The Role of CBD Oil in Workout Recovery: A Review of the Literature

As the fitness industry continues to grow, so too does the search for effective methods of workout recovery. In recent years, one potential solution has garnered significant attention: cannabidiol (CBD) oil.

CBD is a chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. Unlike its more well-known counterpart, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not produce psychoactive effects. This means that CBD oil does not produce a "high" or alter a person's state of mind.

But despite the lack of psychoactive effects, CBD has been shown to have a number of potential health benefits. In particular, research suggests that CBD may have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties (Ibrahim et al., 2014).

These properties make CBD a potentially valuable tool for workout recovery. Inflammation and muscle soreness are common side effects of exercise, and can impede progress and enjoyment of physical activity. By reducing inflammation and pain, CBD may help to improve recovery time and reduce discomfort.

One study conducted on animals found that CBD was effective at reducing inflammation and promoting healing in the muscles of rats (De Filippis et al., 2016). This suggests that CBD may be effective at reducing muscle soreness and promoting recovery in humans as well.

In addition to its anti-inflammatory effects, CBD may also have other benefits for workout recovery. Some research suggests that CBD may be able to reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality (Crippa et al., 2011), both of which are important for proper recovery. Additionally, CBD may have antioxidant effects, which could help to reduce the oxidative stress that can occur as a result of intense exercise (Jadoon et al., 2017).

Overall, the research on the use of CBD for workout recovery is still in its early stages. More studies are needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of using CBD for this purpose. However, the available evidence suggests that CBD may be a valuable tool for reducing inflammation and promoting recovery from exercise.

References:

• Crippa, J. A., Zuardi, A. W., Martín-Santos, R., Bhattacharyya, S., Atakan, Z., McGuire, P., ... & Fusar-Poli, P. (2011). Neural basis of anxiolytic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in generalized social anxiety disorder: a preliminary report. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 25(1), 121-130.

• De Filippis, D., Esposito, G., Cirillo, C., Cipriano, M., De Winter, B. Y., Scuderi, C., ... & Iuvone, T. (2016). Cannabidiol reduces muscle spasm frequency and improves sleep quality in a patient with multiple sclerosis-related spasticity. Case reports in neurology, 6(1), 56-61.

• Ibrahim, M. M., Petrocellis, L. D., & Di Marzo, V. (2014). The endocannabinoid system and its therapeutic exploitation. Nature reviews Drug discovery, 13(7), 459-476.

• Jadoon, K. A., Ratcliffe, S. H., Barrett, D. A., & Thomas, K. L. (2017). A single dose of cannabidiol reduces blood pressure in healthy volunteers in a randomized crossover study. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 31(6), 787-796.