The 6 Best CBD Salves and Topicals for Athletes 2022 – Greatist

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CBD is where its at. It has tons of potential health benefits, including workout recovery and pain relief. But sadly, not all CBD products are 10/10.

To help you sift out the too-legit-to-quit from the hype, we vetted the best CBD salves for 2021 with #FitFam in mind.

Cannabidiol (aka CBD) is one of the many cannabinoids, or compounds, found in hemp and cannabis plants. Tetrahydrocannabinol (aka THC) is also one of those compounds.

But even though both compounds come from the same place, CBD by definition will never contain more than 0.3 percent THC and some CBDs have THC removed altogether so CBD doesnt make you feel high.

Here are the three main types of CBD out there:

Research on CBD is still pretty new and ongoing especially when it comes to athletes but heres what the latest research says:

Exciting! BUT the most important takeaway is that basically all research on CBD use in athletes recommends further research to confirm these findings. So it might be some time before we know for sure how CBD can help athletes specifically.

This list is all about safety, quality, and legitimacy. We put every CBD product through a super thorough vetting process that makes sure each product:

We also check out:

This powerful broad-spectrum formula has a killer cooling effect. We also love that 100 percent of the hemp is organically grown and high quality. In addition to CBD, it has a few *extra* anti-inflammatory ingredients to kick it up a notch:

Reviewers are all about the cooling relief for muscle aches. Athletes and people with arthritis praise the quick pain relief and say it works better than IcyHot.

Bonus: Its solvent-free and totes vegan.

This soothing all-purpose salve is formulated with full-spectrum CBD, along with some other fab ingredients:

Its fab for achy muscles, knees, elbows, and hands. It also contains coconut oil, beeswax, and shea butter, so its hella hydrating for your skin. Reviewers love the gentle feel of the balm and say you need only a pea-size amount to feel the results.

This spirited stick has just three ingredients: beeswax, MCT oil (coconut oil), and organic broad-spectrum CBD extract. But the best part? The stick is mess-free and helps you target those tricky problem areas. Its also hella portable stick this guy in your purse or bag and apply it quickly on the go without having to wash up afterward.

Keep in mind that there arent any supplemental pain relief ingredients in this one youre totally relying on CBDs pain-relieving potential.

The full-spectrum hemp extract comes from Colorado-grown organic hemp. And if you like citrus, youre in luck the blood orange essential oil gives this cream a zesty scent that reviewers go wild for.

It also contains super soothing aloe and chamomile (which is also used to treat pain and inflammation), along with hydrating ingredients like olive oil, cocoa butter, and coconut oil. And because this is a cream, its supposed to rub all the way in without leaving a greasy feel which reviewers confirm is really impressive for a CBD product.

This cream has a 12-month shelf life and is best kept at room temp. And FYI, because it contains chamomile, anyone with an allergy or sensitivity to plants in the Asteraceae (aka Compositae) family should be careful about using it.

Calm combines broad-spectrum CBD with pain-relieving white willow bark extract, organic coconut oil, aloe leaf juice, and lavender extract. So (obvi) it smells AMAZING. It also contains glycerin, which is an all-star moisturizer commonly used in lotions so this one def has a different feel than the typical CBD salve.

But the reason were all here: Its also a legit pain reliever. Just rub a dime-size amount into the painful area and let it do its thing.

This luscious blend of beeswax and mango butter is infused with high quality CBD hemp extract and loaded with all kinds of fun stuff:

The brand says the mix of capsaicin and menthol makes for a unique cooling/warming sensation. Reviewers say it really does help with chronic joint pain and muscle aches too. Just keep in mind that it may take up to 2 hours to get the full effect.

There are a kajillion different CBD salves, creams, lotions, and balms on the market. This can make shopping a sticky situation. Here are some things to look out for to make sure you pick the best one for you.

A little recap:

While research suggests that leaving all the cannabis compounds together (aka full-spectrum CBD) could strengthen CBDs therapeutic effects, there isnt enough research on athletes to say whether one type of CBD is more beneficial than another. Its really up to you to decide what youre comfortable trying.

Should you go for a salve, balm, cream, or lotion? Is there a difference? Yup!

Which one you choose is really up to your personal preference. If you want something that rubs all the way in, you should probably go for a cream or lotion. If you want something that feels like its leaving a protective barrier on your skin, salves and balms are a better choice.

A lot of products have other ingredients that can add to their benefits. Here are a few popular ones we discussed when going through our picks:

If you love that icy feel, look for salves with menthol or other mint oils. But if you hate that feeling, stick to menthol-free products or even opt for simpler products with fewer ingredients.

This is how many milligrams of CBD a product has. There isnt currently an evidence-based rule to help you decide how much CBD can relieve pain, so it might take some trial and error until you find your sweet spot.

If youre new to CBD, we recommend starting low and working your way up if you tolerate it without any issues.

CBD is a kinda new thing. To make sure youre getting a quality cream, stick to brands that have been third-party tested and are willing to post the results on their sites (or send them to you if you reach out via email).

If youre in the mood to be super thorough, you can also make sure that the COA isnt expired, that the brand also tests for contaminants like pesticides and heavy metals, and that the products potency matches (for the most part) what the brand claims.

When it comes to the gels, lotions, and creams on this list, application is super simple. Just apply the recommended dose to the spot that ails ya.

You can also try other forms of CBD like:

Theres no specific recommended dosage for CBD. It really comes down to whats best for you.

A 2011 review found that even high doses of CBD (were talkin 1,500 mg) are safe even when taken daily. But still, its prob a good plan to start slow and work your way up.

Pro tip: Some of the salves on our list have a high-ish CBD concentration. Try half of the recommended amount and see how it feels before you slather it on. A little can go a long way!

CBD shouldnt show up on a drug test. But because full-spectrum CBD products contain trace amounts of THC, there is potential to get a positive drug test result from using them (though the likelihood is pretty small).

If you know youll be taking a drug test, you might want to opt for broad-spectrum or isolate products, which have no THC. The only catch is that you should always check the brands COA to confirm that no THC was detected during testing.

CBD is generally considered super safe. But still, you have to know what youre working with. This can be tough since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved only one CBD product. Thats right: ONE (its a medication that helps treat two rare forms of epilepsy).

Still, stick to stuff that comes from well-respected brands. And to ensure quality, make sure its been third-party tested.

Since salves are topical, theres a super low risk that CBD will get into your bloodstream. But you still might notice some harmless (but annoying) side effects like:

Reminder: CBD cant get you high.

Marijuana-derived CBD products are illegal on the federal level but legal under some state laws.

Hemp-derived CBD products (with less than 0.3 percent THC) are legal on the federal level but still illegal under some state laws.

Check your states laws and those of anywhere you travel. Keep in mind that nonprescription CBD products are not FDA-approved and may be inaccurately labeled.

Now that you know your CBD ABCs, you can pick the best salve for your sporty spice pains and injuries. With these picks, theres something for everyone. Just remember, CBD isnt a cure-all. Talk with your doctor if you have a chronic injury.

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The 6 Best CBD Salves and Topicals for Athletes 2022 - Greatist