{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/muscle-spasm/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2109-markdown","title":"How Cannabis Helped Me Find Relief from Parkinson's Disease","slug":"how-cannabis-helped-me-find-relief-from-parkinsons-disease","content":"HelloMD had the pleasure of speaking with Jan Lavelle who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease just over 6 years ago. Jan has chosen to follow a holistic route for her treatment of Parkinson’s, rather than more traditional western pharmaceutical methods. Through a combination of dietary change, exercise, natural supplements, and cannabis, Jan has found relief from her Parkinson’s related symptoms and hopes to slow the progression of the disease. She is also a passionate Wellness Consultant, helping others to learn about the potential benefits of cannabis for Parkinson's and other conditions.\r\n\r\n### What were your initial symptoms?\r\n\r\nI was diagnosed with Parkinson’s  when I was 45 years old. My mom, my sister, and I all have genetic Parkinson’s Disease. My mom was diagnosed at age 60. My sister is one year older than I and she was diagnosed at age 44. I had noticed that I was holding my arm funny. My right arm was straight out and not swinging while walking, so I called my sister and asked her if her arm did this funny thing where it just doesn't move. She said, “Oh you’re holding the invisible purse,” and this same stiff arm was one of her first symptoms as well. We then all went to the website 23 and Me (a genetic testing site) and ultimately found we all have the gene Lrrk2. Once we were all identified with the particular gene, we did a bunch of studies through UCSF, Stanford, and Sunnyvale Parkinson’s Institute. Genetic Parkinson’s hasn't become very evident until lately, so we are considered a unique case. \r\n\r\n### How did Parkinson’s affect your daily life?\r\n\r\nI am a pretty healthy person, so I wasn’t sure in the beginning if it would affect me at all. My mother and sister each are having their own individual journey, so I was pretty sure mine would be different as well. My sister started western meds and eventually had two brain surgeries, called deep brain stimulation (DBS). They put a pole in your head and a battery in your chest that allows for the stimulation of the production of dopamine. My sister had that done on both sides. My mother also had that surgery at 78 years old. Deep brain stimulation surgery really works for tremors and the movement symptoms because it stimulates the dopamine production. \r\n\r\nTremors are not my biggest issue though, my issue is really stiffness and rigidity in the way that I walk and drag my leg. I also can’t move my hand very well. I don’t have a resting tremor but when I try to use my hand it tremors. I just do everything with my left hand now because my right hand doesn’t signal to move properly, along with my right leg. In order to even get the deep brain stimulation surgery, you need to be on levodopa/carbidopa to make sure that dopamine actually helps the symptoms.  I have opted to not take western drugs for now, but I would also not be opposed if I felt it would improve my quality of life.  My neurologist told me, “the drugs do nothing to slow or stop the progression of the disease”.  However, they can apparently help with symptoms. \r\n\r\n### Was cannabis your first choice for treatment?\r\n\r\nCannabis wasn’t my first choice. I didn't know much about it six years ago. I read Grain Brain and learned how grain is bad for your brain function, so I made some dietary changes. I cut wheat out of my diet and I take antioxidants like green tea, blueberries and turmeric to keep my immune system strong.  I also exercise every day. I am a trained yoga practitioner and I’m also a trained Ayurveda practitioner. I knew a lot about health, nutrition, and exercise, so I worked to do everything naturally. \r\n\r\nI also tried a form of natural dopamine, which is made from mung beans called Mucuna Pruriens. Western pharmaceutical companies traditionally use Sinemet for Parkinson’s. Sinemet is made of Levodopa Carbidopa, which helps your body get the dopamine through the blood brain barrier.  