Let’s Talk About CBD and Massage Therapy
Are CBD products worth using in your next massage?
Hanna Kim - January 21, 2019
CBD-infused products have been the ultimate health craze in the last few years. The CBD industry has doubled in size since 2016 to be worth over $200 million, according to NPR. You can find CBD infused into just about anything: CBD lotions, foods, bath bombs - you name it. CBD products can be quite expensive, leaving you to wonder if it lives up to the hype.
What Is “CBD�
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CBD is a fairly colloquial abbreviation for cannabidiol, the second most common active chemical compound found in cannabis and hemp (and you can see why; it’s way less of a mouthful than the latter). Many anecdotal accounts of people using cannabidiol say it helps with a number of health issues including pain management. A study published in the European Journal of Pain found that CBD applied topically (on the skin) seems to lower pain and inflammation caused by arthritis, using an animal model.
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Research indicates cannabidiol molecules attach onto receptors in our brains and interact with our immune system to signal a reduction of inflammation and decrease pain sensations. Others are researching how CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (that is native to our bodies) in order to more effectively influence everyday functions like proper sleep regulation, immune response, and pain management.
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How Does CBD Differ from THC?
Dr. Esther Blessing, assistant professor at the NYU Department of Psychiatry says while CBD is extracted from cannabis, it does not lead to altered perception and cognition. CBD is different from THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, which is what produces the psychoactive effects that can alter a “person's memory, pleasure, movements, thinking, concentration, coordination, and sensory and time perception,†according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Furthermore, the World Health Organization released a report in 2017 stating “in humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential.â€
Overall, both CBD and THC are only two of the many cannabinoids found in cannabis and hemp. There are over 100 cannabinoids known to be produced by cannabis but the synergistic effects of the combination of them are still being studied along with terpenes, the chemicals that give the variety of smells on the plant and plant products.
There’s still much research to be done in order to substantiate the numerous benefits of CBD heralded by enthusiasts. Current data are primarily comprised of animal studies and very small, short-term human samples but interest in the benefits of CBD seems to be increasing. The University of Michigan recently opened two studies on cannabis use and chronic pain management to further explore how one's quality of life can be improved in comparison to the use of other pain-relief medications.
Further research will also help determine proper therapeutic doses of CBD for a number of medical ailments. As CBD is qualified as a ‘dietary supplement’ for most of the country, regulatory bodies like the FDA do not regulate the safety and purity of these products. Customers cannot know for sure whether dietary supplements contain unknown elements, impurities or the exact dose of active ingredients as listed on the label.
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Most experts and people who use CBD products agree CBD does not have nearly as many side effects as pharmaceutical pain medications like opiates do, especially when used as a topical, like with a CBD lotion during a massage. Thousands of happy clients of LoDo Massage Studio in RiNo and the Highlands, as well as the massage therapists on staff, agree using CBD lotion in massage sessions has had therapeutic benefits without any side effects.
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CBD Lotion in Massage for the Ultimate Pain Relief
Paige Cordova, LMT is a top-rated massage therapist at LoDo Massage Studio who specializes in integrative massage therapy. She takes a mindful and intuitive approach to bodywork, combining her expertise of trigger point therapy and myofascial release techniques with energy work for a relaxing massage that is effective for pain relief.
Paige finds that the Circulating CBD Cream by Apothecanna “works best for clients who need deep tissue/structural work,†noting that “the capsaicin helps bring extra blood flow to the area applied [helping her] get to deeper muscles a little faster.†Sometimes she’ll combine the Extra Strength CBD Pain Relieving Cream with the Circulating Cream for a gentle icy/hot sensation that some of her clients really love on their backs. Fellow massage therapist, Jennifer Sloane, LMT agrees, and swears a massage using “Apothecanna Circulating Creme fixed my neck the other day!â€
Paige also loves using Apothecanna’s Calming Cream for any session where she uses energy work like craniosacral therapy. She states, “frankincense has been known to promote grounding and also heighten intuition and open your third eye chakra.â€
LoDo Massage Studio now offers 5 varieties of natural CBD cream by Apothecanna available for full body application for a small upgrade fee. You’re always welcome to try Apothecanna’s Relieving Cream at no charge during any Mile High Massage at LoDo Massage Studio. This cream has 50mg of tension and pain relieving CBD to further soothe your body into relaxation.
