Cannabidiol is short for CBD. It comes in different forms, including topical creams, lotions, and salves.
If you’re among those who suffer from a skin condition, inflammation, or muscle pain, applying CBD to the skin is a great alternative (rather than ingesting it).
Today we are going to learn about the advantages of CBD topicals, how it alleviates pain and the difference between ingestible and applied CBD. To learn more about CBD cream and other products, visit Green Garden Gold.
So, what is this all about? Here’s all you have to know about CBD creams for pain relief.
What is CBD?
CBD is a compound found in the cannabis and hemp plant, known commonly as marijuana, Unlike its relative, THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, which can also be found in the same plant, CBD does not change your mind frame or mood. That’s because most CBD products contain less than 0.3% of THC for legislation purposes and the best part is, CBD has all the benefits of Cannabis without its side effects.
How Does It Work?
One of CBD’s most prominent benefits is penetrating the dermal and subdermal skin layers, Alleviating both skin conditions and muscle soreness, terpene rich CBD oil allows CBD to reach further than just the surface of the skin. So how do CBD topicals work?
CBD activates the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is responsible for the sensations of joy & pain.
It does so by binding itself to cell receptors in nerves, skin, and muscle tissue.
In turn, it alleviates both pain and inflammation.
Recent studies show that phytocannabindoids like CBD can interact with receptors and other enzymatic factors in our skin which modulate pain and inflammation. That changes the way we experience pain.
When we use CBD cream, the CBD oil is absorbed into the body through the skin, and then the CBD and the trace amount of THC connect with the pain receptors in the brain and that changes the way the body responds to both pain and inflammation.
The Benefits of CBD Topicals
Applying a CBD topical directly to the skin alleviates skin problems, as well as inflammation
in the area, or pain. While requiring more extensive research in the area, numerous studies have shown promising results. According to a study done in 2017, topical CBD treatment reduced acute joint inflammation in rats. According to another study conducted the same year and published later in the “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology”, CBD has a significant effect on skin conditions such as contact dermatitis and psoriasis.
Buyer’s Guide For CBD Topicals
If you’re looking to try CBD salve, cream, patch, or other topical products, here are a few tips and tricks to make sure you get a reliable, quality product.
Because CBD oil is considered a supplement, it is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so it is important to make sure the company you purchase from is reliable and produces quality products.
- Look out for excessive claims. Like any other makers of health products not regulated by the FDA, CBD product makers are not allowed to say that their products treat or cure a health problem, so if they make these kinds of claims, it’s probably best to stay away.
- Ask for an authenticity certificate. A good way to identify a reliable CBD product is by looking online or asking the company for its certificate of authenticity. This multipage document will tell you the product has been lab-tested and will give a per-lot or per-batch breakdown of how much CBD the product contains, as well as other ingredients. The report should be done by an independent, third-party lab unassociated with the company.
- Do your homework. Impulse buying of CBD cream, or any other topical product, you may be disappointed with your purchase. Some analysis done of products sold in the Miami, Florida, area indicated some unscrupulous sellers were merely selling consumers olive oil with a marijuana scent rather than a legitimate CBD oil product that contains potentially helpful ingredients that can reduce swelling and create a real sense of well-being in users.
- Consult a doctor in advance. It is always a good idea to talk to your doctor prior to making a lifestyle change and trying a CBD product, but it’s especially important if you have an underlying condition that requires you to take medicine daily. This is because CBD can interfere with other medications you use, although it is most relevant to consumable CBD products (e.g. gummies) rather than a product just applied to the skin. Make sure your doctor says there are no potential harmful interactions between your CBD oil product and your prescription or over the counter medications.
- Full Spectrum or Isolate? Another label note: Find out if the CBD in the product is an Isolate or Full Spectrum. Full-spectrum CBD maximizes “the entourage effect” which means that CBD oil products work best when all of the naturally occurring cannabinoids are present. The different compounds help each other to work to their maximum potential and they work better together than they would otherwise separately. Therefore, when it comes to full-spectrum CBD oil products, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
- Read the label carefully. First, you’ll want to make sure you aren’t allergic to the other ingredients that are inside the topical product. Second, there may be other ingredients that should be taken into consideration, inducing cruelty and paraben-free, American-made and no GMOs, Morrison says.
- When should I use it? It is important to read the label to determine how frequently you should take your CBD oil product. You should also monitor how you feel and when you feel the product starting to wear off.
- Side effects (unnecessarily from CBD), Topical CBDs are not associated with any particular side effects. However, you could experience irritation from other ingredients of the product. Be sure to keep an eye out for that issue and make sure you find a product that doesn’t cause irritation.