CBD massage oil

How CBD Massage Oil Can Make Massages Better

How CBD Massage Oil Can Make Massages Better

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural compound found in and derived from the cannabis plant. It has anxiety and pain-relieving qualities, in part thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mood boosting properties. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the most famous cannabis compound, CBD won’t get you “high” and is non-intoxicating.

CBD is an important component of a range of topical products, including massage oils.

CBD massage oils have all of the important benefits as other massage oils, plus their own added qualities. These oils reduce friction on the skin and improve the ability of the massage therapist to treat the muscles without stressing the skin. And while relaxation and pain relief are normal up sides of massage, CBD massage oils take both of these benefits to the next level.

In this post we’ll cover why massages are great for muscles, and how specifically CBD massage oil can create a better massage experience. Then we’ll tell you about the two CBD massage oil products we like the best so far and why:

Disclaimer: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate CBD products such as massage oil in the same way they regulate dietary supplements and drugs. There is not one consistent standard for quality and safety that each CBD product will meet. This lack of regulation plus the sheer number of CBD products available today can mean that identifying the right products are tricky. Always look for results from third-party lab testing and other signs of transparency.

Benefits of Massage and Massage Oil

Massage is a basic term that means rubbing, pressing, and manipulating the muscles, skin, ligaments, and tendons. Massage may range from. There are various styles of massage, featuring light touch to deep pressure, including these common types:

  • Swedish massage. This gentle massage style is the most common “default” and uses kneading, long strokes, vibration, deep circular movements, and tapping to assist the patient in both feeling more energized and relaxed.
  • Sports massage. Similar to Swedish massage, this style helps prevent or treat injuries in athletes and other participants in sport activities.
  • Deep massage. Often used to treat muscle damage from injuries, deep massage targets the deeper layers of connective tissue and muscle with slow-paced, stronger motions.
  • Trigger point massage. After overuse or injuries, regions of tight muscle fibers can form in your muscles, which trigger point massage focuses on.

Benefits of Massage

According to the Mayo Clinic, massage is part of integrative and complementary medicine and can be part of standard treatment for many medical issues. The primary benefits of massage include relief of pain, stress, and muscle tension. Mayo Clinic also points massage can also treat anxiety, digestive disorders, fibromyalgia, migraines and other headaches, stress-related insomnia, myofascial pain syndrome, injuries from sports and other situations such as soft tissue strains, and temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ).

Many people also enjoy massage because it can create feelings of comfort, caring, well-being, and connection with others more generally.

Why CBD Massage Oil

When you consider why you might want to try CBD massage oil, first explore the health benefits of CBD topicals.

The Endocannabinoid System

The human body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) moderates multiple important functions, such as body temperature, memory, mood, hunger, sleep, and pain. Cannabinoids send signals to nearby cells as they bind to specific receptors on your neurons to regulate these functions.

The body produces cannabinoids, of its own: endocannabinoids. However, if it fails to produce sufficient cannabinoids to achieve stasis, it also can use phytocannabinoids made by plants, such as cannabidiol or CBD.

When you use CBD skin care, it is absorbed by the body, CBD circulates in the bloodstream until it locates cannabinoid receptors on the neurons and binds with them. This can cause multiple effects in your body, such as improved sleep, improved neuronal health or neuroprotection, pain relief, reduced anxiety and stress, reduced inflammation, and relaxation.

CBD Absorption Through the Skin

CBD absorbs gradually through the skin, and while it is slower to take effect this way, the benefits also last longer than faster forms such as sublingual tinctures or vapes. In fact, CBD topicals and massage go together well and create an efficient route for uptake, since rubbing the CBD in gently and slowly and then allowing it to absorb slowly is an ideal way to cover the skin with CBD oil and allow it to work.

CBD is useful in treating a wide range of health conditions, thanks in large part to those powerful anti-inflammatory properties we mentioned. CBD lotions, salves, and massage oils can help ease inflammatory aches and pains like sore muscles. Topical CBD products are especially effective at treating several types of chronic pain, including joint pain, muscle pain, and neuropathic pain.

The relaxing effects of CBD can also soothe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders, especially in combination with massage. Additional ingredients such as chamomile, sweet almond oil, or lavender essential oil can enhance this relaxation experience.

Another benefit of using a CBD topical such as a massage oil is that you’ll be allowing the CBD directly into the bloodstream through the skin, bypassing the digestive system. This maximizes how much CBD you’re actually accessing. People with inflammation in one area or other localized pain symptoms may really prefer CBD topicals.

