This time of social distancing, in order to slow the spread of coronavirus, has been tough for most of us to deal with. We have all encountered difficult situations reminding us that life isn’t how it normally is. Whether you are an essential worker overwhelmed by work or just a shopper who had to stop by multiple grocery stores just to find that each one was out of stock of basic essentials like toilet paper, paper towels, hand soap, hand sanitizer, and other cleaning products. Never before has hand sanitizer seemed so rare or so expensive!
Hand sanitizer is in high demand, but it’s still necessary to leave home and risk exposure for essential grocery shopping, work, or errands. But which hand sanitizer ingredients work? If you’re looking for tips on cleaning and natural products proven to work, try Cannabidiol (CBD)!
Here’s what makes CBD stand out among healing plants and a few ways CBD hand sanitizer will help you ward off germs.
What is CBD and Why Do People Love It?
You may generally know what hand sanitizer is made of, but what is CBD and why should it be added to the mix? The non-psychoactive CBD is just one of many different cannabinoids within the Cannabis sativa plant. THC is typically the more well-known cannabinoid due to its ability to produce a high feeling, but CBD is different in that it will not make you feel those psychoactive effects.
CBD has many health and wellness benefits that have encouraged a boom in CBD-related products in the last several years. CBD is wonderful for promoting a general feeling of calm. It will clear your anxious mind and allow you to enjoy the present moment. CBD is also an effective pain reliever and has anti-inflammatory effects. You can learn more about the bioavailability of CBD in various products in this article. CBD even kills bacteria. The benefits are seemingly endless.
Studies Prove That Marijuana is Antibacterial
It’s true — much of the Cannabis sativa plant is excellent for warding off germs, and science proves it. In one study, researchers looked at delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) for effects on staphylococci and streptococci growth. The study found that both compounds are actually antibacterial. The researchers wrote, “In the same range, both compounds are also bactericidal. In media containing 4% serum or 5% blood the antibacterial activity is strongly reduced (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (the concentration that a compound stops bacterial growth) MIC 50 mug/ml). Gram-negative bacteria are resistant to THC and CBD.”
Another study published in 2008 showed the antibacterial activity of different cannabinoids. The researchers wrote, “All five major cannabinoids (cannabidiol (1b), cannabichromene (2), cannabigerol (3b), Delta (9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (4b), and cannabinol (5)) showed potent activity against a variety of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains of current clinical relevance.” That means CBD is a great choice to use in sanitizer, but other cannabinoids hold promise, too.
In a 2019 study, researchers tested CBD against a wide variety of bacteria and some strains of staphylococcus. They compared how effective CBD was compared to common antibiotics, such as vancomycin and daptomycin. “We looked at how quickly the CBD killed the bacteria. It’s quite fast, within 3 hours, which is pretty good. Vancomycin (Vancocin) kills over 6 to 8 hours,” said Mark Blaskovich, PhD, senior research officer at the Centre for Superbug Solutions at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland in Australia. He also noted that while looking for CBD’s ability to kill bacteria, that “In every case, CBD had a very similar potency to that of common antibiotics.” The study is promising for the hope that CBD could fight some infections.
New Companies Produce CBD Hand Sanitizer
Within the scientific research community, marijuana has actually been known to contain antibacterial cannabinoids for quite a while. However, experts note that we have not yet investigated the Cannabis sativa plant’s full potential to address antibiotic resistance. We are excited to produce another high-quality CBD product in an effort to help prevent the spread of illnesses.
How to Make Your Own CBD Hand Sanitizer
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using 60% ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, and 70% isopropanol, as active ingredients in hand sanitizers. Now, as life has changed and items like hand sanitizer are not so easy to come by, try getting creative and make your own CBD sanitizer! You can make some just for your hands, or you can try making an all-purpose cleaner or other item, too. The list is practically endless of things you can make with CBD. Here is a recipe for basic DIY hand sanitizer from Is CBD for Me.com:
Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol 99%
- 1/3 cup aloe Vera gel
- 10 drops High-quality grade THC-free CBD oil or tincture
- 10 drops Tea Tree essential oil
Equipment:
- Bowl
- Measuring cup
- Wooden spoon
- Clean funnel
- Clean bottle with leak-proof top or screw top
Instructions:
- Using a measuring cup, add the 99% rubbing alcohol to a mixing bowl, followed by the aloe Vera gel.
- Stir well.
- Mix the CBD oil or tincture with the essential oil(s), stir until combined.
- Add the oil mixture to the alcohol and aloe Vera mixture and combine it.
- Pour into clean bottles and label. Keep out of reach of children.
These are tough times we are living in. We see some people panic buying all of the supplies and shelves are empty of basic items. Are you having trouble finding sanitizer? Consider going to a CBD company to find your stash if you can’t find any at the grocery store.
