We hear a lot about the amazing potential benefits of taking CBD-infused products like gummies and tinctures each day, but one product type that many people are missing out on is CBD cream. Belonging to the topicals category, CBD cream can be a gamechanger if you’re someone who struggles with frequent physical discomfort, stiffness or tension in the joints and muscles. And, on top of that, it can provide numerous benefits to the skin.

CBD cream offers an entirely one-of-a-kind way of experiencing the positive effects of hemp, which is naturally high in CBD, also known as cannabidiol. Because it’s such an incredible product, we want to cover the basics and help you understand how to use it to the best of your advantage. But first, let’s dive a little bit deeper into CBD itself.

CBD: The Basics

CBD, or cannabidiol, is the dominant compound in the hemp plant, and it’s one of the over 100 individual cannabinoids present in the plant’s flowering buds. Hemp belongs to the cannabis genus, as does marijuana, but because hemp is not intoxicating in any concentration, it’s federally legal, while marijuana is not.

Because CBD was discovered all the way back in the 1960s, during a time of eager cannabis research, we have decades of studies to look to when determining its potential therapeutic uses. Because of this, we know that CBD comes with loads of potential benefits, tried and tested, including effects that relate to sleep, stress, low mood, physical discomfort, pain tolerance, immune function, digestive function, neurological function, and much more.

CBD for Pain Relief: A Growing Interest in the Medical Community

One area of research that has been getting a lot of attention recently is the use of CBD for pain. We know that cannabis has been used for pain for thousands of years, and the medical marijuana industry is thriving because of the relief it can provide. CBD, a single cannabinoid from hemp, possesses its own distinctive properties pertaining to pain.

Because CBD is a type of compound known as a cannabinoid, its job is to attach itself to cannabinoid receptors throughout all systems of the body, and this binding process enables cannabinoids to do their job of regulating critical bodily processes pertaining to the state of our wellness. For example, cannabinoid receptors in the deep tissue of the body regulate inflammation, while cannabinoid receptors in the nervous system regulate functions like mood, sleep, pain tolerance, and more.

This network of cannabinoid receptors belongs to the body’s endocannabinoid system, a system found in all mammals, and first discovered back in the 1990s. The discovery of this system finally gave scientists an explanation as to why cannabis is capable of achieving so many potential benefits to its users. When the body is given cannabinoids like CBD, the endocannabinoid system intelligently sends them to cannabinoid receptors to keep us in a state of homeostasis.

Mainly, CBD is noted for being an anti-inflammatory, through regulating our body’s inflammatory response. This can obviously offer notable effects on pain, as most forms of chronic pain are caused by inflammation, as immune cells flood tissue of the body when it’s injured, causing swelling, tenderness and, sometimes, severe pain.

But, CBD is also an analgesic, meaning that it works with the nervous system to regulate our pain response. Many people find that CBD minimizes pain by offering something of a numbing effect, which comes from disrupting the communication between pain signals in the nerves and in the brain.

CBD for Skin Wellness

Another area that’s getting a lot of attention right now is CBD for skin disorders. We already covered the anti-inflammatory properties of cannabidiol, and as we know, many skin disorders are caused by inflammation, including eczema, psoriasis, and several others. Not only may CBD be effective against skin inflammation, but its soothing properties can be useful for those who are prone to irritation, which can cause itching, stinging, burning, and heightened skin sensitivity.

What is CBD Cream, and What is Hemp Infused Cream Used for?

Now, let’s get back to the subject of topicals. Topicals are any product that offer therapeutic properties through transdermal absorption – in other words, they absorb through the skin to provide their effects.  CBD topicals like CBD cream offer the effects of cannabidiol to the area where the product was applied, in contrast to products like gummies and tinctures, which disperse the cannabinoid more widely throughout the body. This way, a person can get more concentrated relief in a specific area that’s causing them discomfort.

CBD creams and other topicals aren’t associated with effects beyond the area of application. In other words, if you’re using CBD for something like sleep, a topical probably isn’t for you, since very little of the cannabinoid is entering the bloodstream to deliver its effects to CB1 receptors (cannabinoid receptors in the brain). But, if you’re dealing with, say, a stiff shoulder, then CBD cream can truly be a godsend.