Will CBD Massage Oil Make Me Feel High?

Especially for first time users, this is one of the biggest questions about CBD. However, although CBD is sourced from the Cannabis sativa plant, it does not produce any intoxicating or psychoactive effects. Those kinds of effects are down to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the cannabinoid most people think of in the context of medical cannabis.

CBD will not cause these effects, whether taken internally or used in massage oil. It is sourced from the hemp version of the cannabis plant, and is now legal federally in all 50 states. For anyone who wants the benefits of cannabis without the high feelings, CBD is the ideal option.

What Are the Benefits of CBD Massage Oil?

As you might guess, CBD massage oil brings together all of the benefits of CBD, CBD topicals, and massage. It’s among the most comfortable and luxurious ways to experience the pain relief and relaxation of CBD while bypassing the GI system, unlike with CBD gummies or other edibles.

As you shop for CBD massage oils, remember that the rest of the formula is important, too. Different CBD massage oils have unique ingredients that impart textures and aromas, and pain relieving, moisturizing, warming, or cooling benefits. For example, arnica is a natural pain-relieving, cooling ingredient present in many CBD topicals. The right combination depends on your preferences and needs, so do read those labels.

Benefits of a CBD massage include reduced inflammation, chronic pain relief, and soothed tension and anxiety. CBD massage oil also has natural anti-inflammatory effects that can help it soothe sore joints and muscles more effectively. As an antioxidant it can relieve gastric distress without serious side effects and encourage a quicker healing process throughout the body.

CBD Massage vs Regular Massage

The main difference between a regular massage and a CBD massage is simply the CBD—but that’s saying a lot. The benefits are real, although the massage technique remains the same. In fact, this is the easiest way to determine whether the added benefits work well for you: try it and see if you can feel the difference. (We can.)

What to Expect During a CBD Massage

A CBD massage works like a regular massage in that your therapist can target specific areas or try to achieve certain goals (for example relaxation versus working out a painful knotted area). Tell your therapist where you hold tension, if you know, and about any existing injuries.

You will often feel an additional cooling sensation from CBD massage oils, usually from a natural source such as eucalyptus or arnica. Remember to prepare for this and keep the room warm enough.

The Best CBD Massage Oils

To benefit your overall wellness and reduce that stress level, we present our two favorite CBD massage oils.

The Broad-spectrum Option: CBDfx CBD Massage Oil Rejuvediol

Shop CBDfx CBD Massage Oil Rejuvediol

Check out CBDfx CBD Massage Oil Rejuvediol and the rest of its line of CBD relaxation products.

This CBD massage oil meets every one of our strict criteria: third-party lab testing, excellent purity and quality, and a nice high potency. It is also broad-spectrum, meaning it’s chock full of beneficial cannabinoids—but not THC.

One of the best things about Rejuvediol, though, is its smell and texture. It really is a silky feeling massage oil, yet it’s thick enough that it really lasts on the skin and absorbs.

We love the ingredients, which include organic broad-spectrum hemp-derived CBD, for all of your pain and anxiety needs. It also includes moisturizing hemp oil, sweet almond oil, fractionated coconut oil, sunflower oil, and jojoba oil.

Hemp oil is a moisturizer that does not clog the pores, and may also treat acne, eczema, psoriasis, and lichen planus. Sweet almond oil applied to skin can have many benefits, including reducing under-eye circles and puffiness, improving skin tone and complexion, moisturizing dry skin including psoriasis and eczema, treating acne, reversing sun damage, and reducing the appearance of scars and stretch marks.

To learn more on this topic, check out our posts on the best CBD products for eczema, and how to use CBD for psoriasis. 

Fractionated coconut oil is a natural anti-inflammatory, a gentle makeup remover, and moisturizer. It can also treat acne, atopic dermatitis, and fungal infections. Sunflower seed oil is rich in antioxidants and nutrients as a source of vitamin E, has emollient properties, and can treat inflammation, acne, and general irritation and redness in the skin.

Jojoba oil is a humectant, which moisturizes and protects the skin. It’s also non comedogenic and hypoallergenic. An antioxidant, jojoba oil can treat signs of aging, promote collagen production, and regulate sebum production, treating both acne and dry skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

Finally, this CBDfx Rejuvediol CBD massage oil smells amazing. This is in part due to the complex aromas of the blend of bergamot oil, blue tansy oil, calendula oil, evening primrose oil, peppermint oil, marjoram oil, rosehip oil, rosemary oil, wintergreen oil, ylang ylang oil that go into this product. Each of these have their own skin benefits as well, such as the cooling sensation of peppermint.

