Athletes' Relief: Top 7 CBD Ointments and Creams to Relax Like a Pro
Rewritten Article:
CBD is a godsend for all the fitness enthusiasts out there. It offers tonnes of potential health benefits, especially when it comes to workout recovery and pain relief. But, not all CBD products are worth the hype. To help you out, we've rounded up the top CBD salves that cater to athletes. Here's a quick glance:
Top CBD Salves for Athletes in 2022
- Best cooling: CBDfx Cream for Muscle & Joint: Cooling
- Best full-spectrum: Plant People Soothe
- Best CBD stick: Go Green Hemp CBD Relief Stick Broad-Spectrum Unscented (1,000 mg)
- Best cream: Fab CBD Topical CBD Cream
- Best lotion: Calm by Wellness Lavender Lotion
- Best balm: Lazarus Naturals Soothing Mint Full Spectrum CBD Balm
- Best high potency: Level Select Sports CBD Cream Level 3
What's This CBD Thing All About?
Cannabidiol (aka CBD) is one of the so-called cannabinoids found in cannabis and hemp plants. While tetrahydrocannabinol (aka THC) is another such compound, CBD by definition contains no more than 0.3% THC. This means you won't experience any high feel from CBD products. Here are the main types of CBD:
- Full-spectrum CBD contains all compounds found in the cannabis plant, including THC. Research suggests that keeping all these compounds together works best, a phenomenon known as the "entourage effect."
- Broad-spectrum CBD contains all the same compounds as full-spectrum CBD, but THC is completely removed.
- CBD isolate is pure CBD, with no other cannabinoids, flavonoids, or terpenes.
Is CBD Beneficial for Athletes?
Research on CBD's effects on athletes is still in its infancy, but here's what we know so far:
- A 2020 review of studies found that CBD has anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and analgesic effects in animal models. It might also protect against inflammatory damage to the gastrointestinal tract and facilitate healing of skeletal injuries.
- Other 2020 research suggests that CBD can help manage pain, inflammation, and swelling associated with injury, as well as help manage anxiety, fear memory process, and sleep problems.
However, more research is needed to confirm these findings.
Extra Goodies in CBD Topicals
CBD topicals always include additional ingredients like coconut oil, beeswax, or jojoba oil to give them a consistent texture. Some also add menthol, capsaicin, or arnica to boost their pain-relieving properties. Many of these ingredients are backed by research and can provide the relief athletes are after.
Pros and Cons of Using CBD Topicals
Pros
- Promising relief for pain and inflammation
- Easy to apply and use
- Many contain additional ingredients for pain relief and hydration
- Low risk of side effects
Cons
- Lack of research specifically on athletes
- Not covered by insurance
- Can be costly
- Doesn't work for everyone
Choosing the Best Salve
To get the best out of CBD salves, consider the following factors:
- Type of CBD (full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate)
- Presence of third-party testing by an ISO 17025-compliant lab
- Lab results (Certificate of Analysis or COA) for heavy metals and pesticides
- Any special manufacturing processes or certifications
- Potency of the product
- Quality of the ingredients
- Brand reputation, which can be gauged by Customer reviews, lack of FDA warning letters, and absence of health claims
Pricing Guide
- $ = under $30
- $$ = $31-50
- $$$ = over $50
Top CBD Salves for Athletes
Best cooling CBD cream for athletes
CBDfx CBD Cream for Muscle & Joint: Cooling
This powerful broad-spectrum CBD formula offers a cool sensation. It's made with high-quality hemp and has additional ingredients for anti-inflammation, like menthol, caffeine, and white willow bark. Athletes and people with arthritis vouch for its quick pain relief. It's also vegan!
Pros
- Contains extra pain-relieving ingredients that might benefit athletes
- Marvelous reviews
- High potency
- Vegan
Cons
- Slightly pricey
Best full-spectrum CBD salve for athletes
Plant People Soothe
This soothing all-purpose salve contains full-spectrum CBD, arnica, camphor, and peppermint. It's fantastic for achy muscles, knees, elbows, and hands, and it hydrates the skin with ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter. Reviewers love its gentle feel and say a pea-sized amount is all you need for results.