CBD cream is your standard cream formula, but it’s infused with a hemp extract that’s naturally high in cannabidiol, as CBD is the most dominant compound in hemp. CBD cream comes in a variety of milligram strengths, formulations, and sometimes with the addition of other active ingredients that can provide relief, like menthol or certain essential oils.

Does CBD Cream Work?

The good news is that CBD has been tested topically in clinical trials, with very promising results. It turns out that applying cannabidiol to the skin in the form of a topical solution can provide anti-inflammatory effects and analgesic effects to the deep tissue beneath the area of application, while also absorbing into the layers of the skin. Besides that, CBD cream has been widely used for years, and you’ll have no trouble finding lots of anecdotal evidence about how effective it can be.

How to Apply CBD Cream

The good news is that CBD cream is the easiest of all CBD products to administer. Simply scoop out enough product to liberally coat the desired area of the body, and massage into the skin deeply so that it fully absorbs. There’s no risk of overdose, since CBD is nontoxic, and besides that, the product doesn’t cause a notable amount of the active ingredients to enter the bloodstream. 

As for how long for CBD lotion or CBD cream to work, the average amount is 10-15 minutes. That’s because you’re supplying the affected area directly with the cannabinoid, so it doesn’t need to make its way through the body. And, the effects can last for a very generous 6 or so hours after each application.

How Often Can You Use CBD Cream?

We’ve covered the safety of CBD cream, and so that tells you that this is a product that can be used multiple times a day if needed. As we said, CBD cream’s effects generally last for around 6 hours, and there’s absolutely no harm in using it every 6 hours or so if you need to sustain the relief that you get from the formula.

Can You Use CBD Cream with Other CBD Products?

CBD cream can absolutely be used with other CBD products – in fact, we recommend it. CBD topicals can offer a more targeted effect to the area in need, while an internal product, like a tincture or a gummy, can provide more widespread effectiveness throughout the body, working with underlying issues that can lead to enhanced inflammation or pain of the area, like a poor pain tolerance, stress, or widespread inflammation throughout the body. Again, you can’t really overdose on cannabidiol due to its nontoxic nature, so there’s no real risk associated with taking 2 types of products at the same time.

What About CBD Lotion with THC?

We do want to mention the newer CBD lotions that are infused with THC, which can also be extremely useful. Like CBD, THC is a cannabinoid, and it’s best known for being intoxicating, as the key intoxicant in marijuana. But, when applied to the skin, it doesn’t produce psychoactive effects, again because the cannabinoid doesn’t travel to CB1 receptors in the brain, instead staying localized. THC, like CBD, is widely used for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and using these two cannabinoids together can act as a way to maximize the relief that you’re looking for. 

The Key to Getting the Most Benefits Out of CBD Cream

If you’re going to invest in a cannabis topical cream, you want to make sure that you’re using the product properly. To get the best results possible, follow the tips below.

Apply it Frequently

CBD works cumulatively, meaning that the more consistently it’s used, the more effective it becomes – similarly to many of the supplements that people take daily. So, consider working CBD cream into your daily routine, even on “good” days when your pain is more manageable.

Be Mindful of the Strength

CBD creams come in a variety of milligram strengths, telling you how potent the product is. We suggest going with a product that contains at least 75mg of CBD per fluid ounce, as this will ensure that there’s enough cannabidiol in the formula to deliver results.

Choose the Brand Wisely

Make sure that you do some research before choosing a company to buy from. We recommend that you look up reviews on a company’s website before buying, and check for third-party lab reports, that show that the product was tested for purity, quality, and safety by a state-registered laboratory.

Pay Attention to the Other Ingredients

Always look at all of the ingredients in a CBD cream before buying. You want to avoid any cheap filler ingredients, irritating ingredients, or ingredients that you happen to be allergic to. And, look for other active ingredients, like essential oils known for providing pain relief.

The CBD Topicals at Kore Original

Now that you know just how effective CBD oil cream/hemp topical cream can be at providing relief, it’s time to look for the best formula on the market, made with clean ingredients, effective milligram strengths of cannabidiol, and fast absorption. Here at Kore Original, we offer a variety of CBD-infused topical products that can be applied directly to the skin to offer their soothing properties in no time. Explore our collection of topicals today, all of which are fresh and fully lab-tested, to enjoy a whole new way to experience the incredible potential benefits of cannabidiol.