Alternative medicine practitioners have developed a protocol with amino acids that gets the dopamine in you, and through the blood brain barrier without making you sick, but unfortunately it made me very sick. I tried it for a year and it did help with my symptoms a bit, but it made me nauseous all of the time so I stopped doing it. That’s when I started taking CBD tinctures. A friend told me about CBD tinctures and how they might help me, and I have been doing so ever since. \r\n\r\n### When did you first consider medicinal cannabis? \r\n\r\nIt was through the friend who recommended it. Then I immediately began doing research. We had a family friend of ours who was featured through United Patients Group. You can watch a video of his story, Stan Rutner, who was basically dying of cancer. As a last resort they gave him CBD oil and the results were amazing. My mom had sent me this video, so I called his daughter to talk to her about it. She was the person who got me the first information on what to take and how. I started meeting more and more people that gave me information on medicinal cannabis. The first tincture I used was a CBD tincture by Care by Design. \r\n\r\n### Do you use CBD and THCA?\r\n\r\nNow, I’m actually taking CBDA and THCA, they are both non-psychoactive. I micro dose both throughout the day. I take three doses a day about an hour before each meal. The product I take is made by a company called Alta Botanicals. I am working on a cannabis protocol with Alta Botanicals for Parkinson’s to get the [endocannabinoid system](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/what-is-the-endocannabinoid-system) stimulated and working again. \r\n\r\n### How are you trying to help other patients?\r\n\r\nAlta Botanicals and I are trying various methods on me to see what works best with Parkinson's. I am working hard to stick to a protocol, which is easy to do because the medicine is so simple to take. We’re are observing what is going on and ultimately, we would love to be able to cure this disease and help other people with this disease. That’s the goal, of course, to help people get better. \r\n\r\n### How has using cannabis changed your day to day life?\r\n\r\nCannabis gives me some relief from my symptoms. When you have Parkinson’s, you lose your sense of taste and smell, your body kind of freezes up. You don’t have the same senses that you normally would because you lose your dopamine, which can also cause apathy and depression. CBDA and the THCA have actually brought back my sense of taste and smell. My physical senses, like my touch and feel, have also come back. \r\n\r\nWith Parkinson’s you tend to lose your connection between body and mind because of the lack of dopamine, but now I am much more aware of my body mind connection than I was before. I am still limping quite a bit and I still have trouble with my right hand. It’s hard, it is definitely still hard. I think if I keep building cannabis up in my system it will get better.  There are definitely some days when I just want to say screw it and go on western meds and get rid of my symptoms, but the western meds don’t do anything to slow or stop the disease, they just mask the symptoms. With cannabis, we can actually do something to slow the disease because of the connection between Parkinson’s and the endocannabinoid system. There are also a lot of side effects to the western pharmaceuticals, which I want to try to avoid. \r\n\r\n### What would you want other people to know about cannabis?\r\n\r\nI went to a woman’s cannabis party hosted by [Octavia Wellness](http://octaviarosewellness.com/), where I was able to meet many people in the industry. That was my first experience where I felt like I had something to share and people really related to it and listened. I want people to know how acceptable it is to use cannabis and how I am carrying on with a regular job, a regular life, and I have an eleven-year old child. It’s not scary and there’s nothing taboo about it. I want people to know we can do this without being “high”. The benefits of CBD are profound, the information about the benefits of CBD are spreading by leaps and bounds every day. I am committed to supporting people to heal.\r\n\r\nIronically, that first Octavia Wellness party has opened a pathway for me to help other people.  I actually have teamed up with the founder, Carrie Tice and for the past year we have worked on creating a great platform to allow for people like me to be able to become trained in cannabis and become Wellness Consultants. Everyone has people in their personal network who are interested in learning about cannabis- and they may not feel comfortable going to dispensaries - we have solved this by making the process personal.  