Can CBD do this? Can CBD do that? These days, it seems harder to find what CBD or Cannabidiol can’t do instead of what it can do.
Scientists are discovering different health benefits of CBD at a blistering pace. The FDA has already approved its use to treat two rare forms of epilepsy, Gastrault or Dravet syndrome. Researches are progressing well for its effect on other conditions such as depression, cancer, and even addiction.
Now, let’s look at one of the most asked questions about cannabidiol. Can you use CBD for sore muscles?
Today’s health-conscious generation is always looking for safe and legal ways to deal with muscle pain. With CBD no longer banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), athletes are very interested to hear the verdict on it.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to use CBD for muscle soreness.
What Exactly Is CBD?
Cannabidiol comes from cannabis plants such as marijuana and hemp. If you have reservations about using a substance that came from marijuana, don’t worry. Unlike its chemical cousin, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, CBD won’t get you high.
Why does it have so many purported health benefits?
It’s not being peddled like snake oil; there’s a scientific basis for what it does. CBD has a positive influence on the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Experts haven’t quite figured out yet how CBD interacts with the ECS, but it doesn’t bind to receptors as THC does.
And the thing about the ECS is that it’s a complicated system. The ECS is involved in so many processes that scientists haven’t yet discovered all its potential functions. Among the varied roles include metabolism, inflammation, sleep, liver function, and so on.
Let’s Talk About Muscle Soreness
Now, let’s discuss why our muscles get sore after a workout. Why do your muscles feel like crap a day or two after exercising?
It’s called Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). Your muscles feel tender and have reduced a range of motion, swelling, fatigue, and short-term reduction in strength.
Keep in mind that this isn’t the pain you feel during your workout. That’s acute muscle soreness due to the build-up of lactic acid. It usually goes away as soon as you rest your muscles.
DOMS occurs after 12 to 24 hours post-exercise. During a high-intensity or novel exercise, muscle fibers sustain small, microscopic tears. The pain that you experience is from the inflammatory response to these tiny injuries.
The inflammation is a necessary part of the healing process. Your body’s going to rebuild the injured muscle fibers into stronger and more resilient versions of themselves. That’s when you notice the fitness gains from working out.
Unfortunately, pain is part and parcel of inflammation.
Can You Use CBD for Sore Muscles?
Okay, let’s get back to this question. What can CBD do for your aching muscles?
We mentioned that one of the processes that the endocannabinoid system has a hand in is inflammation. That’s the whole point! The ECS is intimately linked to pain and inflammation.
One of the well-studied effects of endocannabinoids is their anti-nociception property. Anti-nociception refers to the act of blocking painful stimuli by sensory neurons. In other words, it reduces pain sensitivity.
By boosting the ECS, CBD effectively alleviates not just muscle pain but almost any type of pain. You can use CBD for back pain, arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), etc.
That’s the Pain Aspect, but What About Inflammation in General?
“Why reduce inflammation? Doesn’t it help build muscles as was said in this article?”
The inflammatory process is systemic; it can affect the whole body. While a localized group of muscles may have initiated the process, the inflammation can also affect other muscles and joints. In effect, the collateral damage delays the recovery and healing as a whole.
That’s why athletes often dip their whole body in ice after a game or a workout. Or why they take medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), for example, ibuprofen. They do this to slow or limit inflammation.
What makes CBD one of the best ways to reduce inflammation? The reason is that it can reduce inflammation in a wide variety of ways. To avoid getting too technical, you can review the effects of CBD and its analogs on inflammation in this study.
How Does CBD Stack up With Traditional Anti-Inflammatory Drugs?
Using CBD has another card up its sleeve that makes it better than NSAIDs. Yes, CBD can inhibit a large number of inflammatory messengers. But it doesn’t interfere with the markers that promote muscle recovery, unlike NSAIDs.
In some studies, the levels of some of these markers were even increased by CBD.
This explains why CBD can do a fantastic job reducing inflammation but doesn’t compromise recovery times. It’s ideal for athletes who can’t afford lengthy downtimes when training for an upcoming competition.
How to Use CBD for Muscle Soreness
There are many ways to use CBD to get rid of post-workout muscle aches and pain. It comes down to your preference. Do you want to ingest it or rub it on?
Heck, you can even take a bath in it. Check out these products by the CBD bath bombs Club.
For topical use, your options are creams, balms, oils, and lotions. Were you dreading leg day? Rub some on your quads and calves for relief!
If you’re hurting all over, it’s probably better to consume CBD orally. The best thing about doing it this way is the variety! Edibles come in all shapes and sizes, such as gummies, brownies, beverages, etc.
But be careful when buying edibles. Check the label to confirm that it’s a CBD product and not a cannabis edible. Cannabis edibles contain THC that could get you in trouble with drug committees like WADA if you’re a professional athlete.
No More Excuses, Get to Work!
Are you avoiding the gym because exercising feels like torture to your muscles? Now you have no more excuses. Get healthy and start using CBD for sore muscles today!
For more health and lifestyle tips, feel free to browse our site.
