CBD won’t mend a broken bone or treat cancer, but it has definitely gained immense popularity as the holy grail of pain and anxiety.
You will find CBD induced in almost everything these days. From CBD lotions for pain to CBD water, coffee, and sprays.
There’s no industry or niche that the CBD industry has left untouched.
And the credit goes to CBD’s federal legalization in 2018.
According to the bill, CBD containing less than or equal to 0.3% THC is legal on the federal level.
Thus, giving companies a chance to manufacture products legally and people the freedom to access CBD easily, in particular CBD lotions.
They are the most accessible and convenient way to use CBD as a topical.
You can apply it directly to your skin to get respite from stinging joint pains or use it to ease soaring inflammation.
Be it whatever, the most important thing is to use these lotions wisely and understand their nuances before applying them to your skin.
So, here’s a write-up that will help you learn the how, when, and why of CBD lotions for pain – with the caveat that CBD is still in its infancy stage and you must always seek medical advice.
What Are CBD Lotions?
CBD lotions are thick liquids designed to treat dry skin conditions, pain, and inflammation.
These lotions are made using cannabidiol as the main ingredient with several other components incorporated in fewer quantities.
CBD lotions are also categorized as topicals.
You can apply them directly to the affected area without having to worry about the psychoactive effects of THC.
More vitally, the lotion will easily penetrate your skin to provide respite from pain without entering the bloodstream.
How to Use CBD Lotions for Pain?
Direct application is the most effective way to apply CBD lotion but how much you apply is the main concern.
In other words, the amount of CBD that you use will determine the effectiveness of your CBD lotion.
For the same, you have to first check the amount of CBD your lotion’s label reads.
If you purchase a lotion containing 250mg of CBD for severe pain, you will most likely see the effects disappearing after a short span of time.
Ideally, severe chronic conditions are treated with a higher concentration of CBD.
So, make sure that you determine yours carefully.
As for beginners looking to get relief from cramps or mild inflammation, they must start slow and increase the dosage as they figure out the ideal dose.
You also have to keep in mind that the effects of a CBD lotion depend on various factors.
For instance, your body mass, the intensity of pain, and the seriousness of the medical condition.
The larger the body mass, the more CBD lotion you have to apply in order to get relief from pain or inflammation.
Similarly, the severity of your condition will also help you analyze how much CBD lotion you need and for how long.
This brings us to the next thing that all CBD lotion users must know.
How Do CBD Lotions Work?
Before you start using a CBD lotion for pain or any other medical condition, it is vital to understand its mechanism.
And for that, you have to ask yourself a few questions.
First and foremost, is your CBD lotion penetrable? Does it help treat skin conditions and muscle pain?
If not, you must prefer buying CBD lotions that can actually seep into the dermal and subdermal layers of your skin to provide maximum benefits.
That said, let’s delve deep into the working of CBD lotions for pain.
According to scientific research, CBD works by activating the naturally occurring receptors inside our body.
These receptors interact with the phytocannabinoids or to be precise CBD and other components of the cannabis plant to slightly influence the functions of our body.
CBD does this by binding to the receptors present in the peripheral region, brain, and central nervous system.
However, in the case of lotions, CBD binds with the cell receptors in the skin, nerves, and tissues.
As a result, CBD and other cannabinoids help provide relief to the affected area. Be it sore muscles, pain, inflammation, or dry skin.
To put things into perspective, here’s research that will help you better understand the working of CBD.
These studies support the use of CBD for pain and inflammation.
One of the studies suggests that the phytocannabinoids (CBD) mediates a suppressive response through certain pathways to attenuates inflammation in the affected area.
Another study concluded that CBD and other cannabinoids of the plant have multi-modality effects on several neural and nociceptive pathways. As a result, of which the therapeutic agents of the cannabis plant most likely have a bright future.
Overall, it’s safe to say that CBD can help reduce pain.
So, those using CBD lotions for pain must understand that CBD lotions soak into your skin, interact with the CB1 receptors without entering the bloodstream, and help suppress both pain and inflammation.
CBD Lotion for Pain: How Much Should I Use?
How much CBD lotion should I use? This is one of the questions that concern people who have recently embarked on the CBD journey.
And the answer to this question is not straightforward because it depends upon a no. of factors.
For instance, the intensity of the pain, type of product, product strength, and the real amount of CBD your product contains.
There are products out there that might claim to have a certain amount of CBD, but the lab reports prove otherwise.
So, make sure that you purchase your CBD from trustworthy sources only. In particular, those who give you a third-party lab report.
Rest assured, you will start using CBD lotion effectively once you read the factors mentioned below.
First, Find the Right Strength
As a general rule of thumb purchase products from companies that show you the third-party lab report.
Next, make sure that you do not buy anything that contains less than 5 mg of CBD per mL as it will most likely fail to provide the best results.
As for dry skin, 5 mg of CBD per mL will do a perfectly good job, but you can always get one with a higher concentration to reap maximum benefits.
Choose Full-Spectrum CBD
Broad-spectrum CBD contains pure extract of CBD with a mild presence or no presence of other cannabinoids.
Must Read: The Best CBD Gummies For Pain You Can Buy Online
Whereas, full-spectrum products contain diverse types of cannabinoids which work in tandem with each other to provide maximum health benefits.
So, because of this reason and the entourage effect that full-spectrum products produce, we suggest that you prefer full-spectrum CBD lotions for pain.
Always Check the Ingredient List
As mentioned earlier, companies these days falsely label CBD products.
So, as a consumer, you must be aware of things that will work and things that promise but never deliver.
That’s why you need to check both the ingredient list and the third-party lab report to check whether the product contains the amount the label reads or not.
Besides this, you can also look for ingredients that have moisturizing properties or ingredients that are soothing for your skin.
This will help you buy a CBD lotion that actually works for pain and dry/oily skin conditions.
