Benefits of CBD in Massage
By Heather Bishop, CMT
No matter where you go these days, you hear about CBD. It’s in massage oils, tinctures, gummies, even lotion at the grocery store. In just a few short years, the CBD market has exploded, with an overwhelming range of products available. Yet many of us do not understand what CBD is, how it works, or how to choose a product. Read on to have these questions answered and learn about our exciting new Osmosis CBD enhancement.
What is CBD?
CBD, Cannabidiol, is one of over 100 different plant cannabinoids found in the Cannabis Sativa L. plant species. The most commonly known cannabinoid from this plant is THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. CBD, on the other hand, is not psychoactive, and has been found to have a wide range of potential health benefits. Since most marijuana plants have a relatively low amount of CBD, usually owing to their high THC content, most CBD on the market today comes from hemp plants, which are now federally legal to grow as per the 2018 Farm Bill.
How Does CBD Work?
In the early 1990’s scientists discovered a system of receptors and naturally occurring molecules in the human body that mimics the molecular shape of plant cannabinoids, and named it the endocannabinoid system. Moreover, they discovered that the presence of plant cannabinoids, such as CBD, trigger our body’s natural endocannabinoid production and essentially help to “turn on” the endocannabinoid system to its full effect.
The main function of the endocannabinoid system is to maintain homeostasis within our various body systems. In other words, it exists to return us to biological harmony when we have gotten out of balance. Further study revealed that endocannabinoid receptors are present all over the body: in the brain and nerves, skin, immune system, bone, fat tissue, liver, pancreas, muscles, heart, blood vessels, kidneys, reproductive organs and intestinal tract. In each of these areas, the endocannabinoid system works to return the body to homeostasis and optimum functioning.
CBD, by stimulating our own endocannabinoid system, has been found to have an effect on a wide variety of biological functions, such as pain, memory, mood, appetite, stress, sleep, metabolism, immune function, and reproductive function.
How can CBD increase the Benefits of Massage?
Many of the benefits of CBD are to be gained from taking an internal CBD product, such as a tincture or edible. Due to CBD’s interaction with certain medications, a consultation with a doctor is recommended before internal use. A CBD massage, on the other hand, is safe for everyone, making the benefits of CBD accessible for all, while enjoying the gifts of touch.
When considering a topical CBD product, such as an oil or cream, it is important to look at the ingredients. Many oils, such as almond or coconut oil, are not able to penetrate the many layers of the skin, so CBD blended in these oils are not effective in carrying the CBD into the deeper layers of tissue. There are, however, specific carrier oils, as well as several essential oils, that are able to permeate the skin layers and into the tissues below, entering the muscles, connective tissue, and blood vessels. When CBD is blended with these specific oils, it is able to deliver the CBD into deeper tissue layers optimizing its benefit to the body.
Eight Benefits of a CBD Massage:
- Reduces post-workout soreness and muscle fatigue
- Decreases back, shoulder and neck pain
- Assists with arthritis pain and joint inflammation
- Reduces inflammation due to strain or injury
- Helps with sore feet, plantar fasciitis, or bunions
- Decreases discomfort associated with peripheral neuropathy
- Helps with fibromyalgia pain
- Addresses skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, acne mosquito bites
CBD Massage Enhancement at Osmosis using Lacuna Botanicals
Osmosis is excited to launch our CBD Massage Enhancement, using products from Colorado-based company, Lacuna Botanicals! After months of testing and vetting various CBD products, we havefound a product that we find highly effective, and feel great about sharing it with our guests.
Combining thoughtfully sourced ingredients with a potent dose of CBD, Lacuna Botanicals has created an effective line of products that are capable of addressing a variety of physical ailments. Using over 10 different essential oils with plant terpenes to help direct the action of CBD into deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue, Lacuna Botanicals offers a CBD product highly effective in the relief of pain and inflammation.
What we Love about Lacuna Botanicals:
- Farm to massage table supplier. Lacuna Botanicals grows their own hemp.
- Isolated CBD used in their products mean they are 100% THC free, while still being naturally sourced from homegrown full-spectrum hemp oil.
- Carrier oils help to deliver CBD to muscle and connective tissue where it is most needed.
- Pain reducing essential oils help to direct the action of CBD for maximum relief.
- Earth friendly farming practices are combined with sustainably sourced all-natural ingredients.
Our CBD Massage Enhancement utilizes both the Lacuna Botanical Deep Tissue Cream and the Lacuna Blue Pain Relief Lotion to provide over 180 mg of CBD in a full body massage with spot treatment on the areas you need it most.
The formulators of Lacuna Botanicals products carefully selected ingredients to complement and enhance the benefits of pure CBD isolate. Some of these include:
Beeswax: Beeswax carries antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties that are essential in fighting chapped skin and bacterial infections that tend to affect us most in the dry, winter months. It forms a protective wall by sealing in moisture in our skin without smothering and clogging up the pores.
Basil Oil: Basil oil contains vitamin C that boosts skin cells metabolism, improves blood circulation and helps increase and optimize various metabolic functions of the body.
Borage Seed Oil: Borage Seed oil is rich in gamma-linoleic acid, or GLA, an omega-6 type of essential fatty acid. Oils high in GLA (like borage oil) could help reduce inflammation associated with acne and support fuller hair growth.
Tea Tree Oil: This seemingly simple oil contains around 100 different components, including molecules called terpenes that seem to exhibit antimicrobial properties. Specifically one active ingredient called terpinen-4-ol has gained attention because of its antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties.
Wintergreen Oil: Wintergreen oil is readily absorbed through the skin and the presence of methyl salicylate causes an anesthetic effect. It also increases the circulation of the blood and brings warmth to the area in which it is applied.
For a more complete ingredient list of Lacuna Botanicals products, visit https://lacunabotanicals.com/pages/dtingredients
Heather Bishop is the Massage Therapy Supervisor at Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary. She has been practicing massage and bodywork for over 17 years and performs a wide variety of modalities, specializing in deep tissue and east west fusion massage. In addition to massage, Heather is also a Registered Yoga Teacher of 15 years and teaches at Soulstice in Santa Rosa. She loves having daily opportunities to help others and is a proud member of the Osmosis team.
