Main image courtesy ofMen's Journal.
Have sore muscles? CBD could be the answer you’re looking for to ease the pain of muscle recovery
Exercise and staying active are important parts of a healthy lifestyle. Along with diet and a good sleep routine, it’s the cornerstone of helping your body stay at its best each and every day. It’s a good idea to keep pushing yourself to reach your fitness goals, that way you’re always striving to be better and stronger. However, sometimes this results in sore muscles, which prevent us from continuing on our fitness path. Especially sore or stiff muscles can take you off your workout routine for days, and nobody wants that! Not only do you have to deal with the pain, but you might find yourself set back due to your time away. If only there was a way to ease the pain of muscle repair and recovery, so you can get right back at it. Well, CBD might be the answer you’re looking for when it comes to muscle recovery. Keep reading because we’re going to discuss:
- Why our muscles get sore and how they repair
- How can CBD help with muscle recovery?
- Ways to use CBD for muscle recovery
Why Do Our Muscles Get Sore?
Sometimes your fitness session results in sore muscles
In order to stay fit and reach your fitness goals, you have to keep changing up your workout routine. Doing the same intensity and the same exercises over and over isn’t going to keep your body fit, you’ve got to change it up and challenge yourself. That means working and stretching different muscle groups and doing different cardio exercises--ensuring your body doesn’t become complacent with the exercise workload. Whenever we switch up a routine or add additional weight or intensity, our muscles have to adapt.
While we might not feel it at the time, chances are after an intense workout you’re going to feel it later! Thismuscle soreness after the factis known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). This soreness happens because as your muscles are tested, microscopic damage occurs, and your muscles must recover from this. The tears in the muscle fiber don’t cause the pain, but the recovery does, which is why it can take hours or days to feel any pain.
Although it may be painful at the time, you’re working to strengthen your muscles by pushing them to do more for longer periods of time. The next time your muscles get sore, not to worry, this means that you’re propeling yourself to new heights.
How Do Muscles Repair and Recover?
Your muscles may be sore as they repair themselves
Although DOMS can be painful at times, it’s comforting to know that this soreness is really a result of yourmuscles repairing themselves and slowly recovering. After your workout and the tears to your muscles have occured, inflammation immediately ensues, setting off your immune system to take care of the problem. Immediately post-workout you might feel great, but DOMS typically sets in 24 to 48 hours after an intense session--the time it takes for your muscles to recover and cause you pain.
Muscle soreness like this is going to happen any time you push your limits, and it’s typically not something to worry about. Almost everyone experiences this type of post-exercise pain, and there aren’t really a lot of options to help you deal with it besides rest, ice, light stretching, or heat. But, what about if there was a way to get the relief you need directly to your muscles to help them repair faster, meaning less pain for you? Well, CBD might be able to help ease your muscle’s recovery so you can get back out there and continue to stay active.
How Can CBD Help with Muscle Recovery?
CBD and muscle recovery - does it work?
Anytime we push our limits physically we may be in store for muscle pain afterwards. This is good for your muscles, and builds strength and stamina. But beyond dealing with the pain, consider adding CBD to your muscle recovery routine. How canCBD help with muscle recovery?
- Reduces inflammation.CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, making it a great way to send relief to your inflamed and irritated muscles. CBD works with the body to target the areas that need relief the most--including your sore muscles. After an intense workout session, those muscles are going to work repairing themselves. Try heading off the pain that is sure to come later with CBD.
- Could decrease muscle tension.Since CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, it may be able to also decrease muscle tension and soothe any muscle spasms. Both muscle tension and muscle spasms are common occurrences when dealing with post-workout muscle recovery.
- Limit pain.In addition to its anti-inflammatory aspects, CBD is also known to be an analgesic because it works with the body’s receptors in the endocannabinoid system toreduce the transmission of pain signals to the brain. Since pain is the result of your muscles going through the recovery process, CBD would be ideal to use in order to reduce the amount of pain you feel after your exercise session.
- Help with sleep.Our muscles do a significant amount of repair while we’re asleep. But it’s hard to get good rest when your muscles are in pain, possibly keeping you awake. CBD can help you deal with the pain you’re having due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, allowing you to get the rest you need to properly repair and recover.
It seems that including CBD into your workout and recovery routine might be a good idea in order to decrease the inflammation and pain associated with this process. But what’s the best way to get CBD to your sore muscles?
How Do You Use CBD for Muscle Recovery?
What kind of CBD is best, and should it be used pre or post-workout?
If you want to includeCBD into your exercise and muscle recovery routine, there are two main ways in which you can--with topicals or orally. Let’s take a look at each a little closer.
