Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly called NSAIDs, are medications people use to manage pain, inflammation, and fever. Primarily people use these drugs when symptoms like headache, sprain, cold, and other conditions appear. They are available in capsules, tablets, topicals, and injections but may not suit everyone. Most people find benefits from NSAIDs, but one has to know what works best for one.

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There are various types of NSAIDs, namely – naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, etoricoxib, etc. Before using these drugs, if one is above the age of 65 or has stomach ulcers, asthma, or kidney problems, one should get the advice of a doctor or pharmacist. One can generally see that athletes use these drugs because they are more prone to injuries. These drugs are effective and don’t take much time to show results. But these are synthetic drugs and may result in various side effects. Thus, many athletes nowadays are looking for organic treatment methods, and CBD oil is seemingly topping their wishlist.

Main Types Of NSAIDs And Their Usage

Eight main types of NSAIDs available in the market are fit for human use. Let’s discuss a few of them here.

• Ibuprofen

Many brands use ibuprofen in their medicines to relieve colds and flu. It is a painkiller that acts on various pains like back pain, pain due to periods, and toothache. The drug also reduces people with inflammations like sprains and arthritis. Pregnant women and people with allergic reactions may not be able to take the medication, and doctors recommend that people over 17 years of age use it.

• Naproxen

An NSAID that helps reduce joint pain and muscle pain. It can also reduce inflammation or swelling. People worldwide use the drug to treat various chronic conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, pain due to period, gout, etc. However, people with allergic reactions to aspirin, high blood pressure, Chrohn’s disease, heart problems, etc., may be unable to take it.

• Diclofenac

Typically used to treat swelling, one can use diclofenac to treat joint pains, muscle pain, and pain in the bones. The drug comes in tablets and capsules and is only available over a prescription. People also use the drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, back pain, toothache, migraine, etc. However, people with allergic reactions to the drug, aspirin, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, etc., may not be able to use the drug.

Facts Behind CBD

Cannabidiol is one of the best cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. The extract is known to have many medical benefits with fewer side effects. In addition, it is a non-psychoactive drug and doesn’t produce much intoxication in the user. The most abundant cannabinoid present in the cannabis plant is THC or tetrahydrocannabinol. 

Cultivators extract CBD from the Hemp plant. It is a botanical class of the cannabis plant. The extract is said to be the least potent among all other cannabinoids. As the extract is organic, non-psychoactive, and helps fight pain and inflammation, athletes readily use the product to heal themselves. It may help relieve pain, anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia, etc.

Comparing CBD With NSAIDs

There are a few pointers on which we would like to talk about why athletes prefer CBD over NSAIDs. These include:

• No Synthetic, Only Organic

Organic drugs can be dangerous but certainly not as much as synthetic ones. Anyone could produce these drugs, and there is no tight regulation in the USA for its production. People, especially athletes, lack knowledge of what chemical compounds they consume. Many synthetic drugs like NSAIDs do more harm than good in the long run. Athletes have a long and bright career ahead of them, which they don’t want to lose out on due to harmful pills.

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CBD, on the other hand, is organic. Cultivators extract the compound from the cannabis plant. Every tiny detail about the extract, the manner of production, and regulations are available on the internet. CBD is non-psychoactive and doesn’t cause addiction and intoxication. Moreover, the compound does lesser harm with side effects than the synthetic ones in the long run. Thus, athletes nowadays find it safer than NSAIDs.

• Better Relief From Pain

NSAIDs work by inhibiting the release of chemical compounds that our body generates due to the trauma from an injury. It inhibits COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, resulting in more negative side effects. 

On the other hand, CBD influences our body’s ECS or endocannabinoid system and stimulates the CB receptors to modulate the pain threshold. In addition, it slows down the generation of inflammatory molecules, so as a result, CBD may have fewer adverse side effects than synthetic ones.

By replacing NSAIDs with CBD, one will see pain relief without any health hazards. Full spectrum CBD oil is better at acting on pain than NSAIDs like ibuprofen.

• Other Benefits

NSAIDs can only help with pain and inflammation. They can reduce headache, back pain, joint pain, pain due to periods, etc., and have no use other than these. But CBD oil helps lessen athletes’ pain and inflammation and calms their minds.

Aggression in sports is a regular thing. People lose their cool on the pitch when something goes against their tactics. But the aggression leads to the build-up of stress, which reflects in the athlete’s everyday life. Athletes prefer using CBD over NSAIDs to keep the mind healthy and calm. It also gives them a night of good sleep, thus helping them concentrate better and focus on the match.

Is CBD Legal In The USA?

CBD lies in the gray area regarding whether or not the extract is legal in the states. However, at a Federal level, the ‘extract’ is permitted. In addition, after the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp cultivation was made legal. Thus the production of several cannabinoid products was also made legal.

But the extract is illegal in some states. Some states have made the drug legal for medical use, some have legalized recreational use, and some still don’t allow both. So it would be wise to check the local and state laws before buying CBD oil.

Final Words

CBD is an excellent alternative to NSAIDs for athletes. Not only does the drug help athletes relieve pain and inflammation, and helps them have a calm mind free of anxiety, stress, and depression. But the extract does have some side effects to it. These effects include red eyes, nausea, increased anxiety, insomnia, etc. It all depends on how many doses a person has. Overdosing may lead to harmful consequences. Therefore, one should take the drug according to the quantity one can intake. In the end, use CBD oil and forget about synthetic drugs.