CBD is growing in popularity faster than just about any prescription drug or remedy for a laundry list of treatments. From reducing the symptoms of anxiety and depression to alleviating chronic pain, people are finding a myriad of uses for cannabidiol, the non-psychoactive component found in a cannabis plant. One of the most commonly-used forms of CBD is CBD oil, which some wellness centers are now starting to use as a massage aid.
Studies have suggested that CBD can be used effectively as a muscle pain reliever and that it may even help relieve the symptoms of arthritis pain. There is much anecdotal evidence of people using it to alleviate chronic pain and other joint pain as well, so it makes sense that CBD oil massages as a natural pain remedy would become a popular thing. Many people actively seek out ways to treat their pain symptoms without turning to dangerous prescription drugs, as they can be addictive and even life-threatening, leaving CBD as an alternative those same people are often open to trying.
A CBD massage treatment is one in which a carrier oil or cream is infused with CBD oil before the massage therapist applies it to the skin. The potential added benefit for those with chronic pain problems is that this practice may also aid in allowing patients to sleep better afterward.
“Receiving a massage with CBD oil can potentially be very beneficial to patients who are suffering from symptoms such as localized pain, arthritis or inflammation, and skin disorders like eczema or psoriasis,” said Dr. Tanny Raz, the director of medical business development at Apollo Cannabis Clinics, a medical cannabis research organization and treatment center in Toronto.
“CBD oil is colorless and odorless, so I couldn’t detect it during the treatment, and it didn’t feel any different from any other product used during a massage,” said Fiona Tapp, who wrote an essay about her experience with a CBD massage therapist for the HuffPost. “As soon as my massage therapist started working on my back, I was whisked away from my mental to-do list to a familiar state of relaxation that comes when someone gives your muscles a good rub.”
Tapp went on to note that the CBD massage wasn’t significantly different from a typical massage immediately after her treatment, although she did notice slightly less soreness than usual. It’s common for soreness to set in after intense therapeutic massages, and in Tapps' case, she noticed there was no pain at the end of the night and she was able to fall into a deep, uninterrupted sleep.
While using CBD as either a pain reliever or sleep aid is a common practice, the use of it for massage therapy seems like a logical step. Research shows that massages are effective in treating these same things, however, there is no research-based data that suggests the CBD component contributes to that. To this point, the effectiveness of CBD massages is only supported by anecdotal evidence.