Muscle inflammation, soreness, and pain manifest when you work hard to train your muscles at the gym or exert your best performance at a sport you love. Although over-the-counter medications are available at local pharmacies, these drugs often produce side effects that require proper management. If you are looking for an organic alternative, you may have come across CBD supplements. These products may be beneficial to sports and gym enthusiasts.

Many people who constantly experience muscle pain and other related conditions rely on cannabidiol (CBD) to relieve pain. CBD oil and other CBD products have become a popular alternative for pain relief, sore muscles, and inflammation because they are natural and do not produce severe side effects.

Before you consider using CBD to alleviate pain, it is essential to remember that CBD research and its therapeutic benefits are still ongoing. Several studies have been conducted on CBD, but they are not enough to make conclusive statements about the compound. Is CBD right for you? Let us discuss CBD and its impact on muscle pain and inflammation.

What is CBD?

CBD is the main cannabinoid extracted from hemp, a cannabis plant that contains less than 0.3% delta 9 THC. It is an all-natural compound commonly used for chronic inflammation and pain management. It is a close cousin of the psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) compound, but it does not have any psychoactive effects.

Scientific research has demonstrated that CBD may have significant health benefits, including pain relief and anti-inflammation. These unique properties could make CBD an effective solution for muscle soreness, pain, and recovery. The compound works by interacting with the receptors in our body that regulate pain, inflammation, mood, appetite, sleep, and other important physiological processes.

The Effect of CBD on the Body

CBD is non-psychoactive and non-addictive, suitable for therapeutic and medicinal use. Today, CBD is a significant component of a drug used to treat epilepsy in children. However, CBD is also used to treat anxiety, stress, depression, and other medical conditions, and there are scientific studies that support the compound’s potential to treat these conditions.

CBD has been linked with minimizing PTSD, nightmares, anxiety, and reduction in appetite. However, we still need further research on the effects of CBD on these medication conditions before we can make conclusive statements. It is essential to learn how CBD influences the endocannabinoid system (ECS) to understand how it works. 

CBD and the Endocannabinoid System

Many of us have heard about the nervous and circulatory systems, but not many people know about the endocannabinoid system. It is a newly discovered system that is essential but still quite mysterious. The endocannabinoid system or ECS helps regulate and control many crucial bodily functions such as memory, sleep, emotional processing, pain control, temperature control, inflammatory and immune responses, and appetite.

The ECS consists of three major components: the receptors, enzymes, and endocannabinoids. The receptors are scattered all over the body and act as the binding agent to endocannabinoids. The enzymes function as catalysts in the metabolic processes, while the endocannabinoids are the organic compounds that help regulate the body’s homeostasis. It is essential to understand how CBD affects the receptors and the endocannabinoid to know how it can help in relieving chronic pain and controlling pain perception.

The endocannabinoid system has two receptors: the CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are spread primarily in the central nervous system. They control body functions like mood, memory, appetite, coordination, and movement. The CB2 receptors are located in the peripheral nervous system. They control pain and inflammation. 

Researchers argue that CBD influences the endocannabinoid system without attaching directly to the receptors. Once the enzymes have broken down the CBD, the endocannabinoids bind with the receptors to activate them. Remember that CB2 receptors control pain and inflammation. Therefore, they have to be activated to deliver health benefits.

Aside from affecting the ECS, CBD could influence other non-cannabinoid receptors, such as the serotonin and TRPV1 receptors. By simulating the TRPV1 receptor, CBD can help block the transmission of pain signals, which leads to pain relief from muscle aches and other sources of pain.

The Widespread Use of CBD

According to a research paper on the prevalence of chronic pain among adults in the United States published in February 2022, an estimated 50.2 million adults (20.5%) reported pain on most days or every day. Experience of pain can affect the quality of life, reduce productivity at work, and increase healthcare costs.

There are many over-the-counter and prescription medications used to treat inflammation and pain. However, these drugs come with dire consequences. Taking them may lead to addiction or damage vital organs, especially the liver and the kidneys. Therefore, many patients seek safer alternatives. Many turn to consumable and topical CBD products to address the pain.

CBD and Muscle Pain

After playing your favorite sports for hours or hitting it hard at the gym, you may have experienced muscle soreness, inflammation, muscle pain, and joint pain. This phenomenon is called delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS. It occurs to almost everybody, even professional athletes. 

