TL;DR: This guide explores using CBD for muscle relaxation, detailing its properties and application:
- Legal and Diverse Forms: CBD is legal in most states and comes in various products like vapes, oils, and balms.
- Not a Traditional Muscle Relaxant: CBD does not fit the pharmaceutical definition of a muscle relaxant but can help alleviate muscle pain and inflammation.
- Potential Benefits: CBD may reduce pain and enhance sleep, making it useful for muscle soreness.
- Product Options: Fast-acting forms like vapes and oils are available alongside longer-lasting options like edibles and creams.
CBD has attracted even more attention than most other hemp-derived cannabinoids. Why? Because it appears to have unique and functional benefits that aren’t found in many other cannabinoids.
CBD is thought to help address common issues like sleeplessness, inflammation, and pain. You might be wondering if you can use CBD for muscle relaxation, too.
Let’s take a closer look at what CBD is, how it works, and if it can help you relax tired, sore, and aching muscles.
Understanding CBD: The Basics
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical found in both cannabis and hemp plants. It’s classified as a cannabinoid because it interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system and produces certain effects.
Those two facts describe CBD and many other cannabinoids, like Delta 8 and THCa. So, what makes CBD unique?
The biggest difference between CBD and most other cannabinoids is that it isn’t psychoactive. In other words, it doesn’t produce a high—an altered state of mind that usually includes an elevated mood and other desirable recreational effects.
Instead, CBD is thought to have functional benefits. Harvard Health Publishing explains that research is ongoing into many of the potential benefits of CBD. However, early results are generally positive.
That said, CBD could help with:
- Anxiety
- Sleeplessness
- Inflammation
- Pain
If you’re considering using CBD for muscle tension or muscle relaxation, those last two points likely stood out to you. We’ll take a closer look at CBD for muscle relaxation in the next section. For now, let’s address a few common and important questions about CBD.
Is CBD Legal?
In one form or another, CBD is legal in most states across the US. Many states have some kind of restrictions on sales of CBD, but it is available. As Leafwell explains, only Idaho and Nebraska have major restrictions that substantially limit sales of CBD.
Despite the widespread availability and legality, we always recommend checking into local laws before buying CBD.
How Do You Use CBD?
CBD is available in a wide range of products and formulations. We’d go as far as to say that an overlooked benefit of CBD is the many ways in which people can use it.
You can find CBD in edibles, vapes, tinctures, oils, balms, and more. These products have similar effects but different timeframes of action. Here’s a brief review:
- Fast acting: CBD vapes quickly kick in, with users starting to feel the effects in a matter of minutes. Tinctures and vapes, when used under the tongue, start to work in about 15 minutes. Their effects can last for a few hours.
- Longer onset, longer effects: CBD edibles, as well as balms and topical creams, take longer to work, about 30-90 minutes. However, they also last longer, with effects taking several hours to fully subside.
Using CBD as a Muscle Relaxer
Is CBD a Muscle Relaxant?
We know that CBD appears to have effects related to reducing inflammation and pain. We also know that a muscle relaxant is a specific category of medicine with certain properties, as the Cleveland Clinic explains.
Common muscle relaxants, called spasmolytics, are used to relax skeletal muscle and address pain and uncontrolled movement (muscle spasms). This type of medication is what most people think of when they hear the term “muscle relaxant.”
So, is CBD a muscle relaxant in the pharmaceutical definition? No. CBD does not work in the same way or produce the same effects as muscle relaxants.
However, CBD does have certain properties that can help address pain and inflammation, including in sore muscles. In this context, CBD can be viewed as a muscle relaxer. It’s an important distinction to make as you learn more about CBD’s role in addressing muscle pain and inflammation.
Can CBD Help to Address Muscle Pain and Soreness?
While research is ongoing, CBD does appear to have some positive effects related to pain relief and reducing soreness. Additionally, CBD is widely recognized as a non-addictive substance, and its side effects at normal doses are mild.
It’s also easy to see that many CBD products, like balms, tinctures, and oils, are produced with the intent of relieving soreness and pain. Additionally, reviews from our customers show us that those users generally find such products to be effective.
With very few risks and the potential for positive results, CBD products are certainly worth trying out to deal with muscle pain and soreness.
It’s also worth noting that CBD can help promote better sleep by addressing sleeplessness. If muscle soreness and pain prevent you from having a restful night’s sleep, CBD offers additional support in that area.
Here are a few key points to keep in mind as you look at CBD for muscle relaxation options:
- CBD vapes, as well as oils and tinctures when held under the tongue, kick in quickly. If you want something on hand for fast relief, consider these products.
- CBD edibles, balms, and creams take longer to start working. However, their effects can last significantly longer than fast-acting options. If you want more enduring relief, these products can be a good fit.
- Some CBD products also include other cannabinoids that produce a high. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. However, always carefully check the product descriptions and labels if you’re looking for products that only contain CBD.
So, CBD isn’t a muscle relaxant in the technical definition but it appears to offer relaxing, pain-relieving effects for muscles from a more general perspective.
Delta 8 Resellers: Exceptional CBD You Can Count On
Whether you want to use CBD oil as a muscle relaxer or want to relieve anxiety or sleeplessness with CBD gummies, it’s important to find high-quality and consistent products.
Delta 8 Resellers offers exactly that! We work exclusively with leading brands in the industry and share the results of independent lab testing of products whenever available. We’re committed to bringing you a full range of CBD products that you can count on.
