Call it salve, balm, or ointment they nearly mean the same thing. They are thick creams or lotions used for medication and relief purposes. Primarily they are used for pain relief and as a hydrating agent. Salves are used for skin protection as well. Salves are used to administer medicines for a variety of conditions.
Cannabinoids are extracted natural chemical compounds from Cannabis Sativa. They are beneficial as anti-inflammatory and pain relief medications. Cannabinoids are also effective in mental conditions like stress and anxiety.
A combination of the above creates CBD Salve, a super effective pain relief ointment that can give relief from a hard day’s work, strenuous exercise, or a day in the field for a long and tiring game. The muscle and joint pains can be left on to the magic of CBD Salve while you take some rest and cool it off.
So what are cannabinoids and is CBD an abbreviation for cannabinoids? Let’s understand that better and in detail in this article and the best way to do it is step by step.
What is CBD?
Cannabis Sativa is also called Hemp. Apart from Sativa, two other natural varieties of Cannabis are Indica and Regulars. So, when we say Cannabis we are talking about 400 or more natural chemical compounds, and that's about 100+ cannabinoids, some terpenes, flavonoids, and many more plant-based natural compounds.
Some of the prominent cannabinoids are Cannabichromene (CBC), Cannabinol (CBN), Cannabigerol (CBG), Cannabidiol (CBD), and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). While CBD is renowned for its wellness, health, and medicinal benefits, THC is popular for its mind-altering, psychoactive ‘high’ effects. Every cannabinoid out of the lot has its unique benefits.
CBD has been used in many ancient civilizations in parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe as a herbal medication. With the onset of pharmaceutical drugs and doctored chemical combinations the world ‘moved on. Dr. Roger Adams rediscovered CBD in the 1940’s and about 20 years later its chemical structure was determined and revealed. During the same time, THC was rediscovered and the mind-altering effects were linked to THC here on rather than CBD.
Types of CBD
Cannabinoids are extracted from hemp flowers, leaves, and seeds using advanced methods like CO2 extraction. The extracted CBD comes in three variants. They are listed below.
- Full-spectrum CBD: This contains all the cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes including THC but under 0.3% as regulated by the FDA.
- Broad-spectrum CBD: This is also everything extracted from Cannabis Sativa excluding the THC.
- CBD isolate: As the name suggests this contains only CBD in its most potent and concentrated form being isolated from all the extracted cannabinoids and everything else.
These types of cannabinoids are a result of the extraction processes keeping in mind the intended use or infusion into the ‘would be’ products. The products range from edibles like tinctures or honey, to topical like roll-on or salve, and even pet care like pet shampoo or kitty litter.
What is CBD Salve?
CBD infused in Salve makes CBD Salve. It is one of the most effective pain-relief and anti-inflammatory solution. Pain and inflammation are a result of excessive load on the muscle tissues or joints, due to heavy impact, injury or strain.
Pain can be acute, chronic, or neurological. In all cases, CBD Salve can provide relief when applied to the pain area.
How does it work?
Our bodies have numerous endocannabinoid receptors which control response to stimuli like pain, sleep, hunger. The cannabinoids get absorbed through the skin cells and reach the target area muscle fibres and tissues. The absorbed cannabinoids bind themselves to the endocannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system (ECS) which further connect to the Central Nervous System (CNS).
Cannabinoids react with the ECS and CNS to give relief from pain and inflammation along with other skin issues and mental conditions.
What are the reasons to use CBD Salve?
Tinctures are a popular way of ingesting CBD but they taste bitter. If you are looking to improve the health of the entire body then you need to use an edible. However, if you are looking to improve your skin health or get relief from pain or inflammation then using a topical is a better option. When CBD products are ingested they pass through the digestive tract and when absorbed enters the bloodstream to reach the entire body.
This has effects on the entire body rather than the pain area only. On the other hand, a topical like salve only has benefits on the area where it is applied by being absorbed through the cells and tissues. In this was the affected area gets a more potent dose of CBD. As it directly reaches the pain areas it is much faster than any orally ingestible CBD product.
How to use CBD Salve for best benefits?
As it is topical and needs to be absorbed by the skin you need to clean the area and pores of the skin for easy admittance into the body. Wash your hands clean and take a bit into the fingers of your hand, gently apply and massage it to the desired area. However, there are some important things to consider as you apply them.
Where to apply
The first and most important consideration is where to apply the salve. There is no point in applying it all over the body. Salves are comparatively expensive and come in small containers. Applying it to the whole body is a waste. Rather you need to consider which area to apply it to.
For pain and inflammation, the pain area is the best to use it on. You will notice these are mostly the joints. Examples of some of the pain areas can be the neck, temples, feet, shoulders, and joints like knees, elbows, ankles, wrists, and hips.
After applying a gentle massage is required for that added relaxation.
Clean the area
Before applying CBD salve make sure to wash and clean the pain area and your hands properly. Germs and bacteria are everywhere and you would not want them to enter your body along with the CBD through the cells and pores. A wipe with a wet cloth and some disinfectant is enough. You do not need a thorough shower with soap.
At the same time make sure to wash and clean your hands after applying the salve. Many manufacturers use cooling or heating additives in their salve and that could leave your hands feeling tingly or funny.
How much to apply
Most salves use full-spectrum CBD for maximum benefits. Even a little is a lot of concentrated CBD. Also, avoid using too much and don’t make it too greasy and oily. To begin with, apply a small amount to the required area and massage gently.
Topicals are for fast relief and are known for quick action. If you do not get relief within some time try using a bit more. Again you might want to consider the manufacturer's product, you may want to buy something that has a higher concentration of CBD.
When to apply
CBD Salves can be applied anytime as long as it suits you. As it is mostly linked to pain relief and relaxation people prefer to use it just before they hit the bed, sofa, or couch. Sportspersons can also apply the salve and hit the ground. Even full-spectrum CBD with 0.3% or less THC has been cleared by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to be used by athletes.
The US government holds the patent for use of CBD as an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotectant agent. Even the beauty and fashion industry use its antioxidant properties as CBD help with ageing and skin health.
There are a lot of organic manufacturers in the market producing CBD-based products. You need to make sure you are buying from a reputed manufacturer who preferably produces their hemp without using any toxic chemicals like pesticides or herbicides.
OleyHemp is one such manufacturer. Their OH! Salve is ideal for delivering health and wellness benefits to your aching joints and sore muscles. All you need to do is apply their CBD Salve to the target area and leave it to be absorbed into the cells and surrounding tissues. Their advanced formulation uses full-spectrum CBD containing all the beneficial cannabinoids, flavonoids and terpenes, and other organic plant-derived natural chemical compounds which offer improved pain relief.
CBD Salve is also used as a moisturizing and hydrating agent and soothes sunburns, chapped lips, itchy and dry patches on your skin. OH! Salve nourishes and refreshes your skin making it silky soft. They use additional high-quality natural ingredients for better results. Ingredients like Chamomile, Peppermint, Cramp bark, Jamaican dogwood, Valerian root, and Devil’s claw.
Consultation
CBD Salve is one of the best CBD-based topical products available with multiple benefits for skin, joints, and muscles. They are easy to use, fast, and don’t need a lot of effort. Anyone can use them. If you are bothered with pain and inflammation and looking for a minimum hassle topical CBD a Salve is the best fit for you. All you need to do is buy from a reputed seller, with verified laboratory testing reports and high-quality all-natural ingredients.