Topicals
Topicals such as balms, creams, and lotions infused with CBD are a great way to target the muscle that needs relief. You can apply the topical exactly where the problem is, allowing the CBD and other helpful ingredients to go to work right at the source.Seventh Sense’s Intensive Muscle Balmuses 1,000mg of hemp-derived CBD along with arnica, methol, and wintergreen to bring soothing relief right where you need it most. Just apply to the muscle that’s sore and allow it to absorb. If you find that you’re not getting the relief you need, simply reapply.
In addition to balms, creams, and lotions, you can also get a relieving dose of CBD through a bath bomb or salts. Taking a relaxing bath along with one of these CBD topicals is a great way to get relief and a little self-care at the same time.
Orals
You can also take CBD orally, with capsules, drops, or edibles. You can choose to make these a part of your daily health routine, or, take them only as you need them. When you take CBD via drops, it will enter your bloodstream almost immediately, giving you some relief from sore muscles. If you choose an edible or a capsule, it will first need to go through your digestive system, but you may feel the soothing effects longer.
Choose a method that’s right for your lifestyle and that you find convenient, whether that’s a CBD balm or lotion, a capsule or edible. Another thing to consider is whether you should take CBD before or after your workout in order to get the full effects. Since gummies or capsules take longer to reach the bloodstream, you might want to consider taking those before your workout, in order to get the pain-relieving benefits afterwards. Applying a topical to a sore muscle pre-workout could also make your workout a little less uncomfortable, allowing you to keep challenging yourself. Both topical and oral CBD can be taken post-workout, when your muscles are recovering. It’s really up to you!
If you’re interested in reducing inflammation and pain from your muscles as they recover, CBD could be a great addition to your workout routine. Building strength and stamina in your muscles is important, so don’t let pain get in your way
FAQs
Does CBD actually help muscle recovery? ›
CBD is a worthwhile muscle recovery supplement, which works by regulating pain signals through the ECS. Here's why many people choose CBD for recovery and relief: Relaxes muscles, which alleviates muscle tension and spasm. Reduces mild inflammation, preventing damage to surrounding healthy muscle.
When should I take CBD for muscle recovery? ›Consider taking it alongside your protein shake immediately post-workout, which was the timing recommendation in the CBD and DOMS study. Then take it again later in the day or the next day, as needed.
How much CBD in gummies for muscle recovery? ›Recovery - In each serving: 10 mg of CBD, 25mg of Ginger, and 50mg Curcuminoids (from Turmeric)
What is the best cannabinoid for muscle recovery? ›Myrcene – If you're struggling with sore muscles but you still want to work out, then myrcene is an excellent option. It's commonly found in mangoes, hops, and eucalyptus. It's also the most common terpene found in all cannabis strains.
How long does it take CBD to work for muscle pain? ›Effects may be felt within 15 to 45 minutes. If sprays or tinctures are swallowed, their effects tend to be similar to capsules or edibles. On the skin. Topical products, like lotions and balms, are applied to the skin over a painful joint.
Why do bodybuilders use CBD? ›CBD, however, can help reduce the pain you feel after a strenuous session. A growing number of bodybuilders claim that taking cannabidiol helps their DOMS dissipate faster and helps them get back to the gym quickly.
What is the best way to use CBD for muscle pain? ›CBD for chronic muscle pain: Topical CBD can help during flare-ups, but you're better off taking oral CBD for systemic pain. A combination can be especially helpful, Titus says. Ingesting CBD helps relieve pain from the inside out, while applying topical cream can quiet particularly tender areas.
What are the best times to take CBD? ›A person may wish to take CBD in the morning if they want to feel more awake and alert or to help manage their anxiety. Throughout the day, a person may wish to use CBD to treat certain epilepsy seizures or migraine. If a person has poor sleep, they may wish to use CBD at night to improve their sleep.
What is best CBD gummies for muscle pain? ›- Exhale Wellness - Overall Best CBD Gummies For Pain.
- BudPop - Strongest CBD Gummies For Inflammation; Non-GMO.
- Cheef Botanicals - Recommended Vegan CBD Gummies.
- Hollyweed CBD - Affordable CBD Edibles For Pain Relief.
- FAB CBD - Popular Organic CBD Gummies To Heal Pain & Inflammation.
Are there any health benefits of CBD gummies? Manufacturers of CBD gummies claim CBD is effective at relieving anxiety, depression, pain, inflammation, and improving sleep. A CBD product (Epidiolex) has been FDA approved to treat epilepsy.
