There are plenty of new products that have been revolving around the holistic health world for quite some time. It is highly likely that you have heard of both cannabidiol (CBD) and essential oils. First off, it is important to note that these are two very different things and should not be confused with one another. CBD comes in many different types of products and this includes CBD creams. Perhaps you are already familiar with essential oils and want to see what potential benefits CBD has for you. Or maybe you are already a CBD fanatic and want to learn a little bit more about essential oils. Well, you have come to the right place. In this blog we will attempt to answer questions regarding the two topics.
CBD? What does that mean?
It is important to start with the basics when it comes to items like this. What is cannabidiol? Cannabidiol or CBD is one of the 113 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant. The Cannabis sativa plant has been around for a very, very long time, but it has been popularized more recently. The biggest misconception when it comes to CBD is that it will get you ‘high’. This, however, is not the case. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is another cannabinoid found in the Cannabis sativa plant. This cannabinoid indeed creates a feeling of euphoria or a ‘high’ when used. These two cannabinoids are found in the Cannabis sativa plant together, but they are not the same and they can also work without one another.
Because of the 2018 Farm Bill it is legal to grow and sell the hemp plant throughout the United States. Wait, hemp? I thought we were talking about Cannabis sativa. We still are! The hemp plant is just a variation of the Cannabis sativa plant that contains very high amounts of CBD and low concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), less than 0.3%. This small amount of THC cannot get users that psychoactive feeling associated with marijuana use. Products that are made from the marijuana plant, however, generally have higher amounts of THC than CBD. This is one of the reasons that marijuana is not legal in all 50 states. Some states have legalized the plant and cannabinoid for recreational and medical purposes. But, not all, so make sure that you are aware of the laws in your state. The most important thing to take out of this is that CBD will not get you or other users ‘high’.
What is CBD cream?
CBD cream is just one of the many products that contain CBD. These creams come in a variety of different concentrations as well as types. There are creams for your face, or creams that are intended to soothe certain areas of your body. A CBD cream is a type of topical infused with CBD to help your skin health. Topically applied CBD usually will not reach the bloodstream unlike most other CBD products without specific formulation. How do we know that the CBD cream will actually work? In this study subjects with severe skin conditions applied CBD topicals to their affected areas twice daily for three months. They conducted three different tests: a hydration test, an elasticity test, and a TEWL (transdermal water loss). There was also a questionnaire taken. At the end of the study they concluded that CBD topical creams with no THC significantly improved the skin conditions of the subjects. There were no allergic reactions to the topical application. To support their conclusion, they used photographic evidence. This study, among many others, suggests that CBD topicals would be useful for those who do not have skin conditions as well. It may be potentially beneficial for daily use to improve one’s overall skin health. Here at Panacea Life Sciences, we carry topicals such as CBD Soothe Salve, Transform THC-Free CBD Face Cream, Transform CBD Natural Face Cream, and even hand sanitizer with CBD in it. What can these CBD topicals do for you?
Soothe CBD Salve: Ingredients found in this topical are: Shea butter, Coconut oil, Jojoba oil, Argan oil, CBD Hemp oil, Calendula, Arnica. Essential Oils: Lavender, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Camphor. This product is formulated to support joint health and increase flexibility. This is best used in a specific area to provide the most benefits.
CBD Hand Sanitizer: Yes, it is true. There is hand sanitizer that has CBD in it, but, why? CBD has been described to have antibacterial properties. Therefore, the CBD hand sanitizer was born. Instead of using a hand sanitizer with unknown chemicals, you can gear toward a more holistic way of cleaning.
Cleansing CBD Hand Creme: This is similar to the CBD hand sanitizer but, with an added creme aspect. Moisturize and clean at the same time without CBD hand cleansing creme. This leaves the hands sanitized and soft.
Transform THC-Free CBD Face Creme: This is the first type of CBD face cream that Panacea manufactured. This is specially formulated for your face to potentially help with anti-aging, soothing, age spot correcting, sun damage correcting, and overall skin health. This would be best used twice daily for full benefits. The ingredient list includes: Purified Water, Sorbitol Solution, CBD Hemp Oil, White Petrolatum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Propylene Glycol, Simethicone, Polyethylene Glycol Monostearate, Glycerol Monostearate, Sorbic Acid and BHT.
Transform Natural CBD Face Creme: If you prefer to get the full spectrum of the hemp plants cannabinoids. This product may be for you. This product is similar to the THC free face creme in what it may do for you and your skin health, but this has the full profile that you may be interested in. The ingredient list looks like this: Purified Water, Sorbitol Solution, CBD Hemp Oil, White Petrolatum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Propylene Glycol, Simethicone, Polyethylene Glycol Monostearate, Glycerol Monostearate, Sorbic Acid and BHT.
