The Hotter and Cooler Side of Cannabidiol-Infused Topicals

Have you embraced the world of CBD topicals yet? Many people don’t realize that topicals serve a specific purpose, making them quite complementary to internal administration methods like gummies, capsules, and tinctures. CBD topicals are specifically for treating localized issues, as opposed to taking cannabidiol into the body so that it may be distributed throughout every bodily system. They’re most commonly used for aches and pains, along with skin issues.

The topicals market has gotten more advanced and diverse over the years as demand continues to grow. As a result, we’re seeing companies come up with pretty innovative formulas that are highly bioavailable, with many combining hemp compounds with additional active ingredients that are plant-derived and known for providing uniquely high levels of relief.

The terms “hot” and cold” in the world of topical solutions refer to the sensations that they provide to the skin, muscles and joints when applied to the body. As you’ll see, they both serve a unique purpose, and may be exactly what you need if you’re looking for natural relief.

What Exactly are CBD Topicals?

CBD topicals are, quite simply, any CBD-infused product that is intended to be applied to the skin rather than taken through internal means. Topicals can come in the form of creams, lotions, salves, balms, sprays, gels, massage oils and any other type of consistency that absorbs into the skin easily.

The science behind topicals is based on the idea of transdermal absorption. Studies have found that when cannabinoids are applied to the skin, their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties have the potential to affect not only the skin itself, but the muscles and joints below. This is because cannabinoids like CBD are very efficient when it comes to absorbing through the skin and binding with cannabinoid receptors in these tissues of the body.

What’s unique about topicals is that they target one particular area. When you apply a CBD topical formula to the skin, the cannabinoid content stays localized to the area of application, offering a more concentrated dose to the area of your body that is giving you problems. This is why so many people use CBD topicals if they’re dealing with localized pain or inflammation of the skin.

How are Topicals Made?

Making topicals begins with the industrial hemp plant, which is extracted and then combined with other ingredients to create a topical formula. Most often, the formula contains an all-natural list of ingredients. Like other CBD products, topicals come in various strengths and formulas, and many are scented with essential oils.

Blending CBD with Other Natural Ingredients

Many companies/manufacturers that produce topicals combine hemp extract with other active ingredients that are derived from plants. We know that in the natural world, there are many herbs and botanicals with soothing properties that can benefit the skin while offering some level of pain relief. For example, many essential oils, including lavender, chamomile, and basil, can offer anti-inflammatory properties while soothing irritated skin. CBD topicals that contain additional active ingredients allow you to tackle a particular issue with a more multi-faceted approach.

Warming Topicals vs. Cooling Topicals

A new trend in the world of CBD topicals is formulas that offer either cooling or warming effects. These effects come from plant-based ingredients, and the goal is to offer pain relief by either warming or cooling the joints and muscles when the formula is applied. We know that both heat and ice can improve healing after an area of the body is injured, and many of us routinely ice our muscles or take hot baths in order to provide the ideal temperature to promote pain relief. CBD topicals combine the power of cannabidiol with these warming or cooling ingredients in an effort to take relief to a whole new level.

Warming Topicals

The warming properties usually come from plants that produce a natural warming effect, such as ginger or capsaicin, which is the compound that gives certain peppers their heat.

Many of us are familiar with the relief of soaking in hot water when we’re in pain. The reason why this can be so effective is because heat helps the muscles relax, while stimulating circulation that can speed up the healing process. Warming topicals aim to provide the same type of effect by increasing blood flow to the affected area while encouraging the muscles to release tension.

Cooling Topicals

Offer, of course, a cooling effect on contact that permeates the muscles and joints as well as the skin. Usually, these products rely on menthol, which is a natural compound derived from the mint family with cools and numbs on contact while offering analgesic properties. Many essential oils offer this type of cooling sensation, including peppermint, spearmint, and eucalyptus.

Cooling topicals are equally capable of providing relief through transdermal absorption, as we know that cold can improve the condition of the muscles, joints, and skin by calming the inflammatory response. This type of sensation can offer pain relief while calming the swelling that is associated with injury.

Choosing the Best Topical Formula for Your Needs

Both cooling and warming topicals may offer a unique form of relief to aches and pains, but which one is right for you?

Well, first, you should always see a doctor if you’re dealing with chronic or severe pain, or if you have recently experienced an injury. They can tell you whether heat or coolness is preferable for the type of pain that you are experiencing.

Both cooling and warming topicals offer unique benefits, so you may find that alternating between the two is the way to go, as each serves a purpose in providing potential relief. Therefore, we encourage you to experiment with both types, if your doctor has approved the use of these products, to see what each one can offer.

Find a Formula That Works for Your Specific Needs

CBD topicals come in all kinds of varieties, but it’s formulas that offer either warming or cooling properties that are getting the most attention today, and for good reason. If you’re intrigued by this new trend in the hemp world, check out both types of topicals, and ask your doctor which one is right for you, or if a combination of each one may be the best option.