The market for cannabidiol, or CBD as it is often referred to, continues to expand exponentially all across the country, and around the world. It is now expected by the year 2024 that the industry will have grown to a $20 billion enterprise. There are all kinds of CBD products available, such as gummy bears, tinctures, oils, topicals, and even chocolates. Many people consume these CBD products in an effort to relieve their pain, bodily inflammation, stress and anxiety, skin conditions, insomnia, and a great many more afflictions that CBD has proven to be effective at managing.
However, there are still a great many people who are not familiar with the health benefits delivered by CBD, and when these people find out about how effective it can be, it’s very likely that the popularity of CBD will go through another explosion in popularity. There are so many options available to you as a consumer that it can be difficult to sort through them all to find the one that’s most effective for your circumstances.
In addition, you may not be able to trust all the claims made by individual companies, so it can be hard to know who exactly to place your confidence in. This discussion will focus on exploring the best CBD creams and topicals, and will answer some of the questions most frequently asked by potential users. We’ll also review the five best creams on the marketplace today, so if you need a good topical, you’ll have a good starting point to launch your own explorations from.
What are the various types of CBD?
CBD is a substance which can be extracted from the cannabis plant, and there are three primary types of CBD. First of all, there are isolates which consists of pure CBD having no other components from the cannabis plant. Broad-spectrum CBD products are completely free of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. They do however, contain a number of other components from the cannabis plant, coming in the form of terpenes and flavonoids.
Full-spectrum CBD contains trace amounts of THC, which means there is less than .3% THC in them. Given the fact that this is such a small amount, you won’t ever have to worry about getting high from it, and you’ll never fail a drug test because CBD is in your system. A considerable body of research is beginning to indicate that full-spectrum CBD can be much more effective than any other form of the product, because when the compounds are working together, they seem to be able to produce more desirable results.
Editors Top CBD Cream Picks:
XWERKS
Xwerks CBD Rub is a formula that contains a company of different plant-based compounds, including menthol, willow bark, and CBD. This company is headquartered in Florida, and it manufactures a number of products that deliver health benefits and improve performance. The company markets products such as grass-fed whey protein, pre-workout supplements, and creatinine, so they have a good understanding of the needs of athletes.
That makes it a very good fit for them to market CBD products among their line of dietary supplements. The CBD Rub marketed by the company contains 500 mg of CBD, in addition to more than 100 different phytocannabinoids extracted from the hemp plant.
Research has shown that using all the components of the hemp plant maximizes the health benefits delivered, and that’s the rationale for including all the phytocannabinoids. Xwerks also partners with licensed and skilled farmers in the state of Colorado, so you’ll know you’re receiving the highest-quality, most nutrient-dense plants.
All these plants are grown organically, which means they contain no undesirable chemicals, preservatives, additives, or other impurities. The company produces a very high-quality product, and it is routinely considered among the premium available products in the category.
CBD Pure
CBD Pure markets a muscle and joint formula which delivers 250 mg of CBD in each of their containers. Additionally, white willow bark and menthol are added into the formula in order to increase its effectiveness, thereby providing a cooling sensation to any area the topical is applied to. This will immediately begin to relieve and soothe any sore joints or muscles.
The company declares that their formula is capable of delivering rapid relief with just a pea-sized amount of formula that would be directly applied to any area requiring treatment. Each tube of the product is priced at $40, and in addition to the CBD included, you’ll also get jojoba seed oil, eucalyptus, apricot extract, and a number of other soothing components.
Charlotte’s Web
This company is very well known in the CBD industry, and in addition to marketing traditional CBD oils and tinctures, they also produce a number of topical formulas and CBD creams. Among these are their hem- infused balm with CBD, and their hemp-infused cream with CBD.
Either of these can be applied using a stick, or in the traditional form of a regular cream. Their formula was specifically designed to treat arthritis, neck pain, back pain, and several other kinds of discomfort and inflammation around the body. All topical products produced by Charlotte’s Web contain 300 mg of CBD in every ounce. There are no added synthetic colors or dyes, parabens, allergens, fragrances, or other undesirable additives.
PureKana
Every bottle of topical CBD cream from this company contains 600 mg of CBD. The company states that their topical cream hydrates skin and delivers a refreshing sensation to the user. The same hemp used in their oils is also incorporated into the topicals marketed by the company.
If you’re a person who applies a topical to your skin as part of your daily routine, you should notice using this cream will make your skin feel more supple, and it will look healthier and more rejuvenated. In addition to containing CBD, the company’s cream also incorporates capsicum, butter, arnica Montana flower, and olive oil.