One 200mL bottle contains 500mg of broad-spectrum CBD along with the rest of these beneficial ingredients. At only $49.99, it’s a great value and our THC free option.

The Full-spectrum Option: CBD American Shaman CBD Massage Oil

Shop CBD American Shaman CBD Massage Oil

Check out CBD American Shaman CBD Massage Oil and the rest of its line of CBD relaxation products.

We love CBD American Shaman. In addition to an amazing product loaded with all of the terpenes and cannabinoids the cannabis plant has to offer, you get the Compassionate Care Program which gives a 30% discount on any order above $34.99 to disabled customers or people who are chronically ill. It’s a good way to confirm that this is a brand worth supporting.

Like the most reputable CBD brands, CBD American Shaman sources its hemp from Colorado and Kentucky, where standards are reliably high. You won’t find anything you’re not looking for in these products—check the lab tests.

This is a light and clean product. In fact, this is for you no nonsense people who just want that awesome entourage effect in relaxing massage form; there’s not a lot of other bells and whistles here, which is better.

The ingredients include almond oil, apricot oil, hemp seed oil, olive oil, medium chain triglyceride oil (coconut), and of course the full-spectrum CBD extract.

In addition to the health benefits discussed elsewhere, apricot oil has emollient properties and can help exfoliate the skin. It can also help eliminate dry skin patches and relieve inflammatory conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.

And olive oil is filled with vitamins and antioxidants, helping to reduce signs of aging and skin damage. It also boasts antibacterial properties and is a very effective moisturizer.

Each 240mL bottle of CBD American Shaman CBD Massage Oil contains 120mg of full-spectrum CBD and costs $40.00. Choose the natural scent—which really is itself nice—or Lavender, Tea Tree, or Palo Santo.

How We Chose Our CBD Massage Oils

We chose the two CBD massage oils as the best of what we tried. This was based on criteria we think indicate quality, safety, transparency, and a great experience. Both of these CBD body oils:

  • are the highest quality, pure CBD, subject to third-party lab testing, result available
  • are made hemp grown in the United States
  • are free of pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and molds, according to the certificate of analysis (COA)
  • are cruelty-free
  • contain no more than 0.3 percent THC, according to the COA, if any (one version if full-spectrum CBD and the other is broad-spectrum CBD—more on this below)

We also considered:

  • product potency, since more potent topical CBD products may be more effective given issues of skin permeability and cannabinoids
  • manufacturing processes and certifications
  • quality generally
  • ability to be used with sensitive skin
  • additional ingredients such as essential oils that support relaxation or pain relief
  • misleading ingredients such as hemp seed oil meant to appear as if it is CBD hemp extract—we obviously didn’t choose anything that was confusing or misleading
  • certified organic status
  • and indicators of brand reputation and user trust such as customer reviews, FDA issues such as warning letters, BBB complaints, and any unsupported claims in advertising

We also deliberately chose two options: one with broad-spectrum CBD for those who simply want absolutely no THC under any circumstances, and one with full-spectrum CBD which can produce the entourage effect. Both are quality products that can be an amazing addition to any skincare regimen, not to mention a stress reduction plan.

How to Use CBD Massage Oils

Topical CBD products including CBD massage oil are easy to use. Simply apply the CBD massage oil to the target area, and rub it in thoroughly. And remember, don’t wash it off! At least not for a while. You want a nice coating of the CBD topical on your skin to allow it to absorb and work.

Reapply as needed, remembering that peak effects occur at 90 minutes and that the overall duration time for effects varies.

Final Thoughts on CBD Massage Oil

The pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory qualities of CBD make it an ideal ingredient for topical applications, especially massage oil. These amazing products really can soothe some symptoms of inflammation and pain, not to mention nourishing both the skin and soul during the process.

CBD massage oil and massage more generally cannot always replace other treatments, and may work best as part of a larger pain management plan. Talk to your healthcare provider to discuss treatment options and help diagnose underlying issues if you do have chronic pain.

Is CBD legal? Yes, CBD products derived from hemp plants with less than 0.3 percent THC are legal under federal law, although in some states they may still be illegal. On the other hand, CBD products derived from the marijuana plant are legal under some state laws but illegal federally. Especially if you’re hitting the road, check local legislation, and remember that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t approve CBD products like other medications, and many on the market may be inaccurately labeled.

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