There are a ton of discussions around THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) products. The legality, health benefits, and long-term effects of the raw components of marijuana take centre stage, and rightfully so.
However, there are other vital conversations we need to have. Discussions such as the use of these substances in sporting communities and their effects on athletes during and after workouts and events.
Where can we have these discussions? Luckily for you, that’s precisely what we will go over today. We are going to cover things like does CBD help with muscle recovery. Is it even legal for athletes? And so much more.
Contents
Why Does it Hurt So Much After an Intense Workout?
Before we can talk about if CBD can or can’t help with muscle recovery, we need to know why you feel that good burn in the first place. Whether that be from an intense workout session, a tough rugby match, or other athletic activities.
Muscles hurt after strenuous activity because the little muscle fibres get damaged when we work them out really hard. It’s not due to lactic acid buildup like every personal trainer and high-school coach will have you believe.
Don’t worry, though. This damage is 100% normal. In fact, it is necessary for your muscles to grow stronger. But how can you minimise your downtime and maximise your performance?
What is CBD?
First things first, not all marijuana products get you high. That is the main and biggest difference between CBD and THC products. So, what is CBD? CBD is one of many compounds found in a Sativa plant and also goes by the name of cannabidiol.
The history of CBD is very fascinating. For our purposes, though, all we need to know is that CBD has been used for decades to treat illnesses such as anxiety and inflammation. But how effective is CBD exactly in treating inflammation? Turns out that CBD oil is a fantastic anti-inflammatory, so let’s take a better look at how it achieves this.
How Does CBD Oil Work?
CBD affects the brain’s cannabinoid receptors and interacts with receptors in the central nervous system. Cannabinoid is exactly what CBD is, but our body also makes this compound to control a lot of our functions. CBD oil just helps our bodies out.
Because of this, CBD has a large variety of uses. For example, you can use CBD products to help you sleep, calm or better your mood or, in the case of muscle recovery, use it as a very effective anti-inflammatory.
Does CBD Help With Muscle Strain?
Yes, it does. A review done by the National Institute of Health showed suggestions that CBD has the potential to be used to recover from physical and mental exhaustion after sports. The study goes on to say that there is much still to learn on how this is achieved.
However, the main point is that it works, and not only that, CBD even allows athletes to sidestep some serious issues traditional pain medication has. Issues like the crippling addiction that can occur from using opium-based pain relief medication.
Isn’t CBD a Banned Substance for Athletes?
Nope, CBD is 100% legal in Mzansi. So, you don’t have to be thinking of things like how long does weed stay in the system. CBD is even safe enough for your furry friends.
You can make CBD Oil a part of your recovery process worry and guilt-free. Instead, you can think about things like how to find pure CBD Oil in South Africa.
How Much CBD Should I Take for Muscle Recovery?
CBD and muscle recovery go together like ice cream and chocolate sauce or slap chips and vinegar. Just like those combinations, everyone likes them a little differently from the next person.
Cbd oils are no different. So how do you know how much CBD for muscle recovery you should use? It depends on three main components. Let’s look at them one by one.
How the CBD is Formulated Matters
CBD comes in many shapes and forms. You can find CBD in Oils, gels, bath salts, and even edibles. Whichever one you use comes down to personal choice.
Topical oils and gels are great for targeted areas of pain. However, CBD oral oils work fast and will also include other health benefits such as better sleep. And if you have had a particularly hectic workout, then you can always combine oral drops with a topical solution to minimise your downtime between workouts.
Using the Correct Dosage
Dosage is going to vary quite a lot from person to person. It also depends on what type of CBD product you are taking, where the injury is, and how severe the pain is.
If you are looking for a precise dosage, Forbes has a great formula for you to work out an exact CBD dosage. If you don’t want to do any maths, then you can just stick to the tried and true method of starting with a low dosage and increasing slowly while monitoring the effects.
Combining CBD Use with Other Recovery Methods
CBD is not a silver bullet to cure all pain to have ever existed. Sorry, you will have to work through that break-up with your primary school crush some other way.
However, if you combine CBD with other recovery techniques, such as stretching before and after workouts, it can be a real game changer.
It may take a while for you to find the exact dosage and combination of CBD products and other relief tactics that work for you. Be patient and stick to a schedule, and you will find the CBD products that work for you.
Does CBD Help Muscle Recovery | Final Thoughts
As you can see, CBD oils can be a huge bonus to your recovery process. It can shorten the time between gym sessions, and there are little to no regulations for CBD specifically. This means you will not be disqualified from any competitions you may have been planning on competing in.
The only real drawbacks are that the right dosage for you might take some time to find. Remember to be patient and take things one step at a time, just like you would with your workouts.
Sources:
The Houston Methodist –
https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2024/oct/is-lactic-acid-buildup-really-what-causes-muscle-soreness-after-a-workout/#:~:text=%22Muscle%20soreness%20occurs%20because%20muscle,stronger%20during%20this%20repair%20process.%22
Psychology Today –
https://www.psychologytoday.com/za/basics/cbd
National Institute of Health –
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8369499/
Asics –
https://www.asics.com/za/en-za/blog/article/why-cbd-is-good-for-you-as-a-runner#:~:text=If%20you%20may%20not%20know,legal%20in%20the%20South%20Africa.
Forbes –
https://www.forbes.com/health/body/cbd-dosage/
