HOW TO SHOP FOR CBD CREAMS, BALMS, AND OTHER TOPICALS

All CBD topicals are powerful and soothing to deliver direct CBD relief to inflamed, itchy, and dry parts of the body. Generally, CBD topicals are the best products for athletes, massage therapists, and home self-care, providing temporary relief to your sores and muscles.

Price (2022) outlined some CBD balms and creams that are efficient and quick in relieving muscle and joint soreness and addressing problem skin. Additionally, CBD topicals are used in cosmetics to help with removing acne on the face. This article guides you on shopping for CBD creams, balms, and other topicals.

Understanding How CBD Topicals Work

It’s important to know how they work because topicals interact differently with each individual’s body. Most CBD creams and balms are derived from a cannabis plant called hemp. The hemp plant contains almost no amount of THC, which is responsible for causing the high effect. Generally, other cannabinoids do not get the user high; they work independently and with each other to impact a host of other therapeutic benefits. Topical CBD products interact with our bodies through the endocannabinoid system for a better experience. According to Black (1994), this system interacts with the central nervous and peripheral nervous systems, regulating sleep, mood, and immune response. Additionally, receptors in the endocannabinoid system interact with the ingested cannabinoids and pass along the benefits to the integrated system. It’s important to keep skin absorption and ingredients before shopping for any topical CBD product.

How CBD Products Work Differently from Other Products

When ingesting CBD edibles, the body should first digest and metabolize the CBD product before it takes effect. Generally, when holding a CBD tincture under the tongue, the sublingual membrane absorbs the CBD and enters the bloodstream quickly. Additionally, when inhaling a CBD product, it quickly enters the bloodstream through the lungs. The body consumes CBD products fast compared to applying a product like CBD cream and balms.

CBD Topicals and the Skin

Before shopping for any products, it’s vital to remember that the skin is an organ and a very porous one. It takes many products like CBD, which are absorbed directly into the tissues targeting the affected area. Generally, CBD products contain many ingredients absorbed directly into the skin. Every ingredient has a different chemical absorption rate on the skin; therefore, it may damage the skin if the product has a harmful chemical. The skin absorbs about 65% of every chemical put on the body, including contaminants found in water. Shop for pure products as possible and clear of harmful chemicals. Additionally, Maroon et al. (2010) suggested that it would be best to look for additional beneficial ingredients that are natural pain relievers and anti-inflammatory, which categorically support and protect the skin.

Quality of the CBD

Quality product means that the product has quality ingredients, and it’s true for CBD topicals and any other CBD-related products. McPartland & McKernan (2017) discovered that hemp is incredibly good for removing toxins like pesticides and heavy metals from the soil it grows, restoring it to good condition. Most importantly, while shopping, make sure the CBD product comes from organic, pesticide-free, and non – GMO farms. The CBD product you are purchasing was extracted from hemp using the CO2 extraction process. According to Attard (2015), this method doesn’t leave behind any harmful residue in CBD products, making them safe. Generally, the next thing to check is a lab report from the third-party analysis. This process will tell the user what’s in the product and what’s not, not leaving the presence of pesticides or any dangerous toxins that you don’t want your skin to absorb.

The Actual Purpose of a CBD Topical and Additional Ingredients

CBD topicals are formulated for a specific purpose, and each product contains an active ingredient. Most CBD products are chosen because, according to Teitelbaum (2019), they relieve muscle and joint soreness. Kalaba & Ware (2021) also mentioned that they help soothe dry and irritating skin, providing healthy and soft skin. These topical CBD products are made with additional ingredients that boost CBD effects and add their unique touch. Most of them are made to address pain and strain injuries; this is made possible because of the extra ingredients. These extra ingredients include white willow bark, which helps to keep muscle strong and healthy. Shea butter and tea tree oil are the most popular extra ingredients for a popular natural skin and relief. Additionally, a good CBD cream should be fast-acting and absorb quickly, leaving no residue on your skin. Generally, one of the healthiest nutrients is omega 3-6-9, which is extremely healthy for the skin.

Check for CBD Topicals and the Endocannabinoid System

There is a big difference between applying CBD topically and ingesting them into the body. CBD creams and balms skip the endocannabinoid receptor with which the ingested CBD works. They instead go directly to the neurotransmitter, which blocks the signals for pain. Sarrafpour et al. (2020) identified that ingested CBD is faster in relieving pain because it goes directly into the body, passing through the endocannabinoid receptor, which interacts with receptors to impart their effects.

The Bottom-Line

Shopping for CBD topicals is a heavy task. First, you need to know how CBD topicals work. Every CBD topical interacts with our bodies differently. Most CBD topicals are made from hemp, which contains no THC. Hemp is responsible for making a person high hence all CBD products should have little or no THC. Generally, CBD and other products interact with the human body through the endocannabinoid system. Most importantly, edible CBD products must first be digested and metabolized by the body before the CBD can efficiently take action; this makes it slower than CBD tincture, which is held under the tongue. The sublingual membrane absorbs the CBD and other cannabinoids, which enter the bloodstream quickly through the lungs. The quality of the CBD product is also essential. Better quality of the CBD product results in a higher quality ingredient of the product. Additionally, while extracting, you should use the CO2 extraction method, which leaves no harmful full residue in the product.

References

Attard, T. M. (2015). Supercritical CO2 Extraction Of Waxes As Part Of A Holistic Biorefinery (Doctoral Dissertation, University Of York).

Black, P. H. (1994). Central Nervous System-Immune System Interactions: Psychoneuroendocrinology Of Stress And Its Immune Consequences. Antimicrobial Agents And Chemotherapy, 38(1), 1-6.

Kalaba, M., & Ware, M. A. (2021). Cannabinoid Profiles In Medical Cannabis Users: Effects Of Age, Gender, Symptoms, And Duration Of Use. Cannabis And Cannabinoid Research.

Maroon, J. C., Bost, J. W., & Maroon, A. (2010). Natural Anti-Inflammatory Agents For Pain Relief. Surgical Neurology International, 1.

Price, S. L. Best CBD Creams For Pain Relief: Top Hemp Topicals Review (2022).

Mcpartland, J. M., & Mckernan, K. J. (2017). Contaminants Of Concern In Cannabis: Microbes, Heavy Metals And Pesticides. In Cannabis Sativa L.-Botany And Biotechnology (Pp. 457-474). Springer, Cham.

Sarrafpour, S., Urits, I., Powell, J., Nguyen, D., Callan, J., Orhurhu, V., … & Yazdi, C. (2020). Considerations And Implications Of Cannabidiol Use During Pregnancy. Current Pain And Headache Reports, 24(7), 1-10.

Teitelbaum, J. (2019). A Hemp Oil, CBD, And Marijuana Primer: Powerful Pain, Insomnia, And Anxiety-Relieving Tools. Altern. Ther. Health Med, 25, 21-23.