We are passionate about giving people safe and legal access to trusted information and products.  It's quite empowering!\r\n \r\n### Does the stigma attached to cannabis have merit?\r\n\r\nCannabis can be recreational and I have nothing against recreational cannabis. Sometimes having some THC at night helps me sleep. The benefits we get from the whole, healing plant, if we use it responsibly, are endless. Marijuana is a natural anti-inflammatory; it is a better anti-inflammatory than ibuprofen or anything like that. I’ve heard many lectures about the benefits of cannabis for PTSD, cancer, and many other conditions. I believe all illnesses are caused by some form of inflammation, and cannabis works to alleviate that. If we can get rid of the inflammation, have a healthy attitude, healthy diet, and exercise, we can avoid a lot of illnesses. Cannabis can’t do it alone, but neither can any pharmaceuticals. There are so many healing modalities and there should not be any stigma around cannabis because it is a beautiful, healing plant. \r\n\r\nDo you have questions about cannabis and Parkinson's Disease? Ask a question in [HelloMD's new Answers](https://www.hellomd.com/) feature. Our doctors and community will answer.\r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDABALDA4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVGC8aGi9jQjhCY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2P/wgARCAAOABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAID/8QAFgEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgED/9oADAMBAAIQAxAAAAGGM5XMAf/EABwQAAICAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAyEAERIiMf/aAAgBAQABBQKTq8ijkaPrtR3n/8QAFhEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIQ/9oACAEDAQE/AWE//8QAFREBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARD/2gAIAQIBAT8BZ//EABsQAAEEAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAhARIlFx/9oACAEBAAY/AidFHG+Q5qqP/8QAHBAAAgICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAERIUFRMWFx/9oACAEBAAE/IVj7Tp1GiULDksCOxNdFsuGx96Ks8I//2gAMAwEAAgADAAAAEMf/AP/EABYRAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEQEf/aAAgBAwEBPxDAGf/EABURAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAR/9oACAECAQE/EJP/xAAbEAEBAQADAQEAAAAAAAAAAAABEQAhUXFBsf/aAAgBAQABPxAUsEFqqcPMTrTwJDes4Fe3zAq2q+mRRwIFNgZpv6b/2Q==","aspectRatio":1.4388489208633093,"src":"/static/6821854d6c8835549c195615dc8bae32/14b42/f30b2462360e0641123fa311125e40b7.jpg","srcSet":"/static/6821854d6c8835549c195615dc8bae32/f836f/f30b2462360e0641123fa311125e40b7.jpg 200w,\n/static/6821854d6c8835549c195615dc8bae32/2244e/f30b2462360e0641123fa311125e40b7.jpg 400w,\n/static/6821854d6c8835549c195615dc8bae32/14b42/f30b2462360e0641123fa311125e40b7.jpg 800w,\n/static/6821854d6c8835549c195615dc8bae32/6db77/f30b2462360e0641123fa311125e40b7.jpg 1070w","srcWebp":"/static/6821854d6c8835549c195615dc8bae32/58556/f30b2462360e0641123fa311125e40b7.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6821854d6c8835549c195615dc8bae32/61e93/f30b2462360e0641123fa311125e40b7.webp 200w,\n/static/6821854d6c8835549c195615dc8bae32/1f5c5/f30b2462360e0641123fa311125e40b7.webp 400w,\n/static/6821854d6c8835549c195615dc8bae32/58556/f30b2462360e0641123fa311125e40b7.webp 800w,\n/static/6821854d6c8835549c195615dc8bae32/3f179/f30b2462360e0641123fa311125e40b7.webp 1070w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1957-markdown","title":"Menstrual Cramps Be Damned with New Cannabis Vaginal Suppository","slug":"menstrual-cramps-be-damned-with-new-cannabis-vaginal-suppository","content":"[Foria](http://foriapleasure.com/) is one of the most exciting companies within the cannabis industry. If you have not heard of their new product [Foria Relief](http://foriapleasure.com/products/relief-4-pack), and you are a woman, I would encourage you to keep reading.  This past week Foria launched Foria Relief, a cocoa butter-based vaginal cannabis suppository designed to ease menstrual cramps in women. According to Brittany Confer, the Director of Communications for the company “Relief has been carefully crafted and is intended to maximize the muscle relaxing and pain relieving properties of cannabis without inducing a psychotropic ‘high’. What’s nice about Relief is how it can create a full body sensation of relaxation without delivering the ‘head high’.”