You’re waiting for a leg cramp to finally go away in the middle of the night while you’re stranded staring at the ceiling. Even though leg cramps aren’t particularly painful, they can be annoying, especially if they prevent you from falling asleep. If you’re looking for natural relief, you can get an MMJ card online and explore medical cannabis as a potential solution.
Fortunately, CBD is an all-natural, plant-based remedy that may help you regain your normalcy and enhance your quality of life. Numerous patients have reported that CBD has provided the support they need to treat and prevent leg cramps, despite your skepticism about using it (especially if you don’t know the exact cause of the cramp).
This guide will assist you if you’re looking for a leg cramp remedy that works.
Contents
Leg Cramps: Common Causes and Traditional Treatments
Cramping is a rather nebulous symptom with numerous potential causes, such as:
- Overexertion: Your body may be attempting to recuperate from excessive muscle strain following (or during) a strenuous workout, shopping excursion, or workday.
- Compression: Your leg muscles may be more compressed than usual if you have another medical condition, such as a mobility issue. Compression can cause cramping and nerve agitation.
- Chronic pain: You may modify your daily activities, posture, or gait to compensate for pain. These changes may therefore result in cramping or unexpected soreness in certain areas.
Regarding therapies, medical professionals generally advise:
- Drinking more water
- Light exercise and stretching
- Over-the-counter analgesics (such as acetaminophen and NSAIDs)
Physicians may recommend muscle relaxants in the most severe cases of persistent cramping, particularly if spasms accompany the cramps.
CBD for Leg Cramps
Consider cannabidiol (CBD) if the above traditional treatments don’t work for you or if you prefer a more holistic approach over a prescription drug. One of the most common cannabinoids in the Cannabis sativa plant, CBD is well known for its ability to reduce pain, promote relaxation, and aid in sleep.
Let’s examine how CBD may be used by patients to alleviate some of the causes (and related symptoms) of leg cramps.
Physical Tension
How do we know that CBD can ease the muscle tension that can lead to and worsen leg cramps?
- Clinical evidence: Research has demonstrated that CBD can relax muscles and has anticonvulsant effects. For those who experience cramps, soreness, and spasms, these are the main effects.
- Anecdotal reports: For a very long time, people have been using CBD to treat muscle cramps and spasms. There is no doubting that people are using CBD to get the relief they require, even though the Western medical system may not acknowledge this anecdotal evidence.
Sleep Disturbance
Leg cramps frequently appear at night and can cause:
- Disturbances in sleep
- Uncomfortable sleep
- Initially having trouble falling asleep
Fortunately, sleep support is one of CBD’s best-known advantages. CBD is used by countless patients to:
- Relax their bodies and minds: CBD can help if you have regular anxiety symptoms or simply can’t stop thinking before bed. Certain strains encourage a general feeling of calm, and the muscle-relaxing effects of CBD can help you unwind both mentally and physically.
- Get more restful sleep: CBD can help you sleep better overall. CBD can provide the help you need, whether you’re recuperating from sore muscles, need a boost of energy after a demanding workday, or just need a good night’s sleep to feel better about yourself.
Leg cramps may be preventing you from falling asleep, or maybe you’re having trouble falling asleep because you’re afraid of getting a cramp at night. In any scenario, CBD might provide the relaxation you require and help you regain good sleep hygiene.
Chronic Pain
CBD is a non-addictive, non-psychoactive, and safe way to relieve pain. In addition, anecdotal reports from medical cannabis users and clinical data both attest to its great effectiveness.
Persistent leg cramps may have chronic pain as a symptom or as an underlying cause. Additionally, these two conditions can combine to create a vicious cycle from which it is almost impossible to break.
Consider CBD if you’re searching for a natural, plant-based substitute for pharmaceutical treatments (such as opioids, which have high dependence and overdose risks). Here is a quick overview of how CBD and THC relieve pain, even though we have a comprehensive guide available:
- Our endocannabinoid system (ECS) receptors are impacted by cannabinoids, including THC and CBD. All people are born with these receptors.
