Does CBD Lotion Relax You?

What is CBD lotion?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the many compounds found in marijuana or hemp plants. After numerous research studies, the benefits of CBD are becoming increasingly apparent. 

For this reason, CBD is now incorporated into many supplements and cosmetic products. 

While most CBD products are consumed orally, that's not the only way to enjoy the benefits of this compound. Nowadays, CBD is increasingly finding its way into topical formulations such as lotions and creams.

A CBD lotion is essentially a topical formulation (water + oils + emulsifier + preservative) containing CBD extract in addition to the usual ingredients like vitamins, essential oils, and herbal extracts.

CBD lotions are typically applied to the skin, where their effects can be wide-ranging. 

For example, our Relief Cream is an excellent solution to aches and pains. It combines premium hemp CBD with soothing botanicals and clinically proven ingredients designed to deliver effective relief from sore muscles and let you get back to peak performance. 

  

How does CBD lotion work?

Applying CBD lotion to the skin is hugely beneficial to the skin surface and the layers beneath. CBD penetrates the dermal and subdermal layers and binds with skin receptor cells, nerves, and muscle tissues that make up the endocannabinoid system (ECS). 

The endocannabinoid system performs various critical bodily functions, including regulating pleasure sensations, pain, mood, and appetite.

Being a phytocannabinoid, CBD readily interacts with the ECS receptors (CB1 and CB2) and enzymes in the skin that modulate inflammations and pain.

Perhaps this explains why most people use CBD lotions and creams to manage inflammation, chronic pain, and other skin conditions. 

Even though CBD can penetrate the skin, it does not go deep enough to get into your bloodstream. This makes it entirely safe to use CBD lotions on the skin.

Unlike other OTC lotions and creams, CBD lotions do not mask pain or inflammations. Instead, they gradually help soothe bodily pain, offering a natural, non-habit-forming, irritation-free skin relief solution. 

Unlike THC, which binds itself to the ECS, causing exaggerated sensations and responses, CBD works by encouraging the body to manufacture its own endocannabinoids. 

These compounds are responsible for creating and maintaining cell-to-cell communication. They relay information between the stimuli and the ECS, causing the latter to promote physiological and behavioral responses to help the body adapt to the stimuli.

 

Does CBD lotion make you relax? 

In short, CBD lotion may make you relax. These topicals are packed with wholesome ingredients that help reduce pain and soothe inflammations, leaving you relaxed. In addition to allowing the body to adjust to stimuli, they also help reduce stress and anxiety.

Stress is a known agent of anxiety and restlessness. In present times, stress is at an all-time high. Recent events like the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe, and daily life stressors like emotional problems, financial obligations, and uncertainties have undoubtedly raised stress levels. 

CBD's exact mode of action against stress is still under research.

However, medical experts think it activates serotonin receptors responsible for relieving stress and anxiety. Since CBD binds with the endocannabinoid system, it may have a role in helping the ECS regulate the immune system, preparing the body to adapt to stress.

One of the well-known functions of the ECS is to maintain homeostasis. If the body is not functioning optimally, the ECS steps in to restore normalcy. 

Stress destabilizes homeostasis by sometimes promoting the overproduction of the stress hormone cortisol. When this happens, the ECS releases chemical hormones to help the system revert to its optimal state. 

Due to its interaction with the ECS, we can anticipate how CBD promotes relaxation by assisting the ECS in facilitating the production of anti-stress hormones.

 

Does CBD lotion relax muscles? 

Yes. Research on CBD has yielded promising results on the ability of this chemical compound to relax muscles. 

Muscle contractions and expansions are controlled by chemical messengers in the central nervous system (CNS). Endocannabinoids, neurotransmitters produced by the ECS, play an integral role in regulating the secretion of these chemical messengers. 

Without endocannabinoids, the supply of these chemicals would continue non-stop, causing continuous muscle contractions. This condition is referred to as Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (CECD).

CBD engages with hormones and enzymes in the ECS, changing how the cannabinoid receptors function. This is accompanied by the production of 2-AG and anandamide neurotransmitters which cause the muscles to relax.

CBD intake boosts the body's supply of endocannabinoids responsible for slowing down the production of these neurotransmitters. 

Further, studies on the relaxing effects of CBD in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) show that, in combination with THC, CBD offers relief from MS symptoms such as spasms and tremors and normalizing muscle fibers.

Other studies have shown that CBD reduces muscle spasticity in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

These studies further explain that CBD functions at the cellular level to lessen muscle tension. If the tension is caused by stress, CBD eases the physical discomfort by encouraging the production of serotonin to reduce anxiety.

 

Final thoughts

If you're experiencing muscle discomforts and want to try a natural, tried-and-tested product, CBD lotions like our Relief Cream are the way to go. It's best to start with lower doses to assess your response. 

Additional reading:

• Where to Put CBD Cream for Anxiety
• Does CBD Oil Calm You Down?
• CBD for Anxiety in Teens