Topical CBD Remedies To Fight Pain

Aches and pains are a normal part of life whether it’s from daily wear and tear or more serious chronic reasons. CBD can help fight against pain and inflammation no matter how you decide to take it into your sore body although today we’re going to be talking about topical salves. There are so many medicinal benefits to rubbing down your aching joints with CBD so keep reading for some of my favourite recipes.

What Is CBD?

CBD naturally occurs in both cannabis and the body, imparting a feeling of deep calm and relaxation. Although this “bliss molecule” has a similar structure to THC it won’t give the feeling of “being high”. This makes it perfect for people who don’t want to feel the effects of THC but still want to harness the medicinal benefits of cannabis. It has the added bonus of being non- addictive, making it an effective treatment over long periods.

How Does CBD Fight Pain?

CBD is a powerful anti-inflammatory, working directly with your endocannabinoid receptors to soothe those pesky aches and pains. Slathering the affected areas with a salve will penetrate through the dermal and sub-dermal layers of skin. Letting CBD absorb topically through the skin, rather than ingesting or smoking it, leads to faster, more direct results. This is because the CBD will bypass the liver and bloodstream, interacting directly with the receptors in your skin to provide botanical benefits wherever you need them the most. A soothing cannabis cream can be used for skin irritation, acne, aching joints, muscle tension, and other inflammatory, stress- induced conditions.

Store Bought or Home Made Oil?

Buying CBD from a trusted seller is the most convenient way of obtaining your secret medicinal ingredient. If you’re like me and love the adventure of making everything yourself then there are some important steps to follow before you get started creating.

1. Decarboxylate Your Cannabis

This is the first step to creating any cannabis concoction if you decide to use flower. For this, you can use any strain, preferably something high in CBD. This is a really easy process that only takes a baking tray and oven. Break your chosen flower into smaller pieces and spread evenly onto your baking sheet. Heat your oven to 250 degrees F for 25-30 minutes and you are all set!

2. Make Your Cannabis Oil

Now that we have our decarboxylated cannabis we’re going to begin making our oil. The first thing you need is a double boiler. Add water to the bottom and 1.5 cups of coconut oil to the top. Heat on low heat until it’s melted. Stir in 7-10 grams of your cannabis and heat for 30-60 minutes. Use a thermometer to ensure you’re not overheating it. Anything over 200 degrees Fahrenheit will burn it and leave you with a terrible, bitter flavour. After the hour, strain your mixture through cheesecloth, This leftover cannabis-infused oil will be the key ingredient in our pain salve.

CBD Pain Salve

Ingredients

• Cannabis Oil (see recipe above)
• Essential Oils, Amount dependant on how strongly scented you would like your balm to be. I like to use peppermint, tea tree oil, lemon, rosemary, and eucalyptus for their added anti-inflammatory benefits (and delicious fragrances).
• 1 tbsp Shea Butter
• 1/3 cup Beeswax
• 1/3 cup Olive Oil

Instructions 

1. Get your handy, double boiler ready again since we want to avoid direct, high heat.
2. Add your beeswax into the double boiler until melted, then turn the heat to low.
3. Stir in 1.5 cups of your cooled and strained cannabis oil and olive oil.
4. Once melted, add the essential oils and shea butter.
5. Once everything is melted and mixed take off the heat and transfer your concoction into your containers.
6. Once it has hardened, the salve is ready to use! Apply to the affected area and you should begin to feel relief with 5-20 minutes. Apply throughout the day as often as needed.

CBD Pain Cream

This is another fairly easy recipe to create making it perfect for every experience level. Unlike the CBD salve, you don’t need to make your own cannabis oil to make this cream. If you decided to buy CBD oil or isolate this is the recipe for you.

Ingredients

• 4oz Coconut Oil
  
• 4oz Shea Butter
  
• 4 tbsp Magnesium Oil (Magnesium chloride is a good substitute as it comes in soluble flakes)
  
• 20 drops Essential Oil
• 15-25 mg CBD

Instructions

1. Use a double boiler to slowly heat your mixture.
2. Let the water start to boil and then add coconut oil and shea butter into the top bowl. Turn off the heat after melted. 
3. Add your magnesium of choice and let cool.
4. Essential oils of your choosing can now be added to the mixture.
5. Store everything in containers and apply when needed.

Will These Recipes Leave Me Reeking of Cannabis?

This will depend on which recipe you decide to go with. A salve with homemade cannabis oil will have a slightly skunky odour. If the essential oils aren’t enough to cover the cannabis smell then I suggest a cream with the addition of CBD distillate. The oil and distillate will leave no trace of unwanted smells lingering on the skin.

How Long Will They Last?

As long as you store your pain-relieving creations in sealed containers in a cool, dark space they should last up to a year. If you do end up holding on to these products for that long just remember that the potency decreases as time goes on. Try to keep your unwashed hands out of the jar to dissuade it from becoming contaminated and begin to mould before it’s time.

Have you tried any of these recipes for topical pain creams? Let us know about your experiences!