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Oct
If you’re an athlete, you’re probably acutely aware of the importance of recovery after competition or strenuous training sessions. However, you might not be aware of the role medical marijuana can play in accelerating this process to ensure optimal performance and health in the future. Here are three key benefits medical marijuana can offer athletes during their recovery process.
An Overview of the Benefits and Effects of Medicinal Cannabis
Sports, weed, and New York: the three words that can be found in a headline from almost any media outlet nowadays. As recreational marijuana legalization becomes more widespread and more states move to legalize medicinal cannabis, athletes are turning to it as a means of recovery. However, not all athletes know the benefits of using this drug and how to best take advantage of its effects. The following is an overview of what medicinal cannabis can do for athletic recovery and how athletes should take advantage of this new resource.
Pain Relief
Over the past few years, medical marijuana has been gaining popularity as an alternative treatment. With the legalization of recreational marijuana use in several states, more people are turning to weed to treat pain and other conditions. This new trend has caused a lot of confusion over whether or not using marijuana can be beneficial for athletes who want to recover from injury and use painkillers without worrying about addiction. So what is the truth behind this? Is weed really safe? What should you know if you’re considering using it?
In order to understand how medical weed may help with recovery from sports injuries, we need to first look at how opiates work on your body in comparison.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Medical marijuana is a tool to help with the inflammatory process. New York University’s Department of Physical Therapy has been studying the effects of cannabis on athletes and have found that cannabis can be a very effective anti-inflammatory. The inflammation process is what causes pain, so by reducing inflammation you are helping eliminate pain. Not only does medical marijuana reduce inflammation but it also helps in repairing muscle fibers and reduces spasms which can be caused by arthritis.
A Closer Look at the Endocannabinoid System in Muscles
There’s a new fitness trend going around, and it has to do with using medical marijuana. The word cannabis is typically associated with getting high and not being productive, but there are many benefits to using it that have nothing to do with getting high. One of the ways medical marijuana can help athletes is by acting as an anti-inflammatory and relieving pain. Another way is by helping muscles recover more quickly after strenuous physical activity by promoting new blood flow in the body.
Started in New York City, this movement has spread all over America and even as far as Australia. In New York City alone, there are now dozens of gyms and cannabis clubs where people go to work out after smoking pot or eating edibles.
How Cannabinoids Work to Reduce Muscle Soreness
Cannabinoids are chemicals produced by plants, called the cannabis plant. When they interact with the body’s receptors, they affect things like pain and inflammation. Cannabinoids can also help to reduce muscle soreness. One of the most studied cannabinoids is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is found in both marijuana and hemp. THC interacts with CB1 receptors that have been linked to pain and inflammation in the brain and central nervous system. However, because not all CB1 receptors are connected to these sensations, it’s unclear exactly how THC reduces soreness.
Cannabis as a Treatment for Post-Workout Muscle Aches
Post-workout muscle aches are an unfortunate side effect of exercise, but cannabis can help. Research has shown that cannabis can help soothe post-workout muscle pain by relieving the body’s inflammatory response to exercise and reducing the levels of cortisol, a hormone that contributes to soreness and fatigue. If you’re an athlete who uses medical marijuana, there are three ways to take cannabis during your post-workout routine: as soon as possible after finishing your workout; before bed if you have a long day ahead; or in the morning with breakfast.
1) As soon as possible after finishing your workout: many people find that using cannabis right after exercising helps them feel better faster because it reduces their level of inflammation.
Approved Treatments vs. Botanical Medicine
Treatments such as DMSO and MSM are approved by the FDA for use in sports recovery. These treatments can be applied topically or taken orally. There is some evidence that these treatments may help with muscle soreness, physical stress, and inflammation. Botanical medicines, on the other hand, come from plants such as cannabis or kava and are not regulated by the FDA.
Is CBD Right For You?
CBD is one of the non-psychoactive compounds found in cannabis and hemp plants. In other words, it won’t make you high. CBD has been shown to provide relief from a wide range of conditions and symptoms, including pain, anxiety, depression, psychosis, seizures, spasms, insomnia and nausea. It’s also been found to improve mood and sleep patterns.