What is CBD Cream?

CBD is everywhere nowadays, from food and cosmetics to medication. CBD oil is the first association people have when it comes to CBD products, but CBD topicals are also gaining in popularity. You can choose from a wide range of CBD gels, lotions, and creams.

I’ve been struggling with muscle pain for a while, so I decided to give CBD cream a try. I’ve used several different brands for almost a year. Today, I’ll explain everything you should know about CBD cream, including its benefits.

 

Quick Summary

• CBD creams are topical products infused with CBD and other ingredients that provide pain relief.
• CBD cream should be applied straight to the area in pain.
• CBD creams can also be used for dry skin, anti-aging, and blemishes.

 

What is CBD?

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of over 100 cannabinoids of the cannabis Sativa plant. Next to THC, CBD is the other biggest chemical compound. But, unlike THC, CBD won’t get you high. 

Cannabinoids are substances that interact with cannabinoid receptors found throughout our bodies, including our skin. 

CBD is found both in the cannabis plant and hemp. Hemp-derived CBD products are legal under the 2018 Farm Bill as long as they contain less than 0.3% THC.  

CBD can provide numerous health benefits, such as helping cancer symptoms, calming anxiety, fighting inflammation, and many more. 

 

What are CBD Topicals?

CBD topicals are products such as creams, salves, gels, and lotions that contain CBD. CBD topicals are used to alleviate muscle and joint pain. Moreover, CBD topicals can help with various skin issues, including psoriasis and eczema. 

Most CBD topicals also have different essential oils, such as olive and coconut oil, and are infused with different amounts of CBD. 

CBD topicals can contain:

• Full-spectrum CBD — Contains all substances of the cannabis plant, including THC.
• Broad-spectrum CBD — Contains all substances of the cannabis plant but no THC.
• CBD isolate — Pure CBD.

Keep in mind different topical CBD products have different consistencies. For example, some creams and salves are thick, while gels can be more watery. It comes down to your preferences.

 

What are CBD Creams?

CBD creams are CBD products applied directly to the skin and the area in pain. CBD creams interact with the receptors in the endocannabinoid system and provide pain relief and help with other skin conditions. 

CBD creams help with joint pain relief by containing CBD and other ingredients that make CBD topicals more effective. These include amino acids, carrier oils, and other beneficial ingredients that provide the biggest possible pain relief. 

CBD creams have hemp extracts formulated through the CO2 extraction process. This is one of the purest and cleanest extraction forms that ensure there aren’t any solvents extracted with CBD, as they can be harmful to the skin. 

Finally, a CBD topical product, such as CBD salve or cream, won’t make you high. It’s applied to the skin and doesn’t enter the bloodstream. Moreover, a topical CBD product is extracted from the hemp plant with a very low amount of THC. This makes CBD oils and creams legal.

 

Benefits of CBD Creams

There are several benefits of using CBD creams:

• Acne, psoriasis, and eczema — According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), CBD can treat these skin conditions.
• Arthritis — CBD can help with inflammation and provide pain relief for people who have arthritis. 
• Peripheral neuropathy — Is a condition that causes nerve damage which leads to numbness and discomfort in feet and hands. CBD can reduce pain in people suffering from this condition.
• Jaw pain — CBD can provide relief for people who have temporomandibular disorder (TMD) (jaw pain).

Overall, a CBD cream for pain is great for fighting inflammation and can help with medical conditions and muscle aches when you go too hard at the gym. Athletes can use CBD creams to recover from injury and muscle inflammation. 

Note: CBD creams usually have a cooling effect or warming ingredients that are especially targeted for athletes and people who have muscle soreness. If you fall into this group, you can use a CBD cream to reduce swelling and even prevent achy muscles. 

Most CBD creams are easily rubbed into the skin. You can even find some anti-aging CBD creams or ones that can help with blemishes. 

How to Use CBD Creams Effectively?

The most important thing in using a CBD cream effectively is determining what strength is best for you. For example, some CBD creams start at 200mg, while others (especially fitness-focused ones) are much stronger.

Generally, a little CBD cream goes a long way. Use a dollop of the cream and apply it straight to the area in pain. It’s always best to start with less, see how it affects your body, and increase as needed.

The rule is: always apply CBD topical creams to where it hurts. For example, if you have arthritis in your hands, rub CBD cream onto your hands and pay special attention to painful joints.

However, if you’re using a facial CBD cream, day or night cream, it goes without saying these are made to be applied on the face. 

How long you should apply the cream depends on the manufacturer. Some creams should be applied for a week several times a day, while others should be used once a day for longer. Always read the instructions on the package and apply as stated to get the most out of your CBD cream.

Note: Don’t apply the cream in areas with broken skin. 

 

Should You Use CBD Creams?

CBD creams are a great help if you’re struggling with skin inflammation or muscle pain. When choosing the best CBD cream for you, the key is to choose one with an adequate amount of CBD.

Apply topical CBD products straight to the place that hurts, and you’ll notice effects in minutes. 

Follow the advice I’ve outlined above for using CBD creams for a pain-free life.

 

References

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Farm Bill. (n.d.). Www.usda.gov. Available at: https://www.usda.gov/farmbill 

O’Brien K. (2022). Cannabidiol (CBD) in Cancer Management. Cancers, 14(4), 885. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14040885 

Blessing, E. M., Steenkamp, M. M., Manzanares, J., & Marmar, C. R. (2015). Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics: the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics, 12(4), 825–836. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-015-0387 

Atalay, S., Jarocka-Karpowicz, I., & Skrzydlewska, E. (2019). Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 9(1), 21. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9010021 

Processor, M. G. | L. T. (n.d.). CO2 Extraction Process – CO2 for Botanical Extraction. Eden Labs. Available at: https://www.edenlabs.com/co2-extraction/co2-extraction-process/ 

Public researchers demonstrate a growing interest in cannabis treatment. (n.d.). Www.aad.org. Available at: https://www.aad.org/news/topical-cannabis 

Hammell, D. C., Zhang, L. P., Ma, F., Abshire, S. M., McIlwrath, S. L., Stinchcomb, A. L., & Westlund, K. N. (2016). Transdermal cannabidiol reduces inflammation and pain-related behaviours in a rat model of arthritis. European journal of pain (London, England), 20(6), 936–948. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.818 

Xu, D. H., Cullen, B. D., Tang, M., & Fang, Y. (2020). The Effectiveness of Topical Cannabidiol Oil in Symptomatic Relief of Peripheral Neuropathy of the Lower Extremities. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology, 21(5), 390–402. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2174/1389201020666191202111534 

Nitecka-Buchta, A., Nowak-Wachol, A., Wachol, K., Walczyńska-Dragon, K., Olczyk, P., Batoryna, O., Kempa, W., & Baron, S. (2019). Myorelaxant Effect of Transdermal Cannabidiol Application in Patients with TMD: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial. Journal of clinical medicine, 8(11), 1886. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8111886