CBD for Athletes

Cannabidiol (CBD) and other members of the cannabinoid family such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabinol (CBN) and cannabigerol (CBG) have been shown to elicit a wide range of health benefits which can be utilized by athletes to boost their activity and reduce their levels of exposure to diseases. At the time of writing this article, CBD has been widely used as an anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumor and antidepressant agent. This level of activity is made possible through the interaction of CBD and other members of the cannabinoid family with the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The ECS is the body’s reservoir of natural CBD. It is responsible for controlling essential body functions such as appetite, pain, ability to think, rest and memory. This wide range of usefulness can be applied in sports medicine to assist athletes to function better while on the field or in cases of injuries. Please note; CBD is entirely different from cannabis. While CBD is a secondary metabolite extracted from the cannabis plant, Cannabis is the whole plant containing members of the cannabinoid family such as THC (responsible for making the body high), CBN and CBG.

Athletes usually deal with a lot of chronic pain, stress, and anxiety daily. Before now, these players have depended mainly on the use of smelling salts to keep them motivated and their brains as active as possible throughout the game. While these smelling salts performed wonderfully well, it was discovered that they produced more harm than good and thus the need to search for a more effective alternative with little or no side effects. This search led to the introduction of CBD in sports medicine. These uses have been summarised under the following headings.

Pain relief

CBD actively reacts with the receptors on the ECS to bring about a reduction in chronic pain which may be experienced by athletes. The ECS is known to control critical modulatory functions of the brain, immune system, and endocrine system. It also plays an active role in the regulatory role of secreting hormones which are related to reproductive functions and stress management.  

Depression and anxiety

The high level of tension that builds up in the mind of the players before, during and after the game can throw them into a state of anxiety or depression as the case may be. Exerting too much pressure on the mind can reduce the total amount of CBD in circulation thus causing the brain to be temporarily overworked, leading to anxiety. The use of CBD and CBD related products can go a long way in keeping the total amount of CBD in circulation at psychological levels thus taking care of the anxiety and keeping the player as relaxed as possible.

Reduction in the rate of inflammation

It is quite impossible to engage in sporting activities and be completely free from injuries. No matter how careful you may be, injuries are bound to happen. These injuries can create the perfect environment for inflammations to strive. Using CBD can reduce the rate of inflammation in the body thus keeping the athlete as healthy as possible.

How we can help

We have a number of products specifically designed for muscle aches and pains. They can be found here and below.

Contact Us

Contact us if you have any questions on the use of CBD for athletes; we will love to hear from you. Don’t forget to hit the share button.