CBD here, CBD there, CBD everywhere.
Unless you’re a specialist on the subject, it can seem like cannabidiol – better known as CBD – was nowhere a couple of years ago. Flash forward a few short years, and now it’s in health stores, pharmacies, vape shops, coffee, candy, and cocktails.
And now, if you’re a massage fan (and who isn’t?), you might be seeing promos for CBD massages. But what exactly is CBD? And what does it have to do with massage?
What is CBD and How Does it Benefit Massage
CBD is one of over 100 different cannabinoid compounds that exist naturally in the Cannabis sativa plant. Both hemp and marijuana are a part of the cannabis plant family but differ in their genetic makeup.
Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp and hemp-derived products (like CBD oil) are now federally legal. Industrial hemp, also known as just hemp, must contain less than 0.3% THC (the infamous cannabis cannabinoid) to be defined as legal hemp. THC, also known as tetrahydrocannabinol, is the cannabinoid that induces the “high” sensation.
CBD extracted from hemp is non-psychoactive and THC-free. It presents all the possible health and wellness benefits of the cannabis plant, without any associated high.
CBD won’t get you high, but it does have more subtle beneficial effects on the mind and body. In fact, a lot of those effects are similar to the benefits of massage.
Adding CBD to massage oil or ingesting it alongside can enhance the good stuff in multiple ways.
1. CBD Massage Benefit: Pain
Pain is one of the most popular reasons to get a massage. Stiff neck, aching back, overworked muscles – an expert masseuse can help with all of them. At the same time, massages themselves can be painful, especially if they’re of the deep tissue variety.
Pain is also a popular use of CBD, and research supports its effectiveness. CBD-infused oils and lotions rubbed into the skin during a massage can enhance the massage magic.
If you think the massage might hurt, taking some CBD an hour or so ahead of time can help make it more bearable. By promoting overall relaxing sensations and easing the body into a better sense of calm, CBD has the natural power to benefit any massage.
2. CBD Massage Benefit: Relaxation
Even if you’re not in pain, a massage can be a great way to mellow out after a long, exhausting week. If worries have stiffened your muscles, loosening them up can make those same worries seemingly melt away.
CBD can augment this with its anxiety-fighting powers. It can calm you down without sedating your central nervous system as many relaxing drugs do, resulting in a relaxed yet alert state that allows you to experience a whole new world of stress relief.
Unlike some anxiety drugs, CBD doesn’t jazz you up either, so it won’t disturb your sleep. While some anxiety medication can cause harsh side effects, even addiction, CBD works naturally with the body to promote overall relaxation.
By interacting with cannabinoid receptors naturally present throughout the endocannabinoid
system (ECS), CBD promotes better body balance and optimization.
3. CBD Massage Benefit: Spasticity
A muscle spasm can show up like a sudden surprise guest – the kind that drinks all your beer and lingers. Cramped muscles suffer from a lack of blood flow, so a massage therapist can get things working again by relaxing and opening up that hard knot.
Spasticity is one of CBD’s better-researched benefits because it’s a component of Sativex, which treats spasms caused by multiple sclerosis. Given the severity of the problem in MS, a hit of CBD will likely help your much more transient cramps.
Thanks to its natural effects of relaxation, CBD presents a unique option for those suffering from intense muscle aches and tightness. While other harsh prescriptions and OTCs are synthetic with numerous side effects, CBD has virtually no side effects and is all-natural.
4. CBD Massage Benefit: Prevention
Often, we show up in the massage therapist’s lair because one or more of the above problems has already arrived. But CBD also builds up in the system, so recurring use can head off some of these problems before they start.
Anxiety, after all, is the root cause of a lot of our aches and pains. Many of us literally carry our emotional burdens on our shoulders, neck, or head. When the pain is constant and persistent, that in turn can increase our stress. The combination of CBD and massage can help prevent this vicious cycle from even starting.
The World Health Organization recently determined that CBD is non-addictive and generally
safe, so taking a modest amount to relieve long-term symptoms of stress doesn’t present any harm.
Everyone’s reaction to it is very individual, so consult a doctor or physician before starting a daily CBD regimen.
If you have a regular massage therapist, it would be a good idea to ask them for their opinion
based on their CBD experiences with other clients. They’ll likely know about your particular
issues and how CBD might help. When it comes to education, talk to those who can better understand CBD massage’s many benefits.
So start slow with a modest dose, see what happens, and adjust accordingly. Give it a little time
to build up, and increase the dose if necessary. You may experience what all the fuss is about.
If you liked to learn more about CBD oil benefits, than you should check out this in-depth and helpful guide by CBDCentral.com