The cost of one bottle of CBD cream from PureKana is $80 per container, and purchasers are entitled to a 30-day money-back guarantee. The applicator bottle makes this product extremely easy to apply, and it can be applied to any location, including all the hard-to-reach spots on your body.
Medterra
Medterra markets a Relief and Recovery cream that combines CBD with other organic ingredients such as Menthol and arnica. All you have to do is apply the cream to an affected area and wait for the rapid cooling effect to take place, relieving your joints and muscles instantly.
This product can be purchased in strengths anywhere from 250mg to 700 mg. The formula used by the company for its soothing properties include safflower seed oil, sunflower oil, lemon peel, ginger, and aloe vera leaf juice. Relief and Recovery cream marketed by Medterra is 99.6% CBD, and every batch is exhaustively tested by a third party to ensure that it is completely free of THC.
How are CBD creams used?
Experts can tell you that when a topical cream is applied to the upper layer of your skin, not only does that upper layer benefit, but it seeps down into the lower layers to provide health benefits there as well. Topicals are capable of penetrating the dermal and subdermal layers of any person’s skin. All humans have an endocannabinoid system which is responsible for regulating mood, appetite, and the sensations of pleasure and pain.
This system is what interacts with the chemicals extracted from the cannabis plant. The human endocannabinoid system consists of three primary components, those being endocannabinoids, enzymes which break down cannabinoids and endocannabinoids, and receptors within the nervous system that bond to each of the endocannabinoids and cannabinoids.
The endocannabinoid system in the human body is a natural system, although it’s one that is also very important. CBD can interact with this entire system in order to influence a number of different bodily functions. Here are some of the primary uses that CBD cream can be effectively used for:
- Psoriasis – this is considered to be an autoimmune skin condition causing a number of unusual rashes that could appear anywhere on the skin of the body. CBD topicals have the ability to lower inflammation and to slow down the growth of skin cells, by easing all symptoms related to this specific condition.
- Wrinkles – CBD is known to be a terrific moisturizer, with the ability to deliver anti-aging properties and heal the skin as well. As it relates to wrinkles, CBD can stimulate and balance oil production to keep you on an even keel. Fine lines and wrinkles are much more visible on individuals who consistently are bothered by dry skin. Therefore, the CBD oil which stimulates oil production can help to minimize wrinkles and fine lines which appear under the eyes, around the corners of the mouth, etcetera.
- Arthritis – CBD is well-known for having a number of pain-relieving properties, but it also is very effective at reducing inflammation around the body. Whenever your body is fighting some condition that is considered to be an infection, that will cause inflammation in that area. In the specific case of rheumatoid arthritis and similar autoimmune conditions, your immune system will mistakenly attack joints and other healthy parts of your body. Cannabinoids from CBD interact with the cannabinoids of your body system, to relieve soreness and pain, and to block pain signals that would otherwise be sent to the brain.
- Eczema – this is a fairly severe skin condition which is characterized by inflamed skin. It can be caused by a single trigger, or it may be caused by a number of different triggers which work together to produce it. At any rate, a great many people suffer from it, and it requires very specialized treatment. Current research shows that CBD topicals are quite effective in managing eczema. Anyone that has this condition will know that it’s fairly difficult to avoid flare-ups, but CBD can not only reduce the number of episodes, but it can also diminish the severity when they do happen.
- Pain management – CBD is probably used more frequently to reduce pain than for any other purpose. A number of CBD products can be used for pain management, but topicals are particularly effective because they can be applied directly to the affected area. This makes them one of the best choices for treating painful muscles and joints, or wherever they might happen to be located around the body.
Advantages of using CBD cream
There are some very obvious benefits derived from the usage of CBD cream, beginning with the fact that it is capable of targeting any area around your body. Whenever you use CBD oil or consume an edible, you’ll be able to get all the benefits of CBD, and using a topical can speed relief to an affected area and focus on that specific area for pain relief.
Another advantage is that topicals tend to work very quickly, because they don’t have to make their way through your digestive system. They also don’t have to be broken down and digested as edible CBD products do, and that means they’ll generally work faster than gummies or capsules.
Sometimes manufacturers will add additional ingredients into their topicals to make them even more effective for pain relief. That’s why you’ll sometimes see Menthol or arnica on the list of ingredients for topicals, because they are known to increase pain relief.
One last benefit derived from using CBD creams and topicals is that they improve the health of your skin. While their primary usage is for delivering pain relief, CBD creams can also moisturize your skin, so it looks healthier and feels much more rejuvenated.
Disadvantages of using CBD creams
One of the primary disadvantages of using a CBD cream is that it’s not quite as potent as an edible would be. Although topicals do take effect faster than edibles do, the lotions or creams typically don’t contain the potency that edibles provide. Another drawback might be that it’s difficult to determine the dosage when using a CBD topical.
