Are you looking to improve your relationship with your body through physical activity? Do you take the time to take care of yourself through intuitive movement? Maybe the aches and pains that come after a nice gym session are stopping you from taking action, but we are here to help. Let’s get that body healthy!
What causes muscle soreness after a workout?
Exercise creates microscopic tears in your muscle fibers. In response to the damage, your muscles will become inflamed, which signals to the rest of your body that repair is necessary. Your body sends the cue to your brain, and you’ll find yourself experiencing dull muscle pain or stiffness in the days that follow.
Can CBD help with muscle soreness after a hard workout?
CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in the hemp plant. It’s been surging in popularity for years with applications for chronic pain relief, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, anxiety, and countless other conditions ranging from mild to more severe. CBD tends to be consumable in concentrates, oils, gummies, or you can find a variety of CBD topicals for treating localized aches and pains.
How can CBD promote post-workout recovery?
Because CBD’s popularity is still relatively new due to the stigma associated with cannabis, formal research is still in its infancy. However, anecdotal experiences have been a big part of the success of CBD products. Many athletes and fitness enthusiasts have reported a reduction in pain and stiffness when they take CBD regularly.
A 2018 journal article published in the Frontiers of Neurology cited 132 studies of CBD’s medicinal properties noting an improvement in chronic pain, inflammation, and mobility issues. This journal article is only a piece of the growing consensus in the holistic community that CBD has numerous applications to ease the aches and pains of daily life. Currently, there are well over 14,000 published studies on the health benefits of CBD. Based on those studies, CBD can aid post-workout recovery in the following ways:
Inflammation: As mentioned above, one of CBD’s most significant benefits is its ability to ease post-workout inflammation. When CBD is ingested or applied to the skin, it can improve recovery time by inhibiting some inflammatory molecules.
Muscle Tension: Muscle soreness and injury are unfortunate side effects of regular workouts. Generally, doctors will prescribe muscle relaxers to ease this form of chronic pain. These drugs can be habit-forming and have their own drawbacks, such as sedation, depression, and dizziness. CBD can help reduce muscle pain and tension without the risk of addiction.
All-Natural Painkiller: Many fitness enthusiasts find themselves taking over-the-counter painkillers more than they’d like. CBD is a natural alternative to NSAIDs and other over-the-counter pain relievers for mild aches and pains.
Sleep Quality: It’s estimated 50-70 million Americans are affected by sleep-related problems. Whether it’s issues with falling asleep, staying asleep, or frequently waking up feeling unrested, CBD can help set you on the right path to a good night’s sleep. Rest is a crucial — and irreplaceable — aspect of post-workout recovery. Taking CBD before bed can help you rest better so that you adequately recover from your workout.
