With the increasing popularity of CBD, many spas are featuring CBD on their treatment menu. This is not so surprising when you consider that the spa industry has used natural ingredients for many years, such as essential oils for an aromatherapy massage, to help reduce anxiety and promote a feeling of calm. With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill legalizing the production of hemp-derived CBD (Hemp and marijuana are both varieties of Cannabis Sativa.) and removing it from the list of controlled substances, CBD has steadily found its way into the spa environment.
How CBD Works for Pain Relief
Spas that offer CBD enable you to add it to a massage for an additional charge or have developed entirely new treatments to enhance the therapy's muscle, joint pain, and tension-relieving effects. Understanding how it works can help you decide if CBD is for you. CBD is one of the over 60 cannabinoids or naturally-occurring chemicals found in industrial hemp and marijuana. Cannabinoids interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which comprises endocannabinoids or neurotransmitters that send chemical messages between neurons, the cells that transmit nerve impulses.
The ECS stimulates and controls many of the body’s functions, such as sleep, memory, appetite, and immune response. It acts to restore balance whenever something happens with those body functions. The ECS has CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. The activation of CB2 receptors can lower inflammation. When CBD interacts with the CB2 receptor, it inhibits inflammation.[1]
A study reported in the European Journal of Pain looked into the effectiveness of a topical CBD gel on animal subjects to reduce inflammation and arthritis pain. The CBD was applied to the subjects for four consecutive days. Results indicated a significant drop in joint swelling and signs of distress. The data showed that topical CBD has therapeutic potential to relieve arthritis pain-related behaviors and inflammation without evident side effects.[2] However, more research and clinical trials are needed to understand CBD and anti-inflammatory responses in humans fully.
CBD topicals penetrate the skin to provide targeted relief without entering the bloodstream. In doing so, they are effective for healing specific problem areas, such as sore muscles and joints, versus impacting the body.
CBD Is A Natural Skin Care Remedy
According to the National Eczema Association, CBD benefits the skin with its anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-itch qualities, in addition to the National Eczema Association (NEA).[3] As a result, eczema sufferers are turning to CBD) as another natural remedy.
While more research needs to be conducted on CBD and eczema, one study found that the topical administration of CBD ointment without any THC, the principal psychoactive compound found in cannabis, helped improve the quality of life in patients with some skin disorders. The research included 20 patients with two of the most frequent skin disorders: psoriasis and atopic dermatitis(Eczema), and resulting scars. The patients administered topical CBD-enriched ointment to lesioned skin daily for three months. The results showed significant improvement in skin parameters, the symptoms, and the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score.[4]
CBD Facials More Than A Luxury
While CBD may be showing its effectiveness for chronic inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, there are other reasons to consider a CBD skin treatment. Among its skin benefits, CBD:
Provides nutrients to the skin
CBD contains essential fatty acids such as Omega-3 and Omega-6, which keep the skin hydrated and supple and promote collagen production to prevent aging signs.
Restores natural skin barrier
CBD helps restore the skin and promotes cell regeneration to repair the skin barrier, defends against free radicals, and damages environmental effects.[5] The skin barrier also keeps the skin from losing moisture
Balances oil production
Studies show CBD’s great promise to sebum production, the oily substance found in skin and hair. Too much sebum production leads to acne, clogged pores, and other blemishes.
When it comes to getting back to balance from a spa treatment, think about trying CBD.