\n\nWhat’s interesting to note about the launch of this product and Foria as a company is that it is the only company in the industry seeming to be laser focused on women’s sexual health through the use of non-psychoactive medicinal products. They have successfully navigated a divergent path of both pleasure and pain. Their flagship product [Foria Pleasure](http://foriapleasure.com/pages/about-us) increases sexual pleasure through the use of a THC infused lubricant spray, whereas Foria Relief focuses on diminishing pain generally associated with menstruation, and other related sexual health issues for women.   \n\nForia as a company started in California about two years ago with the idea to create a sexual enhancement product for women as an aide to overall health and wellness. Co-founder Mathew Gerson, a veteran of the sex industry and founder of Sir Richard’s Condoms, noted at the time that there were around 26 FDA-approved drugs on the market for increasing male sexual pleasure, but approximately zero available for women. Excited to start a new venture, he began researching how he might enable women to find the same sexual satisfaction through a product formulated with all natural ingredients. During a conversation about CBD health benefits, he stumbled upon cannabis and recalled its historical use by women as a sexual health aid in ancient cultures. Foria Pleasure was born, and the sexual lubricant spray hit the market sparking ladies libidos across the state of California and shortly there after Colorado. \n\n[CANNABIS 101 - THC VS CBD](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-thc-vs-cbd)\n\nThe company traversed the line from pleasure to the diminishment of pain organically a little over a year ago. A well-known Beverly Hills urologist, Dr. Jennifer Berman, began to notice multiple patients within her medical practice discussing Foria Pleasure. The first patient to bring it up was a 75 year old woman who told Dr. Berman she was not only enjoying sex for the first time in years, but was noticeably feeling pain free. Remarkably, more and more patients came in talking about Foria Pleasure discussing how the product not only increased sexual pleasure but also decreased pain associated with other sexual health issues, including PMS and endometriosis. The trend became so prominent that Dr. Berman contacted Foria to discuss women’s sexual health and how the product could further service a population of women who desire sexual pleasure, however needed access to a more effective pain reliever. Foria Relief was conceived through these initial conversations and rapid iterations of research and development began.\n\nForia Relief is inserted vaginally and is absorbed directly into the bloodstream. The medicine contains CBD as well as THC, yet patients will not feel a ‘head high’. Although the product contains the psychoactive cannabinoid THC, the patient will feel a generalized relaxation across the body rather than feeling stoned. Brittany says about Relief “The suppository does not give you a head high, although it contains psychoactive properties, so normal daily activities are not interrupted.  Depending on the person, it can give a full body sensation; it makes the body and mind relax, a little giggly and generally more at ease. I often describe my personal experience with Relief similar to a three-way cross between Xanax, a muscle relaxer and a pain pill - except no pharmaceuticals are involved! The body high is subtle, but noticeable - not like smoking cannabis. Foria Relief helps to soothe painful period cramps as well as a host of other pelvic pain-related issues for people who haven’t been able to find relief elsewhere.”\n\nSpeaking from personal experience, Foria Relief provided me with better pain relief than any other cannabis product I have tried to date. Given that I am working within the cannabis industry, it is not a stretch to say I have tried many different products. On the day I tried Foria Relief, I was experiencing noticeable back pain. After inserting the suppository I felt very relaxed within 30 minutes and my back spasm was undetectable within the hour. Additionally, during my cycle I almost always experience at least one migraine. At the onset of a recent migraine I took my second dose of Foria Relief. To my surprise, the migraine went away completely in about an hour and the feeling of full body relaxation lasted for upwards of 6 hours. Although everyone reacts differently to cannabis, my experience was that it is the first medication that fully addresses the type of pain I experience, giving me both relief and a feeling of happy relaxation; all without the feeling of a head high. In other words, I could go about my business and even stay focused at work. It is also important to note that I am incredibly sensitive to the effect of THC and at a whopping 60mg per dose, I was not only functional but feeling great.