Running can be an effective way to reduce stress or anxiety. Good old fashioned fresh air and exercise can work wonders, but some runners may need additional assistance. Enter CBD, the natural and legal substance that claims to be a cure all for everything from anxiety to muscle aches. CBD may seem like a new craze for mental and muscle relaxation, but the natural extract has been studied since the 1940s and its parent plant cannabis has reportedly been used medicinally for thousands of years.
Before we dig into the product itself, some context may help. CBD is short for cannabidiol, a natural chemical most often harvested from hemp. It’s usually extracted as a powder or paste, which dissolves easily in oil like coconut oil or hemp seed oil. Unlike its partner THC (tetrahydrocannabinol if you’re feeling formal), CBD has no intoxicating effects and will not make you feel high. Research on CBD is somewhat limited, but it has been shown to help control anxiety, reduce stress, mitigate pain, and assist with inflammation.
But is it legal? If CBD comes from hemp, it is legal in the United States. The legality of CBD derived from other plants varies from state to state, but Daddy Burt Hemp Co products are 100% from hemp plants, meaning they legal to purchase and use in the United States. Some states have stricter requirements where it is legal to purchase and use CBD only with a medical cannabis card, so be sure to double check your state rules first.
I assume most of us aren’t really yet aware of how these sorts of products are made, and a general response to why people don’t give CBD items a try is often because they aren’t sure if it’s a clean and reliable process. In looking into Radio, the way they make their oil seems really technologically advanced:
To convert our hemp into the world’s best oil we use a cryogenic ethanol mechanical extractor. Our oil is unsurpassed in its cleanliness and clarity because we run our oil at -50 degrees Fahrenheit and then pass it through our state-of-the-art filtration systems. These sophisticated systems provide us the purest oil, without degrading the natural cannabinoid and terpene profiles found in our proprietary hemp strains.
We’re proud that each and every one of our products are manufactured in our FDA registered facility that is GMP, ISO 9001, and ISO 22000 certified. This means that we manufacture our products to the highest standards and we prove it through 3rd party audits on an annual basis.
I think comments and a process like this can go a long ways in people out there becoming more comfortable with the idea of CBD-utilization.
Radio sent us a few items to try out for ourselves, and I recently gave a few tinctures and a relief balm a try. While the balm is designed to ease sore muscles, the majority of these items aren’t necessarily running-related. They do, however, promote the enhancement of certain qualities (energy boosting, relaxation, rest/sleep) that runners – and really just human beings in general – are often in need of.
First things first, if you are averse to the taste of CBD products, I think Radio has created some of the better tasting oral options out there. The Lazer Focus is Orange Hibiscus and the Easy Now Relax is Blueberry Lavender flavored – and both do a good job hiding the CBD taste with natural flavoring that still isn’t overpowering.
I appreciated the the Spot Therapy Relief Balm wasn’t medicinal in scent. The added essential oils provides a clean scent and it worked into my muscles quite well and without too thick of a residue (it still leaves the skin feeling a little slick and smooth during and after working in, but I think that’s relatively unavoidable). While it seemed to work fine with my sore legs after a few longer runs, I noticed the benefit the most when rubbing into my neck and shoulders after a few days of long, at-home, work – in which I spent way too much time staring into a screen in my office. Historically, this scenario causes me some minor tension headaches and tight shoulders, and applying this seemed to provide some more immediate relief than I am used to having.
I think a lot of people are probably new to the CBD world, and it’s fair to do your research. After now having tried a variety of CBD products (they are legal in all 50 states), I feel like there are some definite benefits in these lines of products. As always, do your homework, but I feel that products like these are worth a try for yourself. The price may be a bit on the high side as far as CBD products go, but their commitment to a clean and transparent product seems like it’s good for piece of mind.
Company: Radio (Facebook)
Products:
- Lazer: Focus Terpene Blend ($74.99)
- Formulated with a proprietary blend of terpenes derived from orange, hops, pine, jasmine, and citronella to boost energy and concentration throughout the day
- Easy Now: Stress Terpene Blend ($74.99)
- Formulated with a proprietary blend of terpenes derived from orange, chamomile, hops and cardamom to promote relaxation and ease
- Spot Therapy: Relief Balm ($34.99)
- Formulated with essential oils such as palo santo, texas cedarwood and grapefruit, Spot Therapy’s woodsy-citrus fragrance provides a soothing, aromatherapy effect while the terpene and hemp blend aids in discomfort relief, leaving muscles soothed and skin soft to the touch.
More about Radio:
Your body is generating energy constantly – between 62 to 72 Hz if you’re healthy. Everything you take in, digest, and come in contact with perpetuates or dilutes your wave. We’ve created products that only preserve and bolster your healthy groove.
We are made for professionals, parents, athletes, and students who want to be their best 24/7. As we push ourselves in our careers, family lives, competitions, or studies, it’s easy to become fatigued and break down physically and mentally. We’ve meticulously designed our products with the best ingredients nature provides to keep you feeling your best so you can stay focused on your goals, day in and day out.
Thank you to Radio for providing us with samples. Please read our transparency page for info on how we do our reviews.
