Improved Muscle Recovery from Cannabis
As the use of Cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabis products become regulated and socially acceptable, athletes alike are coming forward to support its benefits for muscle recovery. CBD, one of the many compounds found in the cannabis-family, is rumored to improve muscle recovery when used correctly. With little research on the subject, can we really know whether there is anything to gain from using cannabis for muscle recovery? Let’s take a closer look.
How Can It Be Used?
CBD can be ingested or used topically. Users have the option of choosing CBD-infused lotions, balms, oils, capsules, and vape devices, to name a few. Because the use of cannabis has psychoactive side effects that could alter an athlete’s concentration, CBD is often the preferred method of relief, as CBD doesn’t have these psychoactive compounds. In other words, CBD won’t give you the traditional “high” effects1
. President and CEO of Medical Marijuana Inc., Dr. Stuart Titus, states he’s finding more and more athletes turning to cannabis to treat issues ranging from pain to sleep issues. According to Dr. Titus, the patent assigned to The Department of Health and Human Services2
regarding the usage of CBD is the best source of information for its usage.
Does It Actually Work?
While the research has not yet proven that CBD usage3
speeds up muscle protein synthesis, it is still an acceptable treatment for inflammation due to Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). This relief can allow athletes to get back on their feet quicker. CBD helps treat conditions from pain to mental illnesses. However, the FDA has yet to acknowledge CBD as an approved medication, detailing it “has not found any such product to be safe or effective for the treatment of any disease or condition.” Still, smaller scale research studies support its usage to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle. A review of 132 original studies published in Frontiers in Neurology4
says CBD is “anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiemetic, antipsychotic, and neuroprotective.”
The Future of CBD Usage for Athletes
Given its anecdotal acceptance as relief for inflammation, DOMS, and improper sleep, it’s likely that more and more athletes will integrate CBD products into their routines. Jim McAlpine, founder of the 420 Games, a sporting-event series trying to change the stigma against cannabis said, “we all hid it. But the collective consciousness has changed to take that stigma away.” Now that the usage of cannabis and CBD products is becoming a topic of further research and discussion, athletes can come clean and offer advice to newcomers interested in trying it out. Companies can even begin to develop safe, new products for athletes to use as the market expands.
The usage of CBD is likely to continue to rise. If you are in the cannabis business, the team at Herban Creative can help you establish your brand. Contact us today to see how we can help guide your business to its full potential in today’s everchanging market.
