EndurElite Chief Endurance Officer Matt Mosman discusses what CBD is, how it works in the body, and if it can help athletes decrease joint pain and inflammation.
Can CBD Oil Decrease Joint Pain?
Ever wonder if CBD products can decrease joint pain and inflammation? That is what we are going to discuss today. So CBD products have been all the rage lately. You're seeing CBD topicals pop up, CBD edibles, CBD-type products that you can inhale. But does the science support their use as it relates to joint pain and inflammation? Before we get to that, we first have to understand what CBD is and how it works in the body.
What Is CBD?
So simply put, CBD is the extract of the marijuana plant that is non-psychoactive. Where THC, on the other hand, is the extract of the marijuana plant that is psychoactive. So the point here being is by taking CBD or a CBD-type product you're not gonna get that buzz and geeked out feeling that you would get if you were to, say, smoke some weed, which I know nothing about. So now that we know what CBD is, this is how it works in the body.
How Does CBD Work?
CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system in the body and certain receptors within the endocannabinoid system. And more specifically, as it relates to joint pain and inflammation, CBD interacts with the vanilloid receptors and the serotonin receptors. And, basically, when it interacts with these two receptors, it blocks pain and decreases the inflammation.
Research On CBD Oil
So what does the research say about CBD-type products and joint pain and inflammation? Well, there are 4 studies that I'm aware of that has examined the use of CBD-type products, more specifically topicals and ingestibles, in osteoarthritic populations and given the CBD-type product from anywhere from 4 weeks to 12 weeks.
Researchers have noticed that osteoarthritis has slowed down and the subjects experienced less pain and inflammation. So it appears that the CBD-type products do actually work to decrease joint pain and inflammation. But we have to take this with a little grain of salt because CBD-type products and their use really haven't been examined in things like runners, or cyclists, or other endurance athletes.
Yeah, because, honestly, in the whole funding scheme or hierarchy, we're really not that important compared to high-risk populations, unfortunately. Excuse me.
Should Athletes Use CBD Oil?
But we can deduct from the research done in osteoarthritic populations that, yeah, these CBD products probably will work to decrease joint pain and inflammation in more athletic populations.
So that is all I have today on CBD-type products, my endurance friends. One of my favorite ones that I have used for some recurring plantar fasciitis is a CDB topical made by a Prevail Botanicals. Really, really awesome product. So check them out if you want an alternative to slamming ibuprofen all the time.
Now, if you want other videos like this on endurance training, nutrition, and supplementation, subscribe to the EndurElite YouTube channel or head on over to the EndurElite blog at www.endurelite.com. Get social with us on Instagram and the Facebook Family of FAST book group. Oh, that didn't come out right. Facebook group. And until next time my endurance friends. Stay fueled, stay focused, stay fast, and stay informed.
