Dealing with aches and pains is never fun. There are plenty of solutions that people swear by, but one you might not have tried is a topical CBD salve.
What is a topical CBD salve?
A salve is any kind of mixture that you apply to your skin for soothing or other medicinal purposes. It could be a balm, a spray, an ointment, or a cream. So, a topical CBD salve is just a salve that’s infused with cannabidiol (CBD).
CBD is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. Manufacturers can create CBD oil by mixing pure CBD with a carrier oil like hemp seed oil. To create topical CBD salves, they then add that CBD oil into a regular salve.
The added CBD is thought to make the topical salves even more beneficial to the user.
What are the potential benefits of CBD for athletes?
Anyone can choose to use salves, including topical CBD salves, but they’re often associated with athletes and other very active people. Athletes put a lot of stress on their bodies and are often looking for new products to help their bodies efficiently recover from that stress. CBD is one product that seems promising in that regard.
The potential benefits of CBD for athletes are extensive. An athlete who was already using salves to address issues like chafing, blisters, bruising, muscle soreness, joint pain, or dry skin may find that topical CBD salves offer even greater pain relief.
Initial research found that “cannabidiol (CBD) seems to have anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, analgesic, anxiolytic, and pain-relieving properties which can be potential mediators of recovery in athletes during regular training and competition.”
In other words, it seems that CBD can aid athletes in their recovery process by bringing down inflammation and acting as a pain reliever. Additional research into CBD salves is still needed to determine the extent of the benefits of CBD for athletes.
Several elite professional athletes have opened up about how CBD products help them. That’s certainly promising.
Is CBD allowed for athletes?
Despite these promising potential benefits of CBD for athletes, CBD wouldn’t be very useful if athletes were banned from using it. The good news is that CBD is allowed for athletes.
In 2018, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) took CBD off its list of banned substances for athletes. The US Anti-Doping Agency later followed suit.
Keep in mind that CBD and CBD alone was removed from the prohibited substances list. Other compounds found in the cannabis plant are still prohibited in competition, including delta 9 THC and synthetic cannabinoids.
There are still federal, state, and local laws to consider, too. CBD isn’t banned from competition by the anti-doping agencies anymore, but it may still be illegal in your area, depending on where you live. Look into the laws where you live before using CBD products.
How to use topical CBD products
To use a topical CBD product, you should start by cleaning the area where you’re going to apply the salve with soap and water. If there’s any dirt, oils, or residues of other creams, they could interfere with the efficacy of the topical CBD.
Pat the area dry once clean. If using a cream, take a generous amount of the CBD cream and gently massage it into the desired area. If using a roll-on CBD salve, just roll the salve on the area until you achieve full coverage.
There are also CBD bath bombs you may choose to use as CBD topicals. In that case, just drop the CBD bath bomb in a warm bath and soak in it until you feel the desired effects.
You can expect the effects of the topical CBD products to kick in within an hour of application (and as quickly as a few minutes). The effects may last for hours after that, but everyone will experience CBD differently.
How to shop for CBD salves
When shopping for CBD salves, there are several factors you should keep in mind.
You’ll want to choose your CBD salves from a reputable brand with a catalog of high-quality products. There are several different kinds of topical CBD salves so you may need to shop around somewhat to find the one that works best for you.
You can buy CBD salves either in person or online, but it may be easier to find the products you’re looking for online.
Best roll-on CBD balm for athletes
The best CBD roll-on or balm is one that uses high-quality CBD in conjunction with other ingredients to help soothe aching overworked muscles. Generally a higher potency roll-on or salve is what works best. Containing 1000mg of CBD or more is best.
Athletes can choose from either a warming or cooling sensation paired with the supportive properties of CBD.
