Marijuana has become more dominant and as a result seven states are already preparing for legalization.
On becomes tired, sore or even nauseous after a strong workout or training session. Many people prefer two or three ibuprofen or take a beer to take the edge off and call it good. However studies show that NSAID drugs such as Ibuprofen and Aleve are dangerous when regularly used. Therefore athletes are advised to stick to less toxic, more powerful and naturally occurring substances like marijuana. In this article, we will help you understand the benefits of marijuana as a recovery tool and how to bring together these benefits in your own post-workout routine.
After having a great workout one thing you might be thinking of is to clear your head and a time get high. All you need is to reap the therapeutic benefits of marijuana with no psychoactivity. This is possible. All that you need is to put marijuana comprised of several different beneficial compounds known as cannabinoids some are psychoactive while others are not.
There are over 85 known cannabinoids but cannabinol (CBD) and Tetrehydrocannabinol (THC) are the ones known to be in high concentrations hence more widely studied. This makes CBD perfect for treating parents, athletes, children, the elderly, and those who want to remain clear headed.
When using marijuana for physical and mental recovery, you will likely be looking for pain relieving, relaxing, anti-inflammatory strains. These properties are found primarily in indica strains. The strains contain high levels of cannabidiol (CBD). Marijuana strains of the indica variety provide athletes a deeply relaxing body high that helps both the mind and the muscles relax. If you’re looking to avoid feeling ‘high’ or getting stuck on the couch, you should try a non-psychocative CBD-rich strain.CBD is effective in small doses hand has a wider range therapeutic benefits than any other cannabinoid .
What are the benefits?
Pain:
Marijuana relieves pain in the body. Many athletes often use it as a pain reliever helping to lessen pain both during and after exercises e.g. Olympian Ross Rebalagliati. They use Marijuana after their workouts to continue managing pain from achy muscles.
Inflammation:
Inflammation is an essential response by the body’s immune system to injury, bacteria and viruses. Effective marijuana is at reducing chronic inflammation. It also plays a role in curtailing the pain associated with inflammatory-related diseases due to the presence of THC and CBD.
Both THC and CBD have shown success at reducing inflammation related to various conditions. Studies have shown that THC is able to reduce the development of atherosclerosis and major risk factor of heart attacks and strokes. It also reduces airway inflammation related to the flu virus
Cannabinoids make use of their effects through induction of apoptosis, inhibition of cell proliferation, control of cytokine production and induction of T-regulatory cells.
Sleep and Relaxation:
Cannabinoids are known to have both relaxing and sedative effects on users. Marijuana with concentrations of CBN approaching 1% by weight can be useful in treating sleeplessness. Getting the required sleep each night is perhaps the most important aspect of being a healthy athlete – muscles grow and recover best during deep sleep.
Decreasing Nausea:
Marijuana has anti-emetic effects, helping athletes reduce nausea during and after exercise. Many studies have shown that cannabinoids more effective for treating nausea and vomiting than older medications such as phenothiazines or antihistaminics .
Reduction of Muscle Spasms:
Spasms are when your muscles are inflexible and often experience involuntary contractions. Spasms, or cramps, are most commonly caused by long periods of physical labor or dehydration
In both mice and human subjects studies have shown that marijuana offers significant improvements in muscle spasticity
The (THC) and (CBD) are responsible for cannabis’ effectiveness at muscle spasm relief. Evidence shows that cannabinoid-induced reductions in muscle tremors and spasticity are due to the activation of the cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, of the endocannabinoid system. THC and CBD have confirmed that they work together with the CB1 and CB2 receptors and their actions on the two receptors regulates the excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters necessary to curtail spasms.
Cannabinoids are known to have antispasmodic properties. Some causes of muscle spasms in athletes include straining of a muscle, dehydration, trauma, and damage to nerves or to the spinal cord.
Increasing Appetite:
Marijuana is a safe way to stimulate appetite. Power lifters, MMA fighters, and other athletes with demanding eating regimens often find that marijuana encourages them to take in more calories than they might have otherwise. Marijuana increases the levels of two key hunger-regulating hormones, ghrelin and leptin, without significantly altering insulin levels.
Protection of Heart, Lung, and Brain:
Several studies have shown that CBD decreases inflammation at the same time offering protection for the heart, lungs, and brain during and after injury.
