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Wondering if you can use CBD for muscle pain or recovery after a hard workout? Read on to learn how CBD products may help and how you can add them to your exercise regimen.
How does CBD help with sore muscles and recovery?
CBD, or Cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid found in hemp that offers a balancing effect within the body. It interacts with our endocannabinoid system (ECS) to help modulate various body processes and has been shown to potentially help with pain and inflammation.
Inflammation is the key contributor to many unpleasant symptoms associated with chronic pain, including joint and muscle tension. However, it also plays a role in your recovery from an active sport or exercise. While inflammation may repair damage to muscle fibers during exercise, it may also cause secondary muscle damage in between workouts. Inflammation is believed to play a role in releasing free radicals, which cause oxidative stress and may lead to chronic inflammation and pain without proper recovery.¹
However, CBD offers anti-inflammatory properties, which may help with muscle aches, joint pain, and arthritis pain. Because of these potential benefits, CBD has been explored by many people for managing chronic symptoms and encouraging muscle recovery after a strenuous workout.² Evidence suggests that CBD’s potential ability to reduce inflammation may play a role in recovery and soothing away aches and pains beneath the skin and in the joints and muscles.³
How to use CBD for recovery and muscle soreness
CBD products have been shown to work best when other natural plant compounds are in the mix. The best CBD oils and topicals for sore muscles and recovery are made with full-spectrum CBD extracts.
Full-spectrum CBD contains all of the cannabinoids, terpenes, essential oils, and other natural components found in the hemp plant that help boost the effectiveness of CBD in a phenomenon known as the entourage effect.⁴ The entourage effect shows that each compound works in synergy to accentuate each component’s unique effects.
Broad-spectrum CBD and CBD isolate, on the other hand, are missing cannabinoids, terpenes, and other plant components. Because of the lack of different compounds, the entourage effect is weaker (in the case of broad-spectrum CBD) or non-existent (in the case of CBD isolate). With that in mind, you’re more likely to experience positive effects with CBD against pain and inflammation when you choose a full-spectrum CBD product.
Using a full-spectrum CBD product is easy. CBD balms, lotions, creams, and other topicals are applied to the skin after a workout to soothe aches and pains away. They’re typically infused with other natural ingredients that help penetrate deeper into the skin and muscles to help provide relief using heating or cooling effects. Topicals are best for spot-treating problem areas, such as muscle strains and providing relief to prior injuries.
Full-spectrum edibles, oils, pills, and capsules are also a good choice since they may help in preventing the adverse effects of inflammation in the first place. Considering the relationship between CBD and inflammation, CBD products work best when taken daily, meaning before and after a workout.⁵
Best CBD products for muscle pain relief
Whether your goal is to soothe sore muscles after a workout or to help prevent the negative effects of inflammation before a workout, there are several different CBD options to choose from. Topicals are excellent for post-workout relief, while CBD oil, CBD gummies, and CBD capsules are better before a heavy workout. Here’s a quick breakdown of how the different CBD products work for muscle relief and recovery.
Topical CBD Products: Topical CBD is applied directly to the affected muscles and joints and absorbed through the skin and into muscle and joint tissues. They come in the form of CBD cream or lotion, CBD muscle balm or rub, bath bombs, CBD body or massage oils, CBD muscle gels, patches, and other related products that are applied to the skin. If you’ve ever wondered, “What is CBD balm used for?” or “How can I best experience the benefits of CBD lotion?”, it’s important to note that CBD topicals are most effective when applied during post-game muscle recovery once soreness has already begun to set in. The best CBD creams take 1-2 hours to effect and may affect you for up to 48 hours.
Oral CBD Products: Oral products come in the form of CBD gummies, CBD oil capsules, and more. They work best when they’re taken consistently every day but may play a role in reducing pain and inflammation both before and after a workout. They take between 30-60 minutes to kick in, but you’ll feel them between 4-12 hours.
Sublingual CBD Products: Sublingual products come in the form of CBD oil tinctures, CBD candy, and other related products you hold under your tongue. 9-10 Sublinguals offer the fastest delivery, taking effect in as little as 10-15 minutes. The best CBD oils are full-spectrum, and like oral products, they work best when they’re taken daily to help prevent the onset of pain and inflammation pre and post-workout. The effects last anywhere between 4-12 hours.
Lazarus Naturals
At Lazarus Naturals, we’ve got you covered for all of your aches, pains, and recovery needs. Our topicals, sublinguals, and oral products are made with the finest lab-tested full-spectrum CBD extracts artfully crafted with you and your wellness goals in mind. Whether you’re seeking relief from stubborn pain or exploring your options for leading a more wellness-driven lifestyle, look no further than our extensive suite of CBD products.
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SOURCES:
⁵https://myeq.com/blog/basics/why-you-should-take-cbd-every-day/