Salves, lotions, and creams are wonderful for the skin.
Most are full of oils, waxes, and minerals that work together to moisturize and soothe even the driest skin.
Most of these ointments are made to have a nice fragrance and provide basic moisturization. However, there some ointments that have medicinal properties as well.
Topical ointments made with the cannabis extract CBD are packed with natural healing properties. CBD ointments can help reduce pain and inflammation, sooth dry and irritated skin, keep the skin looking young and help with conditions such as fibromyalgia and arthritis. They can even be used to fight certain types of skin cancer like melanoma.
What is CBD and How Does It Work?
So you’re probably wondering – what is CBD? How does it work?
CBD is a type of cannabinoid that is produced naturally by cannabis plants.
Now hold on. I’m sure you’re asking yourself, “Cannabis? Isn’t that illegal?” Well, don’t start worrying just yet.
You see, CBD is produced from the cannabis strain hemp and doesn’t have any psychoactive properties. This means that instead of making you feel “high,” it works with different systems and receptors to keep the body healthy and well-balanced.
The reason cannabis plants have such a stigma attached to them is that of THC. THC is the cannabinoid that is produced in high concentrations in the cannabis plant marijuana.
THC is the compound that makes marijuana users get a “high” feeling. CBD, on the other hand, is produced by a different cannabis plant – hemp. Because hemp doesn’t produce much THC, if any, it’s completely legal.
When CBD is extracted from the hemp plant, it is usually concentrated into an oil. That oil is then mixed into different things such as vape additives, tinctures and topical ointments like salves, lotions, and creams.
Cannabis plants have been used for hundreds, if not thousands of years as a natural medicine. Although its medicinal effects were well documented, scientists have only recently begun to look into how CBD interacts with the body to work its magic.
When CBD is administered it interacts with regulatory systems and receptors to alter the way the body functions. CBD has been linked to a long list of health benefits and can fight the side-effects of various diseases.
CBD as a skin care option, CBD has a lot of specialized benefits. CBD can reduce inflammation in the skin, muscles, and joints. It can also soothe irritated skin and clear up surface ailments like acne. Because of the way it interacts with pain receptors, CBD ointments are also perfect for treating sore muscles and stiff joints.
What CBD Ointments Are Out There?
There are a lot of CBD ointments on the market and all of them are made a little bit differently. The three main types of ointments are salves, lotions, and creams. Here is a short breakdown of the differences between the three and how to choose a product for your routine.
CBD Salves
Salves are very thick ointments made out of a mixture of oil and wax. The mixture is usually split evenly down the middle. Salves are made by melting wax – usually beeswax – into a pot over low heat before adding oil.
The amount of oil that is added will determine how thick the mixture is. For instance, if there is more oil, the mixture will be thinner and vice versa.
Salves sometimes have small amounts of other ingredients mixed into them. Minerals, vitamins and different scents are all popular additions to salves. When CBD is thrown into the mixture, the salve gains a variety of healing properties.
There are a few things you should keep in mind before buying a CBD salve. Because of the high concentration of oil and wax, salves are very thick, so a little goes a long way.
Salves typically leave an oily residue behind on the skin after application. Although this may be a turn-off for some, the thickness of the mixture means that its effects usually last longer than other types of ointments.
Because salves are so long-lasting, they are recommended for people who suffer from deep joint and muscle pain and for those who can’t apply ointment regularly.
CBD Lotions and Creams
Lotions and Creams are made in a very similar way to each other. They are both made from a water and oil mixture. The only difference is the percentage of oil vs. water.
Lotions are very thin ointments. They’re typically made from 70% water, 20% oil and 10% emulsifier. Because water and oil don’t naturally mix, an emulsifier such as wax is needed to artificially combine the two. Lotions typically also have some kind of preservative to keep bacteria from growing and ruining the mixture.
Because they are so thin and easy to apply, CBD lotions are a good addition to daily skincare routines. They typically soak in faster than salves and don’t leave behind a greasy residue. Lotions are perfect for those who need quick relief for surface pain, inflammation, and skin conditions.
Creams are usually made with 45% water, 45% oil and 10% emulsifier, so they are much thicker than lotions. CBD creams are, in essence, a happy medium between lotions and salves. Because they don’t have a high concentration of wax, creams don’t leave behind the greasy residue that salves do. At the same time, since the mixture is so much denser, creams tend to last longer than lotions.
Pure Isolate CBD Vs. Full Spectrum
Another thing to take into consideration when choosing a CBD ointment is whether the product is made from CBD isolate or full spectrum CBD.
CBD isolate is produced when a pure concentration of CBD is extracted from the hemp plant. Isolate products will not have any other cannabinoid besides CBD.
On the other hand, full spectrum CBD includes other hemp-derived compounds. Some cannabinoids, such as CBG, CBN, and CBC offer additional health benefits. Because of this, some full spectrum products are made with select blends of cannabinoids to offer special benefits.
Summary
CBD ointments offer a level of targeted relief that other CBD products simply can’t achieve. Many people prefer CBD salves, lotions and creams because of their simplicity, easy application, and diverse effects.
Whether you are looking for an addition to your daily skincare routine or for powerful, targeted pain and inflammation relief, CBD ointments may just be what you’ve been missing.
Click here for a full list of CBD salves, lotions and creams.
References
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Mounessa, J. S., Siegel, J. A., Dunnick, C. A., Dellavalle, R. P., (2017). The role of cannabis in dermatology. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 77(1), 188-190. https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(17)30308-0/fulltext
Jorge, L. L., Feres, C. C., & Teles, V. E. (2011). Topical preparations for pain relief: efficacy and patient adherence. Journal of Pain Research, 4, 11–24. http://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S9492
Zuardi, A. W. (2008). Cannabidiol: from an inactive cannabinoid to a drug with a wide spectrum of action. Rev Bras Psiquiatr, 30(3), 271-280. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18833429
Callén, L., Moreno, E., Barroso-Chinea, P., Moreno-Delgado, D., Cortés, A., Mallol, J., … McCormick, P. J. (2012). Cannabinoid Receptors CB1 and CB2Form Functional Heteromers in Brain. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 287(25), 20851–20865. http://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M111.335273
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