Almost everyone has been startled by a muscle cramp or “charlie horse” in the middle of the night which can be extremely painful and uncomfortable. These cramps or spasms can happen to almost anyone from overweight people, elderly people and athletes.

cannabis pain reliefWhat Causes Muscle Cramps?

Muscle cramps remain a mystery to most doctors and studies have shown that they are several factors which can be attributed to experiencing muscle spasms.

Common causes of Muscle Spasms:

  • Dehydration
  • Pregnancy
  • Over exercising
  • Injury
  • Prescription Medication
  • Extreme Temperatures
  • Age
  • Medical Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis & Amyotrophic Sclerosis

Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Amyotrophic Sclerosis (ALS) typically experience muscle spasms and involuntary movements which are uncontrollable and lead to stiffness, aches and pains in the joints and lower back.

Traditional prescription medication if often used to treat these diseases to reduce muscle cramps however sometimes fail to alleviate the pain associated from muscle spasms.

Leg Cramps

Leg cramps are the most commonly experienced muscle spasms which commonly occur in the calf and hamstring muscles. The pain can last from seconds to minutes and can be excruciatingly painful and the after effects can last up to 24 hours.

They are extremely common as studies have found that 40% of people who suffer from leg cramps will get them at least 3 times weekly and 1 in 3 people over the age of 60 suffer from regular leg cramps

treating muscle spams with cannabisTreating Muscle Spasms with Medical Marijuana

There are several common remedies for treating muscle spasms which include massaging the muscle, placing a heating pad or ice pack on the area, pain killers such ibuprofen or Advil, or simply hydrating the body.

In recent years, marijuana has become a natural, common and effective solution for treating muscle spasms instead of using prescription medication which can often times have side effects such as bloating, diarrhea, heartburn, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms are not experienced when using marijuana to treat muscle spasms.

Cannabis has been effective for reducing inflammation which if often caused by muscle spasms. Studies have shown that cannabinoids such as THC and CBD act as an anti-inflammatory and provide relief for the pain resulted after an injury.

Several studies on marijuana treatment for multiple sclerosis has found that cannabis can reduce muscle cramps more than 20% after 1 month of treatment in more than half the subjects. Another study in 2013 has shown that the CBD and THC reduced the phenotype responsible for the inflammation for MS patients

Cannabis has become an effective treatment and patients can now order cannabis products online and found on Weed List such as cannabis oils, cannabis capsules, edibles, topicals and a variety of strains for pain relief.

Effective Cannabis Strains for Treating Muscle Spasms

Cannabis can come in several forms such as indica, sativa or hybrid strains which can all provide different effects on the body, varying levels of THC and CBD. For instance indica will provide a deep sense of relaxation while sativa will provide a more energizing experience.

Here are 5 recommended strains to treat muscle spasms:

1. Blue Dream

This is one of the most popular strains which is known to help with muscle tension, spasms, injuries and cramps. Blue Dream contains THC levels as high as 25% and CBD as high as 2%. It provides patients with a calm feeling and full-body relaxation. Since this strain is sativa-dominant it is perfect for both daytime and night time consumption.

2. OG Kush

This strain is another popular strain around the world which has THC levels as high as 25%. It has a balanced profile of indica and sativa. Not recommended for newbies due to its high level of THC but also great for both daytime and evening usage.

3. White Widow

The very first of the “white” strains that originated from Holland. This strain will provide users a cerebral and relaxing feeling. White Widows is a perfect strain for the end of the day that will help combat stress, anxiety and of course pain relief. It has been well known to help relax the muscles and alleviate pain for up to 4 hours. It has THC content as high as 25%.

4. Blueberry

This classic indica strain will certainly leave you feeling relaxed and euphoric. Blueberry is popular among medical marijuana users as it provides heavy body relaxation, relief from muscle spasms and gives you a good night’s rest. It has a cannabinoid profile with THC levels as high as 18% and CBD as high as 2%.

5. Northern Lights

One of the most famous cannabis strains around the world which is effective for treating muscle spasms and many users have reported it as effective for combatting chronic pain. Northern Lights is a potent indica-dominant strain (95%) which has several medical benefits such as relieving sleeplessness, nausea and suppress muscle spasms. It contains THC levels as high as 20% and can certainly knock you out which is why it’s ideal to be taken at the end of the day.

Cannabis Topicals

Cannabis topicals such as creams, balms and salves are commonly overlooked but can be effective when used on localized areas such as the neck, legs and glutes to relieve muscle tension. Although topicals can contain high amounts of THC they won’t get you high.

While cannabis can be consumed, when used topically it can increase circulation and relief to common areas where muscle spasms may occur. Simply rub the cannabis topical to affected areas and they can deliver relief to the affected areas.

Conclusion

Using cannabis to treat leg cramps or muscle spasms can certainly be beneficial and unlike prescription medications do have extreme side effects or aren’t addictive. You can find the cannabis strains mentioned in this article here on Weed List as well as other similar products that can help provide pain relief or discomfort. If you’ve found that marijuana has helped with your muscle spasms, we’d love to hear your thoughts – please provide a comment below.