Not all CBD topicals are created equal. Before we go any further, let’s be clear; we’re talking about products you apply to your body, not products you ingest. You should also know that just because a cream or ointment contains a high CBD content and an inflated price doesn’t mean it’s really, really good. You see, in order for a CBD-infused topical to be fully effective, it needs to be incorporated with carrier and essential oils that address specific physical conditions.
We already have CBD receptors (CB1 and CB2) in our bodies. I’ve said that a time or two in this blog. But, it bears repeating and here’s why. When you introduce CBD into your body, the CB1 and CB2 receptors come alive, producing anti-inflammatory and pain-killing effects. CBD is the delivery system that brings the health benefits of the other oils to the affected areas efficiently and effectively.
I’ll illustrate. Let’s say you purchase a high-priced cream that you believe will ease some of your nerve pain. The product has a LOT of CBD, so it must be good, right? Not necessarily. Let’s look at the list of ingredients: mineral oil, cetyl alcohol, propylene glycol, glycerin, carbormer, methaltaraben triethandamine, trotylene glycol, parabens—OK, are you getting the picture? What you don’t see in this list are carrier oils, such as almond, grapeseed or vitamin E; or essential oils, such as chamomile, yarrow, basil, etc., which provide the healing benefits.
Essential oil is volatile and tends to evaporate quickly. So, before it’s even absorbed into the skin, a good chunk of the oil evaporates into the air. Now, given the expense of essential oils, to have most of it evaporate before the benefits can be achieved seems counterproductive. Enter the fatty carrier oil, which doesn’t evaporate at all. It will contain the essential oil and as your skin absorbs it, the benefits of all the oils are absorbed.
Second, by nesting an essential oil into a carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil, sweet almond oil, avocado oil or other such oil, allows you to spread the essential oil over a more of your body, helping absorb it into a larger area, and reaching more of the CBD receptors.
When CBD oil is incorporated into any combination of carrier and essential oils, along with other healing ingredients such as aloe vera, the body’s cannabinoid receptor system is activated. This activation allows the healing properties of each element to perform more efficiently and at their peak levels.
The chemicals in the really expensive product don’t do that. In fact, they can be toxic irritants that can stress an already stressed body. So, when purchasing CBD topicals, read the list of ingredients and find out the purity of the CBD. Expensive, high-CBD products aren’t better if they don’t deliver healing benefits.