Cannabis provides a tremendous amount of medical benefits, but the focus is often on inhaled or edible products. Cannabis topicals, while less commonly used, are still powerful options for many conditions from skin issues to pain.
Infused with THC and CBD, these topical products interact with the endocannabinoid system to provide relief and healing often within minutes of application. They can be an amazing first line of defense for burns, bug bites and other rashes, muscle pain and a variety of other conditions.
Let’s pull the curtain back on cannabis topicals and get an idea of how you can integrate them into your life for better health and some much-needed relief.
Cannabis topicals are exactly what they sound like – a cannabinoid-infused product, usually in the form of a cream or salve, used for a variety of skin or muscle ailments. Some of the most common uses for topical cannabis include but are not limited to:
Cannabis topical balms come in a variety of forms:
Many people use topical cannabis in lieu of oral or inhaled cannabis because it is not psychoactive and works more directly at the application site. Edibles and smokables will give a general anesthetic or relaxation effect but topicals tend to aggregate their effect where they are placed, making them ideal for injuries or pain.
There have been numerous animal and human studies that indicate topical cannabis is an effective treatment for a variety of skin and muscle conditions. Depending on the formulation of the product you are using, there may be some immediate relief (such as burn balm with other botanicals) but typically the effects can take up to an hour to work. Regardless, CBD and THC topical treatments have a track record of providing relief for many conditions.
There are even promising studies that indicate medical cannabis topical products might be effective at treating psoriasis, acne, migraines, eczema and other chronic conditions!
In general, the use of the medical cannabis topicals goes beyond treating chronic conditions because cannabis is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial. The pain-relieving effects, along with its antimicrobial action, also make it an ideal topical agent for minor first-aid situations.
There are no observed serious side effects to topical cannabis products unless you are allergic to the carrier product, such as the lotion or oil in which the CBD and/or THC are distributed.
Some known minor side effects of topical cannabis products are:
These observed effects, while not common, could be enough to make you discontinue use. With that said, the reaction would likely be on par with the negative reaction to any hand cream or lotion.
In our ever-increasing effort to bring you the highest-quality cannabis products, NE Harvest has a variety of topical cannabis to suit your needs and lifestyle. Our budtenders are happy and excited to help you understand exactly how to use these products to get the relief that you need.
These patches work within 15 to 30 minutes and provide 8 to 12 hours of pain relief at the application site. They’re small enough to carry in your purse or pocket but provide big relief where you need it most.
The infinity CBD roll-on stick works kind of like deodorant, only instead of masking odor it resolves pain, itchiness, and tension in sore muscles. This handy little product can be applied to your forehead for headaches or anywhere else on your skin in order to provide fast, long-lasting relief.
It is important to be aware that topical cannabis products are absorbed into the blood via the skin. This can vary the rate of absorption and how quickly the effects occur. It is best to start with the lowest effective dose and apply more after 15 to 30 minutes if needed to find the dosage that works best for you.
The future of topical cannabis is only going to get brighter as more companies and physicians are looking to medical cannabis in all of its forms to treat common ailments in lieu of pharmaceuticals. There are many studies being conducted right now and on the horizon to determine the efficacy of topical cannabis in human subjects, which will undoubtedly lead to an explosion in this market and a variety of new products popping up all the time.
NE Harvest is your leader in medical cannabis topicals, as well as all forms of other cannabis products. Our budtenders have years of experience in medical and recreational cannabis, and we can point you directly to the best product for your needs.
Come check out NE Harvest today and see what a difference topical cannabis can make both as a powerful addition to your first aid kit and as a supplemental treatment for skin conditions, migraines, or other chronic ailments.