- Pain perception is one of the many functions of these receptor networks in nerve signaling throughout the body.
- To disrupt pain signaling and lessen overall perceived pain, CBD can interact with ECS receptors.
Using CBD for Leg Cramps
Considering everything mentioned above, how can one begin using CBD to treat leg cramps?
Choose a Cannabis Strain
Selecting a cannabis strain, a subtype of the cannabis plant with a distinct profile, is the first step. Each strain is unique, and each person reacts differently to each strain.
You can begin your quest for the ideal strain in a few different ways:
- Speak with a cannabis medical professional. If you are having trouble finding a strain that works for you, a medical cannabis clinician can help you find one that does.
- Speak with a budtender: The knowledgeable staff behind the counter of your neighborhood pharmacy or dispensary, known as “budtenders,” are knowledgeable about cannabis products. Every day, they hear from patients like you about what works and what doesn’t.
- Do some research online. Lists of patient-favorite strains for a wide range of medical issues can be found online at sites like the Online Medical Card blog.
Selecting the Right CBD Administration Method
You can select an administration method based on your preferences and lifestyle while keeping a strain in mind. Here is a summary of what you can do:
- Smoking: Smoking pure plant matter, or cannabis flower, is a tried-and-true method of introducing cannabinoids into your body. It isn’t very subtle, though; it emits smells and smoke. Nevertheless, it is easy to use and has a quick action.
- Vaping: The quick action of smoking without the smoke and smells is provided by vaping. However, compared to raw cannabis flower, vape products can be slightly pricier.
- Edibles: Although they don’t act as quickly as smoking or vaping, cannabis-infused candies, baked goods, and drinks are remarkably subtle, easy to use, and carefully dosed. For those who are new to cannabis, edibles are an excellent option.
- Oils and tinctures: Oils and tinctures, which are liquid extractions based on fat and alcohol, respectively, provide the subtlety that certain patients seek. Oils and tinctures are also excellent options for beginners, though exact dosage may need some calculations.
- Topicals: Cannabis-infused topicals, such as lotions, balms, and ointments, can be very effective in treating localized pain if you suffer from severe cramping and pain. Additionally, since these products don’t enter the bloodstream, topicals provide a very beginner- and skeptic-friendly starting point if you’re hesitant about consuming or smoking CBD.
Refine Your Dosage
If you have never used cannabis before, we advise beginning with a small dose of your preferred cannabinoid (CBD or THC).
Here are some possible starting points based on your experience level, though you’ll probably need to experiment to find your ideal dosage:
- Complete novice: Take a few puffs of a smokable product (a joint or a vape), use a pea-sized amount of a cannabis topical, or take edible or liquid doses of 5 mg or less of CBD or THC.
- Infrequent user: The dosages listed above are probably a good place for you to start if you have used cannabis in the past but very infrequently.
- Moderate user: If you currently use cannabis products once a week or more, start with seven to ten milligrams of an edible or liquid product or five puffs of a smokable product. For experienced users, a dime-sized dose of a topical is usually a good place to start.
- Regular user: Including CBD in your routine is probably not going to cause anxiety if you currently take THC daily or several times a day. That being said, think about starting out small when using new products. For example, a quarter-sized dollop of a topical, 10 puffs of a smokeable, or 10 mg of a CBD edible, tincture, or oil are all reasonable starting points that might be effective for you.
Online Medical Card: Bridging the Gap to Medical Cannabis Access
For those who are unfamiliar with CBD and medical cannabis, this is a lot to process. When you need advice regarding cannabis treatment, keep in mind that there are experts you can consult. Whether you’re seeking relief or considering cultivation, obtaining a CA cannabis grower license can be a step toward greater accessibility and understanding of medical cannabis.
Finding trustworthy healthcare professionals who are knowledgeable about cannabis is now simpler than ever thanks to Online Medical Card. Simply contact our provider network to be paired with a qualified, experienced clinician who can help you.
The Online Medical Card is prepared to assist you in achieving your goal of healing because you deserve it.
