Which CBD strain is best for inflammation?
After an intense workout session, prepare to feel utterly drained, questioning your choices the next day as you battle getting out of bed while enduring a full-body muscle soreness.
Unless you pulled a hamstring or hurt a hand in the process, these feelings of pain and tiredness are nothing to worry about. Inflammation is the immune system’s natural reaction to the strenuous activities associated with exercise. They are signals telling you your body is about to go into recovery mode.
Once your muscles and tissues complete the recovery process, they’re repaired to an optimum status so that your next workout wouldn’t take too much toll on your body. This is why the body gets fitter as you consistently tackle your workout sessions.
Feeling sore should be fine for a while, but if it seems to not go away for an abnormally long time, it might cause some problems.
How to Help the Body Respond Better to Exercise-Induced Inflammation
Recovery isn’t just about sleeping all day. There are post-workout recovery strategies out there designed to help your body heal faster. Here are some of them:
Passive Recovery – This type of recovery is literally resting and avoiding exercise for a period of time.
Sleep is a large part of the exercise-induced recovery process. Sleep triggers the production of various growth factors and hormones, aiding muscle repair and recovery.
Active Recovery – Active recovery employs low-impact exercises that improve blood flow and helps repair tissues faster without causing further stress.
Some of the best examples of low-impact exercises include biking, walking, or doing gentle yoga.
- Cross-training – Don’t overwork the same muscle groups by exercising them again. Shake up your exercise routine. That way, you’re allowing the other muscle groups to recover while you’re working on the other.
- Food – Protein and the other nutrition you get from food is what your body requires in order to jump-start the rebuilding process.
A whole-food type of diet rich in whole carbohydrates and lean protein best supports the body’s muscle recovery process.
What is CBD?
CBD or cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive compound extracted from the cannabis plant. Alongside the potential clinical attention it enjoys within the medical community, athletes have taken an interest in the compound as well.
While the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) does not recommend CBD as an agent-treating compound for medical conditions except the approved ones, a wide range of low-dose “nutraceuticals” (CBD oils, tinctures, creams, sprays, softgels etc.) are readily available in the market.
The use of CBD by elite athletes, who often engage in intense physical training every off season was further propelled by the compound’s removal from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s “Prohibited List.”
What Does Research Say About CBD Oil for Inflammation and Recovery?
Inflammation
The prolonged state of inflammation isn’t good news for the body. Research has shown that chronic inflammation is associated with conditions like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and bowel diseases.
It is hypothesized that CBD’s potential to stop oxidative stress and neuroinflammation could help with chronic inflammation. Studies from 2011, 2012 and 2015, say that the down-regulation of inflammation is mainly due to CBD’s influence on the human endocannabinoid system or ECS.
*NOTE: The human ECS is a biological system in the body that helps with the regulation and balance of several key physiological processes of the body such as energy, appetite, and sleep.
Pain and Soreness
CBD oil, even though not officially confirmed as a treatment for pain, has been commonly used for its analgesic properties. There are several pathways for CBD to exhibit its alleged analgesic properties.
For example, CBD shows to act directly to the central nervous system eliciting sedative effects.
Also, there is evidence suggesting CBD stimulates certain receptors (such as Vanilloids) masking the perception of pain. Moreover, according to Starowicz and Finn, CBD activates the descending inhibitory pain pathway and reduces neuroinflammatory signaling.
Sleep Disorders
Because sleep is essential in the recovery process of tired muscles, sleeping disorders contribute to poor sleeping quality, which is unhealthy.
A 2020 study showed CBD effectively stimulating the endocannabinoid system, modulating sleep disorders and the sleep–wake cycle.
The ECS receptors may be associated with sleep-promoting effects, but the physiological mechanism tying CBD is based mainly on preclinical studies.
*NOTE: Preclinical studies use animal subjects which are far less accurate than the utilization of human volunteers.
The Pros and Cons of Using CBD Oil for Inflammation and Recovery
Pros
- There is evidence suggesting CBD may help with exercise-induced inflammation.
- There are several types of CBD products, (topical form, tinctures, oil, vape concentrates and more) to choose from, available in small batch blends at melamedcbd.com.
Cons
- CBD is not confirmed to improve muscle recovery and inflammation.
- Not all CBD products are legally sold across all States.
- CBD may interact with certain medications.
- Depending on the type of drug taken in combination with CBD, CBD may increase or lessen the potency of the medication.
- Although often well-tolerated, CBD may cause certain side effects like dry mouth, diarrhea, reduced appetite and drowsiness.
- There are unreliable (mostly in terms of purity) CBD brands out there.
- Make sure to only consume products from quality CBD brands that provide a certificate of analysis.
So, Which CBD Strain is Best for Inflammation?
The potential use of CBD for the efficiency of the recovery processes during exercise and sport-related fatigue seems promising. Still, more research is needed for this to be conclusive and to make sure CBD does not yield any untoward effects later on.
Finally, CBD may be less effective if one is not adhering to the standard strategies of healing the body from inflammation – sleep, eating a balanced diet, cross-training, and active & passive recovery.
Let the certified CBD consultants and dosage specialists at MelaMed Premium CBD help you through your wellness journey and help you find out which CBD strain is best for inflammation. Schedule a complimentary consultation today.
“These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”