Cannabis is not just found in the local coffeeshops in Amsterdam! You can also apply it to your skin – and that’s where topicals enter the spotlight.
Read Green House Effect Cannabis topicals guide with THC, CBD, and other cannabis formulations.
A guide to CBD topicals, balms, and lotions image.
Topicals are an underrated form of cannabis consumption which, although it doesn’t cause an all-time high, can have benefits to treating your body aches without the possible adverse effects of smoking.
BUT WHAT ARE TOPICALS ANYWAY?
Topicals are basically oils, lotions, and balms infused with cannabis that get absorbed through the skin. Topicals are mostly CBD based because they are used for pain relief, inflammation, or soreness in the body. Unlike THC, CBD causes relaxation to the body without causing a high the way THC does.
They are most often enjoyed by patients who suffer from physical aches and/or struggles with their mental health.
HOW DO THEY WORK?
Well, these topicals bind to a whole network of receptors in the endocannabinoid system called CB2. CB2 receptors can be activated in two ways: the first is by the naturally occurring endocannabinoids. The second way is by phytocannabinoids (like CBD and THC).
However, even if the lotion, balm, or oil has active THC, it still will not cause the type of high you get from smoking a THC-packed strain. When it comes to topicals, the phytocannabinoids cannot reach the bloodstream – they only go as far as the system of CB2 receptors. In other words, topicals will not cause the “heavy” high that THC causes.
Although there is missing research on whether cannabis applied for headaches is effective, some preliminary studies could be a foundation for clinical trials on cannabis treating headaches, but these trials have not started.
So, currently, topicals show the most noticeable results for muscle pain, skin rashes, and joint pain.
Also, combining them with medical ingredients is excellent since the phytocannabinoid can enhance the other ingredient. This means you don’t feel the cannabinoids per se, but since they enhance everything else, they have many benefits.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CANNABIS-INFUSED TOPICALS?
As previously mentioned, topicals are mainly used for muscle soreness, inflammation, and pain relief. Still, there’s research that it helps with skin issues like dermatitis and psoriasis, as well as cramping and headaches.
A THC-rich cream can help you recover from a workout or intense hike. Bonus points if it has cooling menthol and peppermint in it.
If you’re feeling pain, you can try a balm that consists of a combination of deep properties that painkillers have and a soothing sensation.
Different topicals can offer various benefits, depending on their ingredients and processing. More importantly, be aware of the placebo effect. Placebo, especially in people who experience pain, can be powerful. Some treatment with CBD-infused oils is more placebo than reality.
In conclusion, using topicals to treat your pains and aches is naturally a good idea, but being mindful that it might not “cure” headaches and could have a placebo effect is also possible.
CBD products are not only popular, but also far easier to get your hands on than widely prohibited THC products. There are many ways to use CBD, but topicals are one of the most accessible. However, before choosing one off the shelf or online, there are a few things to know first.
What are CBD topicals?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound produced by cannabis and hemp plants. Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t produce a feeling of being high.
CBD topicals such as lotions, balms, gels, or creams are infused with CBD to produce skin-friendly products that contain the medicinal properties of CBD. In topical form, CBD is most popularly used for managing pain and inflammation.
Is a CBD topical right for me?
CBD topicals penetrate the skin to provide targeted relief, without entering the bloodstream. This makes them a fantastic choice for anyone who wants to focus the healing properties in specific problem areas rather than feel the effects throughout their body. CBD topicals can potentially provide relief for a variety of pain, headache, and skin issues such as:
- Joint or muscle pain
- Dermatitis
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Headaches/migraines
- Menstrual cramps
- Foot or hand pain
- Arthritis
Lo Friesen, lead chemist for cannabis wellness company Heylo, believes CBD topicals are also a fantastic preventative medicine. She says using these topicals every day, multiple times a day allows the body to not only uptake CBD quicker, but also build a CBD level in those areas and prevent worsening inflammation.
“It’s just preventative maintenance,” says Friesen. “For example, people who have arthritis in their hands who use [CBD topicals] on their hands every day are going to have less pain, less inflammation. They’re going to have less pain in their hands over time than people who use it to treat [the pain as it happens].”
What other ingredients are in CBD topicals?
Some CBD topicals may have bases such as shea butter, or oils like coconut, avocado, jojoba, or vitamin E. These nourishing ingredients are great for the skin, providing added benefit to the medicinal properties of CBD. It’s also possible to find more traditional lotions with CBD or products with an Aquaphor base.
While lotions will be water based, creams usually have a fat or oil base, and balms a thicker base such as beeswax. Water-based lotions absorb more quickly into the skin, but oil-based CBD topicals are more easily absorbed and get into the skin deeper. Meanwhile, gels can be useful for easier thicker application, making them possibly preferable for those with reduced hand dexterity, such as arthritis patients.
At the end of the day however, Friesen says, “Just take your favorite skin care product and find something with similar ingredients, add CBD, and you’ve already made it better.”
How to tell quality CBD products from ‘snake oil’
Unfortunately, due to an oversaturated market and lack of regulation, not all CBD topicals will produce the desired results. CBD can be sourced from either hemp or traditional cannabis, but their resulting extracts typically have quite a few differences in terms of the diversity of compounds found within them.
CBD extracts from cannabis tend to include a wide diversity of helpful compounds whereas hemp’s chemical diversity is more limited.
What’s more, some products claim to have an abundance of CBD in them, but the reality doesn’t always match the label. So how can consumers make sure they are getting a quality product?
“Not all CBD products are created equal, and consumers should do their research. Ask questions—what type of CBD extract does it contain: full spectrum, broad spectrum, or isolate? Where is the raw material sourced from? Does the producer use organic and sustainable agricultural practices? Does the supplier have a Certificate of Analysis showing test results for pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, microbials, cannabinoid potency, and terpene profile?”
Finally, it’s worth noting that milligram content can make a difference, and with CBD, higher is generally better. Friesen says you get what you pay for, but that this is also why some make the switch over to CBD:THC topical products. Friesen believes these 1:1 or 1:3 ratio products are more effective than CBD on its own, due to the cannabinoids tendency to amplify each other’s effects. As such, patients may be able to use less to achieve similar effects, than they would with a CBD only product, and save money in the process.
All in all, there are plenty of great topical CBD products on the market for those who want to try a targeted method of delivering these helpful cannabinoids to problem areas and add CBD to their wellness routine.
