using marijuana for injury recovery, and what you need to know about this plant’s ability to treat pain and inflammation. Athletes and non-athletes alike can sustain injuries associated with physical activity or sports. Pains and aches can affect anyone.
Many people nowadays are using pharmaceutical prescriptions to treat these injuries. Sadly, many of these drugs are far more harmful than helpful. An injury sustained in sports may turn into a lifetime battle with painkillers.
There are other alternatives. Marijuana is one of them. Now that marijuana has been legalized in several U.S. states, researchers are attempting to dispel some myths surrounding the drug. But is marijuana a miracle drug that boosts athletic performance, or does its adverse side effects outweigh its positive aspects?
Continue reading below to learn about the benefits of marijuana for injury recovery and why this may be a sensible choice for you.
Reduces Inflammation
A promising avenue of cannabis research focuses on reducing muscle and joint inflammation. CBD, the non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in marijuana, has been found to reduce inflammation in numerous studies. Researchers have now begun investigating its potential for treating autoimmune diseases such as Lupus, Crohn’s disease, and Psoriasis.
For people who want to gain the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD without smoking it or getting high, topical products are recommended. Topicals and tinctures are excellent for localized recovery. Individuals can take them at very high concentrations.
To use medical marijuana to treat personal injury, you might need to get legal approval in some state, like Massachusetts.
Ease Soreness And Pain
Accompanied by its anti-inflammatory properties, cannabis is also known to alleviate pain. This field is one central area of focus for cannabis research that has shown positive results. You can use marijuana to alleviate pain caused by almost everything from chronic pain to acute pain and muscle spasms, studies have observed—and that’s satisfying news for people looking for reliable alternatives to harmful, habit-forming painkillers.
Improves Sleep
It’s common knowledge that THC promotes sleep. Studies have also discovered that it can further assist people with sleep apnea and suppress dreams, advantageous for PTSD. Meanwhile, CBD can ease daytime fatigue and REM sleep disorder. It’s no secret how vital sleep is to overall fitness, which can be highly beneficial for optimal healing and recovery.
However, marijuana’s effect on sleep does come with some warnings. A small study in 2004 noted that the consumption of THC before bedtime resulted in more sleepiness, impaired memory, and tiredness the next day.
Treats Muscle Spasms
Medical application for cannabis is also seen in the area of treating muscle spasms. Cannabis has shown encouraging results in treating muscle spasms linked with diseases like Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis, and its advantages could spread to athletes suffering from spasms as well. Studies using rodents show some encouraging effects of cannabis in muscle recovery and reduction of muscle spasms, most likely due to the anti-inflammatory properties possessed by the compound.
Scientists state that the health application of marijuana in this area is a relatively new field of study. They need more research on actual athletes who suffer from any of these conditions. More research needs to be carried out before any recommendation for the use of cannabis to treat spasms can be made with any confidence. The problem is that there is not enough scientific evidence to support the fact that it works in humans, as it does in rodents.
Professional Athletes and Use Of Marijuana
It is widely known that several professional athletes consume medical cannabis. Both NBA and NFL players have predicted that roughly 80% of their players use marijuana to handle anxiety, hurt, and a collection of other issues.
It’s also estimated that some NFL players abuse and misuse opioids at significantly higher levels than those in general popularity due to the predominance of collisions leading to concussions and pain in the industry. The need for non-addictive painkillers has resulted in the creation of the Gridiron Cannabis Coalition, a group of NFL players pushing for the legalization of cannabis all over the country.
In conclusion, it is still a very contentious issue whether the government should legalize marijuana across the board and on a federal level. Although this is true, marijuana has several health benefits that are not in dispute. These benefits are many and can address numerous diseases, disorders, ailments, and conditions. Are you currently recovering from an injury related to sports? Did you suffer any other type of injury? If so, research on marijuana and pain relief is quite promising. If you are interested in this type of treatment but already take medication for pain or other issues, please speak to your doctor. Before using marijuana, it is essential to understand what marijuana can do for you and why you should use it for specific purposes.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for information and entertainment purposes only and is not intended to reflect the specific views of the publication.
