TL;DR: Can CBD & Delta 8 Help Muscle Recovery?
CBD and Delta 8 may aid muscle recovery by reducing inflammation and pain. While CBD has more scientific backing, Delta 8 may provide similar benefits. Both cannabinoids are federally legal when derived from hemp.
- CBD vs. Delta 8: CBD is non-psychoactive and used for wellness, while Delta 8 has mild psychoactive effects.
- Muscle Recovery Benefits: Both may help with inflammation and pain, potentially aiding post-workout recovery.
- Scientific Evidence: Studies suggest CBD may directly support muscle repair, while Delta 8’s effects are less studied but promising.
- Product Selection: Gummies offer longer-lasting relief, oils act faster, and topical creams target specific areas.
You can think of muscle recovery as the purpose, more or less, of a strength training workout. The muscle recovery process is ultimately what allows muscles to return to form and gain strength as the body repairs itself following a weightlifting session or other strength training activities.
Athletes and avid gym-goers are always on the lookout for an edge in their workout and recovery processes. So, it’s only natural to wonder if cannabinoids like CBD and Delta 8 aid muscle recovery.
Let’s take a closer look at this important question to learn if Delta 8 and CBD for muscle recovery work and how these cannabinoids can influence a workout.
The Basics on CBD and Delta 8
CBD and Delta 8 are both cannabinoids – chemicals found in cannabis and hemp plants. They interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system to produce certain effects. Although they come from the same sources and are chemically similar to each other, they have very distinct effects.
Key Facts on Delta 8
Delta 8 is similar to most cannabinoids in that it causes psychoactive effects, something users often refer to as a “high.” Elevated mood, an enhanced sense of creativity, and an increased tendency for laughter are all commonly reported effects.
People tend to take Delta 8 recreationally, although it can also have practical applications – like the use of Delta 8 for muscle recovery. Some users find that Delta 8 helps them manage issues like insomnia and inflammation, although these benefits have not been scientifically proven (or disproven, for that matter).
Key Facts on CBD
Cannabidiol (CBD), in contrast, is not psychoactive. People don’t normally use CBD products recreationally. Instead, they use it for certain practical benefits. Harvard Health Publishing highlights many likely and proven effects of CBD, including helping to address sleeplessness, anxiety, inflammation, and chronic pain.
As we’ll see in the next section, CBD for workout recovery may have some direct benefits in terms of helping to rebuild and repair muscle following a strength-training session.
Legality of CBD and Delta 8
Both CBD and Delta 8 are legal on the federal level when they’re derived from hemp. Legally, hemp is defined as containing no more than 0.3% Delta 9 THC by dry weight.
Plants above that threshold are instead categorized as cannabis plants, even though they are nearly identical biologically to hemp plants. Cannabis is legal in most US states for medical use, and about half of US states for recreational use.
Some states and municipalities limit access to hemp-derived cannabinoids. However, CBD, Delta 8, and other hemp-derived cannabinoids are legal in the majority of states.
Do CBD and Delta 8 Help Muscle Recovery After a Workout?
Delta 8 and CBD have similarities and differences in terms of helping muscle recovery after a workout. Let’s look at the similarities first, then review what sets these two cannabinoids apart for muscle recovery.
Delta 8 and CBD are both thought to help address issues like inflammation and pain. There is more scientific evidence for CBD’s ability to do so. That doesn’t mean Delta 8 is less likely to help, just that more research is required.
Strength training leads to acute (short-term) inflammation because muscles are damaged during this type of exercise. This can be seen as “good” damage, as a healthy body readily repairs the damage, and muscles become stronger over time with consistent strength training, thanks in part to this repair process.
However, short-term inflammation can also cause discomfort and pain. Delta 8 and CBD may help to address both symptoms, making it easier to go about the rest of the day following a workout, fall asleep after a workout, and more. That can make the recovery process less of a burden or issue, even though it doesn’t directly impact muscle recovery itself.
A survey published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Cannabis Research found that a strong majority of people who regularly exercise and use CBD and/or Delta 9 THC believed that these chemicals aid in post-workout recovery. In all, 93% of survey respondents said CBD worked for muscle recovery, and 87% said the same for Delta 9 THC.
It’s important to note that this survey tells us that THC does affect muscle recovery in the view of people who regularly use it and engage in physical activity, but not Delta 8. However, Delta 8 and Delta 9 are very similar, so it’s worth considering the potential effects of Delta 8 in the same use case.
Does THC help with muscle recovery? It may, and Delta 8, being very similar to Delta 9, may have similar benefits.
CBD for Muscle Recovery Specifically
Research published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Pharmacology explains that CBD may directly help with muscle recovery. The article notes that the debate is still open, and these findings require more research.
However, CBD may do more than help people feel better after strength training and reduce the acute inflammation and pain that can follow a muscle-building workout. It may also directly aid in the recovery process as muscles heal and grow following such exercise.
Finding the Right Delta 8 & CBD Products for Post-Workout Recovery
Specific products and routes of administration (i.e., vaping Delta 8 concentrates or eating CBD gummies) were not a major area of focus in the research reviewed in the last section. So, if you’re looking to use Delta 8 or CBD to aid in muscle recovery or workout recovery, where should you start?
Our advice is to try a few different products and see how they work for you. Delta 8 and CBD gummies take a while to kick in but have long-lasting effects that can help reduce pain and inflammation for a longer period. CBD oils provide faster relief, and topical CBD creams can help provide focused relief to a specific area of the body.
