Rugby champion and well-known CBD advocate Anna Symonds reveals her favorite CBD products and explains how they can help you relax, recover and rest better.
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Cannabis and hemp have crept into the world of athletics for a while. Professionals from all major sports departments speak out against the prescription of opiates and in favor of cannabis and CBD as medicine. The plant can be found everywhere at the Olympics this year, between loud calls for political reform after Sha’Carri Richardson’s exit from the Games after her positive THC test and gold medal winner, and US soccer star Megan Rapinoe’s loud endorsement for CBD- based personal care.
To better understand why this cannabinoid can make such a huge difference to anxious college students and professional athletes alike, I spoke to Anna Symonds, a rugby player in the Women’s Premier League who has become a prominent advocate in Oregon.
“CBD is a great tool to aid my performance because of its powerful anti-inflammatory properties,” explains Symonds. “It’s much gentler on the body than over-the-counter pain relievers, and is actually beneficial to the digestive tract rather than corrosive to it like most anti-inflammatories. It also helps promote a good night’s sleep, relieve pain and minimize anxiety. “
Here are Anna’s favorite CBD products, as well as a handful of other standout products designed specifically with the needs of athletes in mind.
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Each capsule contains a combination of 20 mg of full-spectrum cannabinoids and medicinal herbs that enhance the desired effect. The CBD here is extracted via alcohol, which makes a bitter tincture, but it doesn’t matter if you just swallow one capsule. It means you are getting all of those good terpenes and smaller cannabinoids, too.
“These powerful capsules offer hemp extract along with complementary medicinal herbs, which in all three formulations really support certain functions: rest, sleep and relief,” says Symonds. “Super easy to travel too!”
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Have you heard of Theragun, the elegant hand-held massager that is on everyone’s wish list? The brand has launched an in-house topical line called TheraOne with a roll-on stick, pre-workout lotion, and this 300 mg post-workout lotion that contains powerful extras like arnica and eucalyptus. As Anna said – CBD is without a doubt a fantastic anti-inflammatory agent. But it can do a lot more to help muscles and joints recover when combined with complementary herbs that work toward the same goal.
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For a bigger kick in your lotion, Kyoto Botanicals has a pretty phenomenal price for their 400 mg CBD sports cream. The phytocannabinoid-rich CBD is mixed with menthol, camphor, rosemary oil, and a range of other herbs and plants for a rich lotion and a pleasant fragrance. This formula is ideal for larger muscle groups such as the legs and back.
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Maybe you’re more of a classic gamer. Someone who loves the good kind of chill like Icy Hot? This is for you. This liquid roller is packed with 750 mg of broad spectrum CBD, menthol for a cooling sensation and arnica, tea tree oil and aloe vera to keep the skin hydrated. This will also feel good on previous injury spots or dry spots.
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Lotions and roll-ons are great, but for the large number of athletes with back injuries or tension in hard-to-reach places, having a localized pain spray like this close by is important. This one has a little eucalyptus and peppermint for an extra calming feeling and is free from GMOs, parabens, sulfates and phthalates. Dr. Kerklaan is a trusted name in skin care, so you can feel comfortable even when your shoulder is sunburned.
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This is one of the purest CBD oils on the market. This farm is one of the few hemp producers to have received USDA organic certification – llamas also live there, and I think that makes a difference. This 800 mg bottle contains two simple ingredients: organic avocado oil and organic full-spectrum hemp oil with hemp varieties of your choice.
“This minimally processed tincture has great potency, a nice taste (based on mild avocado oil with good fats), and is ethically made,” notes Symonds. “It’s really versatile in that you can easily adjust your dosage to suit different needs, and you can use it topically, orally, or sublingually.”
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In addition to topicals, athletes can easily incorporate the anti-inflammatory properties into their therapies through their water bottles. This sports drink powder contains 20 mg broad spectrum CBD as well as CBG, L-theanine and essential minerals like magnesium and zinc. They pride themselves on a proprietary process that allows the cannabinoid extracts to mix evenly with the water – a tricky feat when it comes to great tasting CBD beverages. Their run high merch is also worth considering.
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No weed sport roundup would be complete without Weed Sport itself, a CBD brand developed for the athlete in every smoking community. Likewise, no personal care range is worth a shit unless there are some real CBD bath salts in the mix. It’s simply the most effective, thorough way to get your muscles back to normal. the immersion and complementary epsom effects seem like the ideal environment for muscle regeneration. These forest-scented salts – a collaboration with MATEK – are especially cool because when the salts are ready after 1-2 baths, simply rinse the bag and put it in a house or city compost system. No loss.
Lauren Yoshiko is a Portland-based writer and co-host of Broccoli Magazine’s Broccoli Talk podcast. She was among the first journalists to cover the cannabis trade and culture from 2014, and her work has since appeared in Willamette Week, Forbes, Rolling Stone and Broccoli Magazine, among others. Follow her on Instagram at @laurenyoshiko for Portland Breakfast Sandwich Rec, Stoned Nail Art, and moderate cat content. Do you want more thrillist? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat.
