Cannabis-infused supplements are popping up all over the place. That’s an interesting trend considering that a few years ago, marijuana was viewed as a taboo herb in numerous cultures worldwide. Although weed remains illegal in various countries, there has been a general trend towards legalization in the recent past.
The primary reason behind marijuana’s popularity is an increased awareness of the medical conditions that this herb may treat. Cannabis has been used for years to manage diseases whose main clinical presentations include pain, anxiety, sleeplessness, to mention but a few.
Another interesting fact about cannabis is that the herb is no longer popular only in the health and wellness sector. Marijuana-infused products have since found their way into the sports & fitness industries, beauty & skincare, and even the vaping industries.
This post looks at why athletes turn to weed-based products for recovery and stamina.
Choosing the Right Cannabis Products for Recovery and Stamina
Cannabis can come with plenty of health benefits that athletes may enjoy. But before we delve deeper into marijuana’s role in enhancing your recovery and stamina, it’s essential to start by understanding the specific compounds in weed that account for the plant’s therapeutic properties.
Now, cannabis contains at least 120 naturally occurring pharmacologically beneficial compounds known as cannabinoids. The most popular cannabinoids include cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD and THC are also the most abundant chemicals in weed, making up a whopping 40% of the plant’s extracts.
Like other cannabinoids, cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol can offer immense therapeutic benefits. However, THC is also noted for its ability to induce euphoria.
Tetrahydrocannabinol is the main chemical in weed associated with the “high” effect. That explains the compound’s popularity among recreational marijuana users.
Since you intend to use cannabis for therapeutic purposes, it’s crucial to select medical marijuana products. As you shall find, these products generally contain more cannabidiol than tetrahydrocannabinol. That underscores the importance of paying attention to the cannabinoid profile in a weed-based product when looking for cannabis goods to aid your muscle recovery and stamina.
It would also help to choose the suitable product formulation. Cannabis products come in various forms, including edibles, topicals, oral tinctures, hash bricks, etc. Fortunately, there are multiple places you can get premium cannabis seeds in usa or other marijuana formulations and enjoy weed’s positive effects on your athletic performance.
Various Ways Cannabis Can Aid Your Recovery and Stamina
Cannabis May Relieve Pain
Pain is the most common issue that athletes can resolve using medical marijuana. Cannabis extracts, particularly cannabidiol, relieve pain by enhancing the endocannabinoid receptors’ performance in pain management.
Marijuana may also combat workout-induced pain by increasing the body’s anandamide signaling. Anandamide is a popular neurotransmitter known to regulate pain and inflammation.
Cannabis May Alleviate Inflammation
Inflammation is one of the body’s natural responses to the presence of foreign substances. For athletes, inflammation may also result from microscopic damage to muscles and tissues caused by physically-intensive workouts.
Supplementing with cannabis-infused products has been shown to mitigate inflammation. Marijuana eases inflammation by blocking the activation of cytokines, the proteins known to transmit inflammatory signals.
Weed is also a potent vasodilator. Extracts from the plant can ease the inflammation induced by constricted blood vessels. That ensures more oxygenated blood and nutrients reach the swollen muscles while also helping to get rid of inflammation by-products like lactic acid.
Marijuana’s vasodilatory properties are why the herb is also used to manage erectile dysfunction (ED). When consumed, cannabis increases blood flow to various body parts, including the sexual organs. That translates to firmer and longer erections.
Cannabis May Combat DOMS
Delayed onset of muscle soreness, commonly abbreviated as DOMS, is a term for the excruciating pain and soreness experienced in muscles following intensive workouts.
DOMS normally relieves on its own. But it can cause unbearable pain while it lasts.
Various studies have established that cannabis may combat DOMS. Applying a marijuana-infused topical after a busy day in the gym or on the pitch may help mitigate the severity of DOMS, thereby preventing workout downtimes.
Cannabis May Fight Insomnia
The importance of getting adequate sleep cannot be overemphasized. It’s during sleep that the muscles heal and repair themselves.
Even if you’re not on any muscle recovery medications, the mere fact of getting a good night’s sleep can go a long way in charging you up for the day ahead. Fortunately, this is another area where weed has demonstrated tremendous promise.
Marijuana is a sedative. Dosing on weed supplements right before bedtime may help fight insomnia by reducing sleep onset time.
Studies have also shown that cannabis may reduce the time taken at rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. As the name implies, REM sleep is a stage during sleep marked by rapid eye movements within the sockets. Sleep experts believe that much of the dreaming happens during REM sleep. Dreams can be problematic for people who experience nightmares, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) victims.
Final Word
There’s no doubt that weed might help to boost muscle recovery, stamina, and overall athletic performance. Cannabis extracts, particularly CBD, can enhance muscle recovery by relieving pain and inflammation and improving your sleep.
As a parting shot, remember to go slow on cannabis products. Weed has proven to be counterproductive if overdosed. Overdosing marijuana may also leave you nursing a host of adverse effects, such as drowsiness and dry mouth.