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What Is “CBD�
Â
CBD is a fairly colloquial abbreviation for cannabidiol, the second most common active chemical compound found in cannabis and hemp (and you can see why; it’s way less of a mouthful than the latter). Many anecdotal accounts of people using cannabidiol say it helps with a number of health issues including pain management. A study published in the European Journal of Pain found that CBD applied topically (on the skin) seems to lower pain and inflammation caused by arthritis, using an animal model.
Â
Research indicates cannabidiol molecules attach onto receptors in our brains and interact with our immune system to signal a reduction of inflammation and decrease pain sensations. Others are researching how CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (that is native to our bodies) in order to more effectively influence everyday functions like proper sleep regulation, immune response, and pain management.
Â
How Does CBD Differ from THC?
Dr. Esther Blessing, assistant professor at the NYU Department of Psychiatry says while CBD is extracted from cannabis, it does not lead to altered perception and cognition. CBD is different from THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, which is what produces the psychoactive effects that can alter a “person's memory, pleasure, movements, thinking, concentration, coordination, and sensory and time perception,†according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Furthermore, the World Health Organization released a report in 2017 stating “in humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential.â€
Overall, both CBD and THC are only two of the many cannabinoids found in cannabis and hemp. There are over 100 cannabinoids known to be produced by cannabis but the synergistic effects of the combination of them are still being studied along with terpenes, the chemicals that give the variety of smells on the plant and plant products.
There’s still much research to be done in order to substantiate the numerous benefits of CBD heralded by enthusiasts. Current data are primarily comprised of animal studies and very small, short-term human samples but interest in the benefits of CBD seems to be increasing. The University of Michigan recently opened two studies on cannabis use and chronic pain management to further explore how one's quality of life can be improved in comparison to the use of other pain-relief medications.
Further research will also help determine proper therapeutic doses of CBD for a number of medical ailments. As CBD is qualified as a ‘dietary supplement’ for most of the country, regulatory bodies like the FDA do not regulate the safety and purity of these products. Customers cannot know for sure whether dietary supplements contain unknown elements, impurities or the exact dose of active ingredients as listed on the label.
Â
Most experts and people who use CBD products agree CBD does not have nearly as many side effects as pharmaceutical pain medications like opiates do, especially when used as a topical, like with a CBD lotion during a massage. Thousands of happy clients of LoDo Massage Studio in RiNo and the Highlands, as well as the massage therapists on staff, agree using CBD lotion in massage sessions has had therapeutic benefits without any side effects.
Â
CBD Lotion in Massage for the Ultimate Pain Relief
Paige Cordova, LMT is a top-rated massage therapist at LoDo Massage Studio who specializes in integrative massage therapy. She takes a mindful and intuitive approach to bodywork, combining her expertise of trigger point therapy and myofascial release techniques with energy work for a relaxing massage that is effective for pain relief.Paige finds that the Circulating CBD Cream by Apothecanna “works best for clients who need deep tissue/structural work,†noting that “the capsaicin helps bring extra blood flow to the area applied [helping her] get to deeper muscles a little faster.†Sometimes she’ll combine the Extra Strength CBD Pain Relieving Cream with the Circulating Cream for a gentle icy/hot sensation that some of her clients really love on their backs. Fellow massage therapist, Jennifer Sloane, LMT agrees, and swears a massage using “Apothecanna Circulating Creme fixed my neck the other day!â€
Paige also loves using Apothecanna’s Calming Cream for any session where she uses energy work like craniosacral therapy. She states, “frankincense has been known to promote grounding and also heighten intuition and open your third eye chakra.â€
LoDo Massage Studio now offers 5 varieties of natural CBD cream by Apothecanna available for full body application for a small upgrade fee. You’re always welcome to try Apothecanna’s Relieving Cream at no charge during any Mile High Massage at LoDo Massage Studio. This cream has 50mg of tension and pain relieving CBD to further soothe your body into relaxation.
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