\n\n[ORGANIC OR SYNTHETIC CBD - WHICH IS BEST?](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/565f3c35d031520008000000/organic-or-synthetic-cbd-which-is-best)\n\nForia Relief is sold for $44 (4-pk) and $22 (2-pk). Patients receive a small instruction booklet inside of a reusable tin where each suppository contains 60mg of THC and 10mg of CBD. According to Confer, “We encourage patients to experiment to find the correct dosage that works for their individual body. We say that one suppository is one dose and that you should consider using the first suppository on the first day of cramping even if bleeding has not yet occurred. Relief is usually absorbed in 15-20 minutes and the effects can be felt for up to 4-5 hours. One to two suppositories may be sufficient on the two worst days of your cycle. Typically, research shows that women have extreme pain for only two of days during their period cycle.” \n\nTo buy Foria Relief you can purchase from their online cannabis collective within their [Foria](http://foriapleasure.com/products/relief-4-pack) site and/or at various dispensary locations across California. You must obtain a state-issued medical marijuana recommendation in order to purchase in California. If you do not yet have your doctor’s recommendation, Foria offers services via HelloMD enabling you to be medically reviewed by a doctor without leaving your computer chair.  Relief will be coming to Colorado in the next few months and will likely be available in both medical and recreational marijuana markets.\n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/a6db7551b5b2bceebc82b51c34a1c318/ee604/3e8b6f78a37843456f40d1f4a0fa05a8.png","srcSet":"/static/a6db7551b5b2bceebc82b51c34a1c318/69585/3e8b6f78a37843456f40d1f4a0fa05a8.png 200w,\n/static/a6db7551b5b2bceebc82b51c34a1c318/497c6/3e8b6f78a37843456f40d1f4a0fa05a8.png 400w,\n/static/a6db7551b5b2bceebc82b51c34a1c318/ee604/3e8b6f78a37843456f40d1f4a0fa05a8.png 800w,\n/static/a6db7551b5b2bceebc82b51c34a1c318/f3583/3e8b6f78a37843456f40d1f4a0fa05a8.png 1200w,\n/static/a6db7551b5b2bceebc82b51c34a1c318/f90fa/3e8b6f78a37843456f40d1f4a0fa05a8.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/a6db7551b5b2bceebc82b51c34a1c318/58556/3e8b6f78a37843456f40d1f4a0fa05a8.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/a6db7551b5b2bceebc82b51c34a1c318/61e93/3e8b6f78a37843456f40d1f4a0fa05a8.webp 200w,\n/static/a6db7551b5b2bceebc82b51c34a1c318/1f5c5/3e8b6f78a37843456f40d1f4a0fa05a8.webp 400w,\n/static/a6db7551b5b2bceebc82b51c34a1c318/58556/3e8b6f78a37843456f40d1f4a0fa05a8.webp 800w,\n/static/a6db7551b5b2bceebc82b51c34a1c318/99238/3e8b6f78a37843456f40d1f4a0fa05a8.webp 1200w,\n/static/a6db7551b5b2bceebc82b51c34a1c318/5e0b8/3e8b6f78a37843456f40d1f4a0fa05a8.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1940-markdown","title":"Epilepsy Relief Possible Through Medical Cannabis","slug":"epilepsy-relief-possible-through-medical-cannabis","content":"As many as three million Americans experience epileptic seizures each\r\nyear, a noteworthy portion of the population. Epileptic seizures happen\r\nwhen abnormal electrical activity occurs in the brain. The seizures that\r\nresult can fall into\r\n[categories](http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/guide/types-of-seizures-their-symptoms),\r\nincluding:\r\n\r\n-   **Grand Mal or Tonic/Clonic --** feature convulsions, collapse and\r\n    sometimes loss of consciousness. This is the type most people\r\n    imagine when they think of seizures.\r\n-   **Tonic** -- known for muscles suddenly stiffening and potentially\r\n    remaining stiffened for a long time\r\n-   **Clonic --** characterized by jerking motions outside of patient\r\n    control\r\n-   **Myoclonic --** a milder form of clonic seizures with more\r\n    intermittent jerking motions\r\n-   **Atonic** -- recognizable in epilepsy patients who lose all muscle\r\n    tone at the start of a seizure and essential become rag dolls for\r\n    the duration of the seizure\r\n-   **Absence --** identifiable as seizures that cause a short loss of\r\n    consciousness absent of any other cause\r\n\r\nEpilepsy sufferers may also experience seizures that are a mix of\r\nvarious types or are partial -- not as severe or as long-lasting.