Can you take a CBD gummy every day? ›
Yes , daily use can help, especially if you're taking it for symptoms you experience daily - such as chronic pain, frequent anxiety, or trouble sleeping. For example, CBD can soothe your nervous system, and it's easier to prevent a symptom from escalating than it is to try to manage a severe flare-up.
Does CBD calm muscles? ›CBD acts as a natural muscle relaxer by slowing the flow of the neurotransmitters that cause muscle tension and spasms, alleviating symptoms and allowing the muscle to relax. CBD helps reduce overall stress and anxiety, which are contributing factors to muscle tension.
What drugs should not be taken with CBD? ›CBD has been reported to interact with several anticonvulsants, including diazepam, lamotrigine, and phenytoin28,29; sedative drugs including barbiturates such as phenobarbital and hexobarbital30; and narcotics such as codeine and morphine.
Does CBD reduce inflammation or just pain? ›CBD may help to reduce pain by acting on a variety of biological processes in the body. CBD has been shown to work as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic. CBD may also reduce the anxiety that people living with chronic pain often experience.
What CBD is good for muscles? ›Best for muscles and joints: CBDfx CBD Cream For Muscle & Joint. CBDfx offers a broad-spectrum CBD cream that contains either 1,000 mg or 3,000 mg of CBD per container. The cream contains cannabinoids, caffeine, and white willow bark, which reportedly helps ease aches and pain.
What are 3 benefits of CBD? ›CBD is advertised as providing relief for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is also marketed to promote sleep. Part of CBD's popularity is that it purports to be “nonpsychoactive,” and that consumers can reap health benefits from the plant without the high (or the midnight pizza munchies).
Is it better to take CBD before or after workout? ›If you want to use CBD to enhance your workout, reduce stress and improve sleep ahead of an intense session, taking CBD before you work out is the best option. If however, you want to aid and speed up your recovery process, then taking CBD after a workout will better help you achieve the intended results.
Should I take CBD before or after bed? ›WHAT TIME TO TAKE CBD FOR SLEEP. After taking CBD oil, it will probably be about 20 minutes before you start to feel the effects. For some, it could take a little longer, so we would recommend taking CBD up to an hour before bedtime to start winding down and letting go of the day's stresses.
Do you sleep better with CBD? ›One study showed that nearly 80% of participants who used CBD to treat their anxiety reported lower anxiety levels within a month. Sleep initially improved in more than 65% percent of participants, followed by fluctuating results.
Can I drink water after taking CBD oil? ›Luckily, you can drink water after the CBD oil has been taken by your body, even if you've only consumed CBD oil sublingually. Water and food won't affect CBD, especially since sublingual intake works quickly and immediately absorbing CBD into the bloodstream.
Is CBD better for better or after workout? ›
If you want to use CBD to enhance your workout, reduce stress and improve sleep ahead of an intense session, taking CBD before you work out is the best option. If however, you want to aid and speed up your recovery process, then taking CBD after a workout will better help you achieve the intended results.
Does CBD oil help with muscle injury? ›Not only is CBD oil an effective anti-inflammatory agent, but it's also great for relieving pain and also promoting muscle recovery. It's becoming a very popular supplement to take post-workout to alleviate the effects of strenuous exercise on the body.
Should you use CBD every day? ›Yes , daily use can help, especially if you're taking it for symptoms you experience daily - such as chronic pain, frequent anxiety, or trouble sleeping. For example, CBD can soothe your nervous system, and it's easier to prevent a symptom from escalating than it is to try to manage a severe flare-up.
What is the most effective use of CBD? ›By far, the most common and possibly the best way to take CBD oil is to take your preferred serving under the tongue. This is called sublingual consumption, and you hold the oil under your tongue for 60 to 90 seconds before swallowing.
What form of CBD is most effective? ›- Best overall: Zatural Full Spectrum CBD Oil Drops.
- Strongest per serving: CBDMD CBD Oil Tincture Drops.
- Best for quality: Spruce Lab Grade CBD Oil.
- Best for travel: NuLeaf Naturals Full Spectrum Hemp CBD Oil.
Some athletes swear by compression garments. These special socks or leggings help improve blood flow to the legs, reduce inflammation, and speed recovery. Other athletes submerge their bodies in an ice bath to reduce muscle soreness and inflammation after a hard workout session, game, or competition.
What CBD product is good for muscle pain? ›Best for muscles and joints: CBDfx CBD Cream For Muscle & Joint. CBDfx offers a broad-spectrum CBD cream that contains either 1,000 mg or 3,000 mg of CBD per container. The cream contains cannabinoids, caffeine, and white willow bark, which reportedly helps ease aches and pain.