CBD Oil for Sports Recovery

CBD oil is touted by many in the sporting world as the ultimate natural aid to exercise recovery. It’s no mystery why; CBD’s recovery-aiding properties are pretty impressive. As a natural pain reliever and anti-inflammatory, the cannabinoid’s healing properties are certainly to thank for its surge in popularity. 

Since the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removed CBD from its prohibited substances list in January 2018, this anti-inflammatory compound is being used for fitness purposes more than ever. That’s right, CBD is perfectly legal to use in sport, just so long as it contains zero THC which is still banned by WADA.

So, using CBD oil can help enhance sports recovery, but why is it preferable to standard over-the-counter pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs? Importantly, unlike ibuprofen and the standard anti-inflammatories you may be used to taking, CBD doesn’t cause damage to the stomach lining or increase your chance of having a stroke. This issue with ibuprofen is shown to be particularly prevalent amongst people who have used the drug for a long time, are in poorer health, or are older in age. If you find yourself sore after a workout, lab tested and FSA approved natural CBD oils like Cheerful Buddha’s flavoured CBD drops are a safe alternative to pharmaceutical drugs; they skip the negative side effects, are gentle on your system, and can be used time and time again without the added health risks.

The anecdotal benefits of using CBD oil for sports recovery are numerous and with the results of clinical studies being published more and more, the scientific evidence is stacking up. By mimicking and influencing the activity of endogenous cannabinoids, CBD has such an effect on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that there is evidence of the compound having beneficial neuroprotective effects in instances of head injury such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), a leading cause of death from heavy contact sports.

Brain injuries are severe instances of damage inflicted on the body through sport and they require serious medical attention. However, the fact that CBD is shown to have a detectable positive effect on recovery highlights just how powerful CBD oil is proving to be as a healing aid. 

For the average sportsman or woman, using CBD to help ease common sporting injuries can have similarly impressive results. As we’ve mentioned, CBD’s inflammatory properties really go to town on conditions such as Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) which is what happens when your muscles rub against each other and are torn during exercise, leading to inflammation. As this inflammation needs to ease for your muscles to heal, the use of CBD drops can really speed up this process.

Although there are claims that CBD is even more effective as a healer when acting in conjunction with THC (the psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis), using THC is a prohibited substance under WADA and will cause you to fail your sports drugs test. In addition, using CBD in isolation will not give you a THC-like high, an intoxicating effect which you may not desire.

Your muscles need rest in order to heal after sport and exercise, so make sure you are looking after yourself. This means sleeping well and eating a healthy diet. Funnily enough, as CBD helps to relieve pain, it can help you sleep better at night after a sport-intensive day, helping to give your body all the time it needs to recover – another reason to give it a go!