Each of the face creme’s comes in two different MG’s for different sizes.
What are essential oils?
It is likely that you have heard of or even experienced the smell of an essential oil. But what are they? They are compounds extracted from plants. This can be any plant, but generally essential oils compounds are chosen for the smell and properties of the plant. Much like the way a CBD tincture is created, the essential oil is added to a carrier oil to create the perfect product. How do they work? Most essential oils are used for their aromatherapy aspect. Here is a list of popular essential oils:
Bergamot: may reduce stress and improve skin conditions like eczema
Chamomile: may improve mood and relaxation
Jasmine: may help with feelings of sadness, childbirth, and libido
Lavender: may relieve stress
Lemon: may aid digestion, mood, headaches, and more
Peppermint: may boost energy and aid digestion
Rose: may improve mood and promote a sense of relaxation
Sandalwood: may calm nerves and help with focus
Tea Tree: may fight infections and boost immunity
Ylang-Ylang: may treat headaches, nausea, and skin conditions
Essential oils and CBD are similar in the way that they both need much more research before any claims are made. The best combos for CBD and essential oils are those that both promote a sense of calm as that is something that they both have in common. Both of these natural products are generally safe, so using them both together should not cause harm, however, make sure you watch how your skin is affected.
What are other uses of CBD?
Now that you know of the Skin health realm of use of CBD, what other ways are CBD products used? Let’s start with one that may be familiar to those who have used essential oils in the past:
Promote a sense of calm: Promoting a sense of calm in those who have feelings of anxiousness may be quite helpful to some. In this study, they used brain imaging to test subjects who have SAD (social anxiety disorder). Those who were given the CBD showed a decrease in their social anxiety disorder via brain scans. Those who did not receive the CBD did not have any decrease.
Antibacterial properties: There has been information coming to the forefront of the potential antibacterial properties of CBD. And this information may be true. In this study they concluded that CBD had the capability to kill certain types of bacteria.
Anti-inflammatory properties: CBD has been researched for the possibility of joint health benefits. Panacea Life Sciences has done our own research regarding this aspect. We looked at dogs who are older and have joint health issues. During this study, we asked pet owners to administer CBD to their dogs two times a day for four consecutive weeks. The owners were to take a weekly test to show if anything had improved. At the end of the four weeks pet owners described their dogs to be more mobile. Therefore, the CBD may have helped with their joint health!
FDA approved medications: There are several FDA approved medications that contain CBD. Epidiolex is the most well-known. This medication helps those with two severe types of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. There are also a handful of others that assist those going through anti-cancer treatments and the nausea it may cause. These are called Marinol (dronabinol), Syndros (dronabinol), and Cesamet (nabilone). These medications can only be prescribed by a healthcare professional.
These are just some of the ways that CBD has been used. It is important to speak with a health care provider before using CBD products.
Other CBD products
CBD uses? Check. Now, what product to choose? Other than CBD topicals, what is out there for you to choose from?
Tinctures: This type of CBD gets into the bloodstream quickly. When the dropper full of CBD is placed in the mouth it is absorbed into the bloodstream from there. A tincture is an oil like substance that is added to carrier oil. Some tinctures come flavored to mask the earthy hemp taste that some do not enjoy. Although tinctures give the CBD effects quite quickly, they have been described to last not as long as other products. These are similar to tablets in their bioavailability.
Softgels: A soft gel is a capsule that is full of CBD. Once the capsule is swallowed it goes through the digestive tract and then lands in the stomach. Once there the CBD is absorbed as the capsule is broken down. The CBD is absorbed by the stomach and enters the bloodstream from there.
Vapes: Panacea Life Sciences does not advocate the use of vapes, it is an option for CBD use. This way of using CBD has a high rate of absorption as it directly enters the bloodstream via inhalation. That being said it is important to note that the effects may be shorter lived and inhaling CBD may have negative health associations.
Tablets: A tablet is placed in the mouth and dissolves there. It enters the bloodstream from the mouth as the tincture does. You can add or subtract amounts of CBD with a dropper, but tablets are made with the same mg every time making it easier to know how much you are getting.
When choosing a CBD product, it is important to read the label to ensure that the ingredients are what you are looking for. If you live in a state where marijuana products are legal, be sure to see what percentage of CBD and THC are in it. This way you are getting the right product for you. When you begin using CBD be sure to start out with a small amount and then slowly increase the amount once you feel sure you need more.
A creative combo: CBD and essential oils
CBD and essential oils are both part of the holistic world and may be helpful if used together. They may be helpful when used alone. Either way, they could be helpful for you to gear yourself more toward the holistic health world. As always, feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns at [email protected].