Oils and edibles are generally formulated to ensure that a precise dose is delivered with each serving, but that’s not really possible when you’re using a cream. The good part about that is that since CBD is all-natural, you really can’t use too much of it, so there are no penalties for excess. In some cases, creams may produce skin irritation, although this is rare. If it does happen for you, just stop using the product, and the irritation will subside quickly.
Side-effects of using CBD creams
The National Institute of Health has declared that CBD products are generally safe for usage, and since topicals are for external use only, they should never be consumed. You should not be using CBD creams when your skin is broken or irritated, so if you do have some kind of rash or wound in the skin, it’s best to delay usage.
You will not get any of the psychoactive effects of using cannabis that contain THC, but you may experience some other side effects. Some of these include sleepiness, change in appetite or weight, and in some rare cases, diarrhea has been experienced by users. That being the case, you can pretty much count on topicals not being absorbed by the bloodstream, so there won’t be any full-body effects as a result.
The most likely possible side effect is that it could combine with other prescription medications you are taking. For that reason, it’s best to consult with your physician before using any CBD cream or topical, so that you can avoid the possibility of interactions.
FAQs about using CBD Creams and Topicals
What is CBD pain cream?
Any CBD pain cream is a topical agent which typically includes cannabidiol or CBD, along with some other ingredients such as camphor, arnica, or menthol, which would be used to increase effectiveness and absorption.
How does CBD pain cream work?
Research shows that pain creams including CBD can have the effect of relieving pain by targeting the endocannabinoid system of your body, specifically the CB-1 CB-2 chapters which are located in your skin. It has been well documented that these are the receptors most closely involved with pain and inflammation. Therefore, emerging research on CBD has tended to confirm the positive impact that these creams can have on your body.
What kind of ingredients are in CBD pain cream?
Most CBD pain creams marketed today include either a broad-spectrum CBD or full-spectrum CBD extract. These will then be combined with plant extracts, botanicals, and essential oils, to deliver soothing relief for the sufferer.
Which CBD pain cream is best for relief?
There are quite a few CBD pain creams on the market, with some of them being of extremely high quality, and some being of lesser quality. Above you will find what we consider to be the five best topicals on the market today. You should experiment with these and possibly some others if you desire to, in order to find out which one works best for your circumstances.
What are the conditions CBD pain cream can help with?
An extensive body of research is now showing that CBD pain creams are most effective for managing inflammation, pain, and reduced mobility in your body. Given the fact that it’s a topical, creams can be applied to any area on your body that has been affected, and that means it will generally work much quicker and more effectively.
Can I use a CBD cream to treat nerve pain?
Research on CBD products is still in its infancy, although there is already some evidence that CBD topicals may be capable of providing effective treatment for nerve pain. However, additional additional research will be necessary to corroborate this.
Can I use a CBD cream to treat sciatica?
At this point in time, no research has been done on the effectiveness of using CBD in conjunction with sciatica treatment. Given the fact that a body of research has indicated that CBD is capable of relieving nerve pain, it seems likely that CBD creams can also be used to improve your sciatica, although more research will be necessary to confirm this.
Will I fail a drug test when using a CBD cream?
No, you will not. Most of the CBD pain cream on the market contain no THC whatsoever. Some do contain trace amounts of THC, up to about .3%. That is a very small amount which will not be sensed by any drug test in use today, so you will not be disqualified from any job you’re applying for on the basis of your drug test.
Is there a difference between broad-spectrum CBD and full-spectrum CBD creams?
Yes, there is a significant difference between the two. A full-spectrum cream will contain all the chemicals and compounds normally included in the cannabis plant. On the other hand, a broad-spectrum cream contains some of the same ingredients, but specifically excludes THC. If you’re looking to find a product which has no THC in it, then you should choose a broad-spectrum CBD product.
Will I have trouble with airport security if I’m carrying a CBD cream?
No, you will not, because a CBD pain cream would be treated just like any other topical or gel, since it has no illegal ingredients. You should have no issues whatsoever going through security whenever you are on vacation or doing some kind of traveling. However, if you are traveling in a foreign country, there may be some issues there, since some CBD products are still considered to be illegal in other countries.
Are CBD pain creams legal?
In this country, CBD pain creams are legal in all 50 states. That means you won’t have to worry about traveling anywhere in this country, as long as the THC content is at .3% or less. Keep in mind that if you travel abroad, that won’t necessarily be the case. Some foreign countries have yet to approve any kind of CBD product for legal use, so you’ll have to inquire about specific policies before you travel through their country with your CBD pain cream.