DOMS occurs as we increase the duration or intensity of our exercises. There is a chance that the muscle fibers develop microtears during the process. Naturally, the body responds by causing the muscles to inflame as it repairs the damage. It takes time for the inflammation to build up, but after a day or two, the muscles begin to swell and cause pain. In worst-case scenarios, the pain can last up to five days, which means that you cannot go back to the gym or play sports until the swelling and the pain stops. 

Decreasing pain perception can help ease the discomfort and live a more comfortable life. Fortunately, CBD may help increase muscle recovery and treat pain. It may also help relieve muscle tension and minimize inflammation, thus helping your muscles recover faster.

CBD may help alleviate pain by interacting with the ECS, reducing inflammation, and blocking pain signals. A study suggests that CBD may help patients experiencing neuropathic pain, such as those with multiple sclerosis. Another study suggests that it may be more effective when taken with THC. This phenomenon is called the entourage effect.

You may feel pain after a workout because of muscle tension. As the tension increases, the pain affects other muscle groups as well. Drugs like Valium are usually used to relax the muscles, but such powerful drugs can cause addiction, depression, sedation, and other nasty side effects. Fortunately, CBD may help relax the muscles without causing adverse side effects.

Many preliminary studies on CBD make us optimistic about its use in treating pain. However, we should always consult our healthcare professionals before considering CBD products for pain, especially when we consider CBD for arthritis pain, cancer pain, and other more severe causes of pain.

How to Use CBD for Muscle Pain

CBD is popular because of its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. It can reduce inflammation and block pain signals. However, if you suffer from muscle pain due to strenuous physical activity, how should you consume CBD for the best results?

CBD comes in various product forms. While CBD oils are the most popular for therapeutic use, there are also CBD topicals in CBD creams, balms, and ointments. It is good to take CBD products orally or sublingually while applying CBD pain cream topically for the best results.

Taking CBD Orally or Sublingually

CBD oil, capsules, and edibles allow you to ingest CBD orally. When you eat CBD, it has to pass through the digestive system and undergo first-pass metabolism before reaching your bloodstream. The process may take 45 minutes to a full hour or even more. The onset of effects depends on how fast your body can absorb and metabolize the cannabinoid. The duration of effects may last from two hours to six hours.

If you want a faster onset of effects, the traditional method is to smoke, dab, or vaporize CBD flowers or concentrates. However, inhalation is not the only option. If you are not a fan of smoking cannabis, your best alternative is to take CBD sublingually or under the tongue. You can do this with CBD oil or tincture. To use tincture sublingually, place a few drops of the liquid under the tongue and let it sit there for at least one minute or two. The CBD will be absorbed by the blood-rich membranes under the tongue and deliver the cannabinoid directly to the bloodstream.

Sometimes, intense pain can cause you to lose precious sleep time. Remember that restful sleep is essential in muscle recovery and pain management. We recommend our Δ8 THC / CBN / CBD Tincture – Relax Blend as a sleep aid. This tincture is formulated to induce restful sleep to allow your muscles to recover quickly. You can sublingually use the product or infuse it into your nighttime beverage or food. There are many more ways to use tinctures. Learn how to use cannabis tinctures and experience the benefits of cannabis through various methods.

When choosing CBD products, you should check whether it contains CBD isolate or other compounds. If you want to take advantage of the entourage effect, you should choose CBD products that contain other cannabinoids and terpenes. Some scientists believe that other hemp compounds may enhance the health benefits of CBD.

If you are experiencing other health conditions or are taking other medications, please consult your doctor before using hemp-derived CBD products.

Taking CBD Cream Topically

The skin also hosts various endocannabinoids and receptors. Hence, applying CBD directly to the skin may help soothe muscle pain. Place a liberal amount of CBD oil or CBD cream directly on the affected areas of your body and allow the skin to absorb the cannabinoid. Topical products usually may take effect after 15 to 45 minutes.

For topical application, we recommend our CBD Muscle Gel. This product is designed to soothe sore muscles and joints, help reduce inflammation, and relieve muscle pain. Shop CannaClear CBD Muscle Gel now to treat pain caused by sore muscles and joints.

Bottom Line

While there is still no solid scientific data on how CBD can help treat pain, preliminary studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that CBD is helpful for muscle pain. You can consume CBD orally, sublingual, or topically. While using CBD pain relief cream directly on the affected areas of your body, you can further enhance the results by consuming CBD products orally or sublingually. Check out our CBD products to increase your consumption options.