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CBD massage can help you get clients out of pain while adding a specialized service to your massage therapy practice
Massage practitioners can easily incorporate cannabis (CBD)-infused oils, lotions and other body products into sessions, for powerful effects. When a clinical-strength topical CBD product is used, the massage therapist possesses a potent tool to help clients get out of pain. In this article, we’ll explain how CBD massage works in the human body and the specific role of a topical CBD product in today’s massage therapy practice.
The Endocannabinoid System
CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a bodily system discovered in the 1990s. The endocannabinoid system so important that it’s sometimes referred to as the master switchboard of the body.
“The endocannabinoid system comprises receptors located all over the body, and it helps balance all the other systems of the body, including the nervous system, cardiovascular system, immune system and the skin,” said Jen Palmer, ND, director of education for CBD CLINIC. “The endocannabinoid system also makes its own cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids, which are a similar chemical structure to the phytocannabinoids in hemp—and both interact with endocannabinoid system receptors to bring about balance.”
The cutaneous endocannabinoid system also comprises cannabinoid receptors and is a site for endocannabinoid production. The cutaneous endocannabinoid system supports wound healing, regulates sebaceous gland secretions (oil), skin cell regeneration, hair growth, inflammation and immune responses. “When we ingest CBD and other phytocannabinoids found in a full-spectrum hemp extract, such as for self-care, they interact with the endocannabinoid system throughout the body,” said Palmer.
The Role of Topical Products in CBD Massage
Topical CBD works locally, on the endocannabinoid system receptors within the skin. It does not get absorbed into circulation and therefore it does not act systemically. Massage therapists may use CBD topically, with awareness that spot treatments and full-body massage provide different benefits.
“CBD can be used in a full-body massage, but some of the massage oils with high levels of menthol and camphor may be better reserved for specific areas that need extra attention,” said Palmer. “Optimally, you can have both versions of oils on hand in order to customize treatments for each client.”
A full-spectrum hemp extract offers extra compounds beyond CBD, such as additional phytocannabinoids and terpenes, both of which offer unique health benefits. Terpenes are aromatic compounds that can also be extracted from other plants and herbs.
Menthol and camphor are excellent examples of terpenes that can be used for pain relief. In CBD CLINIC Pain Relief Massage Oils, both of these terpenes are considered over-the-counter ingredients approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help alleviate aches and pains. Menthol produces a cooling sensation on the skin at the source of pain, interacting with the TRP nerve receptors and resulting in effective pain relief. Camphor has anti-inflammatory properties, and is approved by the FDA for use as a topical analgesic and anesthetic.
Is CBD Massage Legal?
Many people remain confused about the legality and safety of CBD—no doubt because hemp was only just legalized federally via the 2018 Farm Bill. The bill legalized hemp and removed it from the federal Controlled Substances Act, as well as all hemp extracts and cannabinoids (including CBD ), with the stipulation that they must not contain more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive constituent of cannabis.
The legal status of ingestible hemp and hemp-derived products, including those containing CBD, may vary from state to state, although there tends to be greater acceptance of topical products.
What isn’t in question is that hemp-derived CBD topical products are non-psychoactive. “The first question I usually get from someone who is new to CBD is, ‘Will it get me high?’ said Palmer. “The answer is no, because CBD in a full-spectrum hemp extract legally must contain less than .3% THC.”
THC is the compound that causes euphoria, and that does not occur in such small quantities, explained Palmer. “CBD is non-intoxicating and creates balance throughout the body by interacting with the endocannabinoid system,” she said. “CBD and THC are not absorbed systemically through the skin.”
Choose Clinical Strength CBD Products
CBD massages are in great demand. You can charge more for specialized CBD massages. You can educate clients about self-massage, and support them by selling these products, or selling products you create using the CBD CLINIC unscented emollient base to take with them as part of their aftercare plan or home spa treatment.
Further, clinical-strength CBD products will give you and your practice a distinct advantage and greater versatility in how you position yourself. The CBD CLINIC Clinical Strength Pain Relief Series was created in order to set the gold standard for pain relief based on 15 years of experience researching, developing and testing naturally derived remedies.
CBD CLINIC’s 5-level pain-management system helps massage therapists address incremental levels of pain directly at the source of discomfort with increasing levels of active ingredients. The primary formulas release the cooling action of menthol and camphor terpenes alongside additional plant extracts to enhance the cooling effect. In addition, we’ve loaded these exclusive CBD products with natural emollients to lock in the active ingredients while also nourishing the skin.
To uphold the highest industry standards, our ointments, creams, massage oils and pain-relief sticks are manufactured in a federally audited facility. You can trust that each batch is tested by third-party labs in order to ensure safety, accuracy and consistency from batch to batch. For more information, visit cbdclinic.co.