\r\nEpilepsy is a major disruptor of life, particularly when traditional\r\nmedication fails to prevent or reduce the frequency of seizures.\r\nSeizures can lead to terrible injury or even death should they disrupt\r\nnormal bodily function and activity during certain activities, including\r\nmanual labor or driving a vehicle.\r\n\r\nHope on the Horizon\r\n-------------------\r\n\r\nMedical cannabis may bring relief to epilepsy patients who have not been\r\nadequately treated by traditional medications or who suffer from\r\nintractable forms of seizures. In [study\r\nresults](http://nyulangone.org/press-releases/medical-marijuana-extract-curbs-seizure-frequency-in-early-trial-of-epilepsy-patients)\r\nreleased for presentation at the 2015 American Academy of Neurology\r\nannual meeting, patients who took liquid forms of cannabidiol (CBD)\r\nmarijuana experienced unprecedented improvement.\r\n\r\nThe study, conducted at NYU's Langone Medical Center, looked at patients\r\nsuffering from the most severe forms of epilepsy, including\r\nLennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. Among study participants\r\nwho completed the trial, more than 50 percent had reductions in seizure\r\nfrequency.\r\n\r\nHope Already in Motion\r\n----------------------\r\n\r\nIn [Colorado](http://www.epilepsycolorado.org/index.php?s=10907),\r\ncannabidiol forms of medical marijuana are already in use and helping\r\nmany patients, particularly pediatric epilepsy patients. Known as\r\n\"Charlotte's Web,\" a particular strain of cannabis capitalizes on the\r\nproperties of the plant that help reduce seizure frequency. Charlotte's\r\nWeb has a high concentration of the component called CBD, which does not\r\nresult in psycho-activity when taken, making it safe for consumption by\r\nchildren. The Realm of Caring Foundation, the organization that grows\r\nand distributes this medication -- similar to the formulation used in\r\nthe NYU study -- reports that up to 85 percent of patients experience\r\nseizure frequency reductions. It is worth noting that \"Charlotte's Web\"\r\nis currently only made available to patients who have very severe\r\nepilepsy.\r\n\r\nMedical cannabis, like any other medicinal substance, may not be the\r\nright fit for every patient. It has shown, however, to have an amazing\r\nimpact on epilepsy patients who have found no relief from other\r\ntreatments.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/claytonfilpo/16967143769/in/photolist-rRk3Hx-rRk1yx-rRjSrk-rbYsHR-s8CE5Y-rRbtrC-rRjDJg-rRbrAo-kn4moA-kn4kss-kn1RJg-kn28hv-kn2RmP-kn2QeD-kn2JuH-5Rf5Zz-rRjwtV-rRcwQS-rRjsYD-s8LCpa-kn3218-kn2X2r-kn4rD5-adUKfH-iPNUa-ae1dgw-adXkAD-ae18pY-ae17c5-adXfYT-ae143f-adXbap-adXa3i-adX81K-adX6ck-adX4Bt-adZRSh-adX1Tp-adWZuF-adWYdk-adWX8a-adZJKs-adZGAJ-adZErd-adWPec-adZANN-adZyoE-adZwcq-adWEUt-adZsYq)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4285714285714286,"src":"/static/0632e0cd546e1c75f9f6c36e09859bdc/14b42/40c21229c372df3a30f04426ed56d6c3.jpg","srcSet":"/static/0632e0cd546e1c75f9f6c36e09859bdc/f836f/40c21229c372df3a30f04426ed56d6c3.jpg 200w,\n/static/0632e0cd546e1c75f9f6c36e09859bdc/2244e/40c21229c372df3a30f04426ed56d6c3.jpg 400w,\n/static/0632e0cd546e1c75f9f6c36e09859bdc/14b42/40c21229c372df3a30f04426ed56d6c3.jpg 800w,\n/static/0632e0cd546e1c75f9f6c36e09859bdc/47498/40c21229c372df3a30f04426ed56d6c3.jpg 1200w,\n/static/0632e0cd546e1c75f9f6c36e09859bdc/a62a2/40c21229c372df3a30f04426ed56d6c3.jpg 1465w","srcWebp":"/static/0632e0cd546e1c75f9f6c36e09859bdc/58556/40c21229c372df3a30f04426ed56d6c3.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/0632e0cd546e1c75f9f6c36e09859bdc/61e93/40c21229c372df3a30f04426ed56d6c3.webp 200w,\n/static/0632e0cd546e1c75f9f6c36e09859bdc/1f5c5/40c21229c372df3a30f04426ed56d6c3.webp 400w,\n/static/0632e0cd546e1c75f9f6c36e09859bdc/58556/40c21229c372df3a30f04426ed56d6c3.webp 800w,\n/static/0632e0cd546e1c75f9f6c36e09859bdc/99238/40c21229c372df3a30f04426ed56d6c3.webp 1200w,\n/static/0632e0cd546e1c75f9f6c36e09859bdc/572b2/40c21229c372df3a30f04426ed56d6c3.webp 1465w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5543,"name":"Muscle Spasm","slug":"muscle-spasm","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}