If you are looking for information about CBD topicals for inflammation, you’ve come to the right place. Chances are, if you’re reading this, you have inflammation. So, first things first.
What is inflammation?
Inflammation is the body’s way of protecting itself from infection. White blood cells surround a supposed threat and try to eliminate it. Sometimes, however, your body may perceive a threat that isn’t there. As a result, the body attacks itself, which can lead to autoimmune diseases.
Acute: An injury or illness can trigger inflammation, which is short term. These five signs indicate acute inflammation:
- Pain may occur continuously or only when you touch the affected area.
- Redness caused by increased blood supply to the capillaries in the affected area.
- Loss of function, such as difficulty moving a joint, breathing, sensing smell and so on.
- Swelling, or edema, can develop if fluid builds up.
- Heat from increased blood flow that may leave the affected area warm to the touch.
Chronic: Long-term inflammation that lingers beyond they body’s response to an injury. Your body constantly tries to fight off what it perceives as an intruder or infection. Over time, your tissues and organs can be negatively affected. In fact, there’s research that suggests chronic inflammation may lead to conditions that range from cancer to asthma.
CBD topicals and inflammation
If you’re looking for a CBD topical that reduces inflammation, you’re not alone. People often seek out CBD topicals to relieve pain. Pain, as we know is the result of inflammation. CBD is a known anti-inflammatory. It is also antibacterial, analgesic and antioxidant. The power of CBD can be associated with the endocannabinoid system, or ECS, present in everyone. The ECS is responsible for maintaining homeostasis – or balance – by regulating various processes in the body such as appetite, pain and mood, among others. CB receptors are found throughout the skin and the addition of a CBD topical can help promote healing and homeostasis.
CBD applied directly to the skin acts quickly for pain such as arthritis and joint and muscle pain. In fact, “Reliable topical CBD products don’t just mask pain or inflammation as some over-the-counter topical pain relief creams do. They actually can make the pain go away for a certain time period, says Matthew Halpert, an instructor of immunology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Studies have shown that CBD topicals reduce inflammation, which helps relieve the pain and swelling.
The benefit of CBD topicals
Because topicals are available as lotions, creams, balms and salves, you can apply them directly to an affected area. So, it gets to the heart of the matter faster for certain conditions.
CBD can promote faster healing of burns and wounds by activating the CB-1 and CB-2 receptors in the area of the burn or wound. While it reduces inflammation, its antibacterial qualities also protect your skin from bacteria that can cause infection. As an analgesic, it reduces the pain associated with burns. Finally, it keeps the skin moist around the affected area, so healing can continue without the skin cracking open. Its antimicrobial qualities keep the area free of germs and bacteria. A perfect healing environment.
CBD topicals for rash promote moisture and relieve dryness. CBD adds essential vitamins and fatty acids to the skin that help promote elasticity and ward off infection. Using CBD for these conditions is especially beneficial and here’s why.
It’s an anti-inflammatory and an antimicrobial. Rashes are essentially an inflammation. Usually they present as red, scaly, itchy patches on skin or scalp. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD can relieve the intensity of the inflammation and soothe the itch. But it also interacts with the endocannabinoid system we all have in our bodies to promote healing.
As a known analgesic, CBD topicals can also help relieve nerve pain and the pain of peripheral neuropathy quickly and effectively. CBD works like this. It either binds with our receptors acting as a natural kickstart for receptors to create and maintain a balance. Or it blocks the enzymes that remove excess endocannabinoids, giving them more time to work.
Are CBD topicals safe?
The short answer is, yes. However, if you have an underlying condition that requires you to take prescription medicine, talk to your doctor. CBD has the potential to affect how your medication works. Learn all you can about the product you want to use and the ingredients in it and discuss with your doctor how it may affect medications you are taking. Usually, a bigger concern for affecting your medications is when CBD is ingested, but it’s better to be safe.
Before you buy a CBD topical, understand what you’re using it for. Topicals combine CBD with essential oils that have known therapeutic benefits. Look for a product that is for a specific condition such as arthritis, nerve pain, eczema – you get the idea.
You’ll also need to do some research on the various suppliers. Not all CBD products are the same, regardless of claims. The most important consideration should be given to the way the hemp is grown. It should be grown as organically as possible without using harmful herbicides, pesticides or growth enhancers. Second on the list is the manner in which the CBD is extracted. Look for a product derived from CO2 extraction. This is the most expensive extraction method, but by far the safest.
Now that you have a better understanding of how CBD topical works with inflammation, be sure to do your homework. Find the right product for your condition. If you’re dealing with a chronic condition, make sure to consult with your doctor first.
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