by Ashley Tibbits
From sitting at a desk (or these days a makeshift work-from-home situation) to your go-to fitness routine, your body can go through a lot on a daily basis — and with a busy schedule you might not always be giving it the proper recovery. Or maybe you’re not exactly sure how to recuperate.
Thankfully, getting relief from soreness and stiffness might be easier than you think. Topical CBD muscle creams have become a hot new trend for post workout and relief from sore or stiff muscle pain, and they could be a game-changer for you.
Here, we explain just why a CBD cream like our new FOCL Relief Cream can be so effective at soothing sore and stiff muscles.
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How CBD & natural pain relief creams work
A little insight into how CBD muscle creams work: hemp-derived CBD is considered a super supplement because it stimulates the body’s own endocannabinoid system, which is involved in how you sleep, how you adapt to stress, your hunger levels, your mood and how you experience pain (among other things).
And while you’re probably already familiar with the ways you can ingest CBD to aid with everyday stress or occasional sleeplessness, applying cannabinoids topically — or transdermally, to get scientific — can have a similar effect on your joints and muscles.
Studies have shown that when used on the skin, CBD still offers similar benefits. Not only that, but according to research from the University of Kentucky, one of the benefits of topical CBD application is that it can have a therapeutic effect on minor aches and pains without major side effects.
CBD pain-relief creams — like the doctor-formulated and FDA-approved FOCL Relief Cream — can up the ante by combining this super ingredient with other plant-based ones that have a history of use for soothing sore, tired and achy muscles.
One such ingredient is arnica, which has been used for centuries to help with bruising and inflammation. In fact, the British Homeopathic Association shares that Swiss mountain guides used to use the daisy-like flower to prevent injury from climbing.
Add in pain-relieving camphor bark oil, anti-inflammatory eucalyptus leaf oil, and a slew of other calming, nourishing natural ingredients, and you’ve got a recipe for powerful relief.
How does CBD creams work
CBD creams work topically by absorbing through the tissue in your skin and muscles. Once absorbed, the cannabidiol molecules bind to what is known as the endocannabinoid system.
This system is responsible for certain chemical signals such as mood, pain, and even inflammation.
By binding to these proteins, it can do several actions. It can block the pain signal from your body to relieve that symptom. CBD also has analgesic properties, helping the body to reduce swelling.Â
Also, its sedative and anti-inflammatory effects can help reduce the symptoms in the area and help you feel relief in no time. Products like our Relief Cream can be really helpful for a quick and easy recovery.
How long does CBD cream take to workÂ
Usually, absorption of CBD takes very few minutes. While topical absorption can take anywhere between 5 to 30 minutes, thanks to the administration method, it can be really quick.
Some products like our Relief Cream can quickly eliminate aches and pains thanks to its gel formula. When compared to other methods, the gel tends to absorb faster and alleviate the symptoms in a flash.
Thanks to its aloe, shea butter, and arnica formula, it can also help to reduce inflammation. And the cooling sensation of menthol, eucalyptus, and wintergreen oil can give you a rapid relief and fresh feeling in the affected area.
This well-rounded formula can also be acquired in a 3-pack to save up on your purchase, making it great for athletes or users that suffer from long-lasting pain. You can learn more about this pack over here.
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How to use CBD cream
So when and how should you use CBD muscle creams if soreness is your main issue?
For those who suffer from delayed-onset muscle soreness after a workout, applying a product like FOCL Relief Cream after exercising can help speed up muscle recovery. The same can be said if you’re experiencing similar discomfort from another type of physical activity (even sitting uncomfortably for too long!).
But it is worth noting that CBD creams are not necessarily a solution for chronic pain, as this is your body’s way of telling your brain there’s trauma. Your best bet then is to see a doctor to get to the root of the problem.Â
How often to use CBD creamÂ
Topical CBD can be easily absorbed into the skin, so we recommend using this type of products1-3 times per day. This kind of treatment could be helpful as well for spontaneous injuries, such as a shin splint or spraining your ankle.
The application of this product can be helpful for up to 7 consecutive days, but of course, we recommend consulting with a health professional before starting any supplement for chronic treatment.
How to use CBD cream for painÂ
As with other topical treatments, we recommend washing the area gently with soap and water to remove any excess dirt or oil buildup. This will get rid of common topical barriers between the cream and your skin.
After that, you are ready to go! Apply your FOCL Relief Cream to the affected area and allow the skin to absorb it for a few minutes before covering it with clothing or bandages.Â
CBD creams can provide relief anywhere from an hour to 2 days of relief, depending on the dosage, how your body reacts, and even the condition of your injury or ailment.
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Does CBD cream help sore muscles?
Yes, cannabidiol-based cream can be helpful for sore muscles. This is due to its anti-inflammatory properties, but it can also help reduce the pain due to how it interacts with our nervous system. Let’s break this down into easier terms.
Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD could help treat inflammation. This happens because it binds to the proteins in our nervous system, blocking the pain signals and sending signals to our body to stop the inflammation.Â
This 2016 research reported that CBD could help treat inflammation, specifically in the joint and muscle zones. The research reported that pain-related behaviors in the area were greatly diminished by using topical CBD products.
In general, the sore feeling of muscles comes from both swelling and pain. Both are symptoms that CBD products could treat, and applying them topically guarantees a faster absorption with barely any side effects.
Hence, it could potentially help as a therapeutic relief for these symptoms or even chronic ailments like arthritis.
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How does CBD help with muscle recoveryÂ
As stated above, CBD can help relieve pain and inflammation symptoms. This could lead, in general, be helpful towards muscle recovery, as one of the major factors to help you recover muscle is managing the pain and the healing process.
This review from 2020 concluded that thanks to the evidence of analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective actions, it could protect against GI damage associated with inflammation.Â
While there’s still a lot to research about the topic, this could mean an easier recovery and healing of traumatic skeletal injuries. Especially when talking about injuries associated with sports performance and athletes.
Of course, muscle recovery is a multi-factorial process, which also involves the users' metabolism and healing speed. However, anecdotal evidence and preliminary research have shown that CBD could be a potential ally in this process and even help in later systemic treatments.
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How to pick the right relief cream for you
Think a CBD muscle cream might benefit you? There are a few things to look for when shopping for one. Look for brands like FOCL that use third-party testing and have FDA-approval (our Relief Cream is one of only a handful of CBD topicals to have the department’s stamp of approval).Â
Second, check out the ingredient list. Plant-based, naturally soothing ingredients may be an added bonus, but make sure the product doesn’t contain any known allergens; and if there’s anything you’re not sure of, ask your doctor before using.
And last, check the amount of CBD. For example, our Relief Cream contains 500 mg per bottle, so dose yourself accordingly. Start small, because you can always work your way up.Â
Once you’ve got all your questions answered and you’ve chosen the product that suits you, all that’s left to do is apply it, sit back and let the soothing begin.
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Sources:
https://www.uclahealth.org/cannabis/human-endocannabinoid-system
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851925/
https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-camphor#camphor-uses-and-benefits