Pros
- Contains extra pain-relieving ingredients that might benefit athletes
- Hydrating
- Good reviews
- Can save money by subscribing
Cons
- Might stain clothes
Best CBD stick for athletes
Go Green Hemp CBD Relief Stick Broad-Spectrum Unscented (1,000 mg)
This stick contains only three ingredients: beeswax, MCT oil, and broad-spectrum CBD extract. Its mess-free formula makes it easy to target problem areas. Although it doesn't have additional pain-relieving ingredients, high-quality CBD is the star of the show.
Pros
- Stick formula is easy to use on the go
- High potency
- Good reviews
Cons
- Doesn't contain extra pain-relieving ingredients
Best CBD cream for athletes
Fab CBD Topical CBD Cream
This full-spectrum CBD cream has Colorado-grown organic hemp, blood orange essential oil, aloe, and chamomile. Reviewers love the refreshing scent and the fact that it rubs in smoothly without leaving a greasy residue. The cream has a 12-month shelf life and is best kept at room temperature.
Pros
- Contains extra pain-relieving ingredients that might benefit athletes
- Smells great
- Fantastic reviews
- Can save money with a subscription
Cons
- Some reviewers wish it had a higher potency
Best CBD lotion for athletes
Calm by Wellness Lavender Lotion
Calm combines broad-spectrum CBD with white willow bark extract, lavender extract, lavender oil, and coconut oil. Its lavender scent makes it a favorite among athletes and those with dry skin. Although it's low in potency, its other ingredients make it a good pick for hydration.
Pros
- Hydrating
- Lovely fragrance
- Big bottle
- Can save money with a subscription
Cons
- Low potency
Best CBD balm for athletes
Lazarus Naturals Soothing Mint Full Spectrum CBD Balm
This balm contains a blend of beeswax and mango butter, infused with broad-spectrum CBD, jojoba oil, sunflower seed oil, menthol, wintergreen leaf oil, and capsaicin for a cooling and warming sensation. Reviews praise its effectiveness for chronic joint pain and muscle aches.
Pros
- Contains extra pain-relieving ingredients that might benefit athletes
- Feels like IcyHot
- Hydrating
- Affordable
- High potency
Cons
- Small jar (available in a larger size)
Choosing the Right CBD Salve for You
With so many CBD salves, creams, lotions, and balms out there, it can be a challenge to pick the right one. Consider factors like:
- Type of CBD
- Drug testing
- Type of salve or lotion
- Extra ingredients
- Potency
- Third-party testing and transparency
Conclusion
Finding the right CBD salve for your body and budget is a breeze now that you're armed with this information. Remember, these picks prioritize safety, quality, and legitimacy. So don't hesitate to give them a try and experience the potential benefits of CBD for your fitness journey!
- The CBDfx Cream for Muscle & Joint: Cooling, a broad-spectrum CBD salve, offers a cooling sensation that helps in quick pain relief for athletes, making it one of the best cooling CBD creams for athletes, owing to its high potency and additional pain-relieving ingredients like menthol, caffeine, and white willow bark.
- The Plant People Soothe salve contains full-spectrum CBD, arnica, camphor, and peppermint, making it ideal for achy muscles, knees, elbows, and hands. It hydrates the skin with ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter, and its gentle feel earns it good reviews, while a pea-sized amount is claimed to provide the desired relief.
- Users seeking a CBD stick for easy application on-the-go might find the Go Green Hemp CBD Relief Stick Broad-Spectrum Unscented (1,000 mg) appealing, as its mess-free formula contains only three ingredients: beeswax, MCT oil, and broad-spectrum CBD extract, making it a high-potency choice despite not containing additional pain-relieving ingredients.
