What Makes Up The Best Pain Cream?

CBD creams are offered in a full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate. CBD creams' quality depends on the hemp's purity, extraction method, other elements, and the lab results.

CBD creams are manufactured from either organic hemp plant or cannabis sativa. Creams are gaining popularity due to their potential health benefits for the skin and the entire body. Unlike lotions, CBD creams have a higher percentage of essential oils than water, making them thicker. There are three types of CBD creams, full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate. Besides the hemp plant, various brands use unique ingredients to improve the effectiveness of CBD creams. It is important to understand what CBD creams entail and how to determine the best products in the market.

What Is CBD?

It is important to know the meaning of CBD before understanding what makes up the best CBD cream. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a major chemical compound of the hemp plant or cannabis sativa. Besides, the hemp plant also has other elements such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), flavonoid, and terpenes. Each of these elements is used to determine the three types of CBD as follows;

Full-Spectrum

Full-spectrum CBD creams are manufactured using all the elements of the hemp plant; flavonoids, THC, CBD, and terpenes. It is advantaged to offer entourage effect due to multiple elements found in full-spectrum. The entourage effect is the ability of multiple ingredients or chemical compounds to work together to provide more therapeutic benefits than a single element. However, the effectiveness of full-spectrum CBD is still at crossroads due to THC, the second most dominant element of the hemp plant.

The 2018 Farm Bill restricted all THC levels in all CBD products to below 0.3%. Any CBD product, including topicals with THC levels exceeding 0.3%, is illegal within the US. This is because THC has intoxicating side effects, especially in high potencies. According to Breijyeh et al.(2021),  THC has intoxicating side effects, which can easily result in dizziness and anxiety, among other psychoactive side effects. There are contradicting ideas regarding the effectiveness of THC in full-spectrum CBD cream. According to Perez et al.(2022), THC has anti-inflammatory effects suitable for regulating skin inflammation. The study above noted that this property could work to reduce wrinkles and lines on your skin. It is also significant to work against inflammatory skin diseases.

Broad- Spectrum

Broad-spectrum CBD creams have similarities with the full spectrum. They both deliver an entourage effect, which improves your general body's health rather than for the skin only. Unlike the full spectrum, it has all the elements from the hemp plant except tetrahydrocannabinol. It makes it a suitable alternative for the entourage effect. It means it can offer more than skin benefits. According to Komarnytsky et al.(2021),  full-spectrum CBD can help reduce internal and external pain. The absence of THC in broad-spectrum CBD cream should not be a reason for taking high potency levels. Manini et al.(2015) revealed that too much CBD has potential side effects such as anxiety, dizziness, or diarrhea. Therefore, use considerable potency levels to avoid any possible side effects.

Isolate

Isolate CBD creams are unique from other types of hemp-based creams. They are limited to CBD health benefits only since it is the only element found in them. Therefore, they are limited by the entourage effect. According to Casares et al. (2020), CBD has an antioxidant effect, which can protect your skin against UV rays and free radicals. It should also be at considerable potency levels to avoid potential negative effects.

What Does The Best CBD Cream Comprise?

The best CBD creams comprise the following key things;

Organic Hemp Plant

The cream must be manufactured from an organic hemp plant or cannabis sativa if you are looking for the best CBD cream. Ensure the brand you are buying from has provided adequate information regarding their farming practices. Most of the best CBD manufacturers obtain their hemp from Colorado, Kentucky, or Oregon. These areas are widely known for soil fertility, encouraging sustainable growth of organic hemp plants without using artificial plant boosters such as chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Consider brands with agricultural experts to oversee the cultivation process from the seed levels to harvesting. Learn more about cbd serum and acne

Extraction Method

There are various methods of obtaining hemp plant extracts, although not all are safe. Some methods involve a lot of chemicals, which expose the crude oil from the hemp plant to contamination. The mainly used methods are CO2 and ethanol. Ethanol is suitable for large-scale production, and it is equally cheap. However, it is likely to contaminate the end products and the environment. The majority of hemp-based manufacturers use CO2 since it is effective and clean. CO2 is clean and effective, minimizing contamination of the end products and the environment. Therefore, the best CBD cream comprises CO2 hemp plant extracts.

Other Elements

CBD is blended with multiple elements to improve its effectiveness. The elements are useful in determining the best CBD creams. Avoid CBD creams with artificial elements since they are likely to contaminate your product and result in skin irritation or burns. Consider elements such as MCT or coconut oil since they are organic and improve the performance of CBD topicals and edibles. MCT oil contains bioavailability properties suitable for improving the rate of absorption. Therefore, the best CBD creams or topicals comprise organic ingredients.

Lab Results

This is one of the essential requirements of CBD creams. It is a mandatory requirement useful for determining the potency and purity levels of CBD products. Confirm that an independent, IOS-certified lab assesses your cream for potency and purity levels. Most brands prefer independent certified labs since public ones are prone to mistakes due to traffic. Don't rely on the posted purity and potency levels since some brands give false information making you overdose or use contaminants unknowingly. Learn more about does cbd moisturizer work for psoriasis?

Conclusion

CBD creams are suitable for keeping your skin moisturized by preventing water loss. They are of high density covering the pores and allowing maximum absorption of active ingredients in your skin such as terpenes, CBD, THC, and flavonoids. However, they must be of high quality to deliver the intended function. Full-spectrum and broad-spectrum are advantageous since they offer more than skin benefits due to their entourage effect. Confirm it is manufactured with organic ingredients, has CO2 hemp plant extracts, and is assessed for potency and purity levels before buying any CBD cream. Avoid extremely cheap CBD creams without lab results since they are likely of poor quality.

References

Breijyeh, Z., Jubeh, B., Bufo, S. A., Karaman, R., & Scrano, L. (2021). Cannabis: A Toxin-Producing Plant With Potential Therapeutic Uses. Toxins, 13(2), 117.

Casares, L., García, V., Garrido-Rodríguez, M., Millán, E., Collado, J. A., García-Martín, A., ... & Muñoz, E. (2020). Cannabidiol Induces Antioxidant Pathways In Keratinocytes By Targeting BACH1. Redox Biology, 28, 101321.

Komarnytsky, S., Rathinasabapathy, T., Wagner, C., Metzger, B., Carlisle, C., Panda, C., ... & Varadharaj, S. (2021). Endocannabinoid System And Its Regulation By Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids And Full-Spectrum Hemp Oils. International Journal Of Molecular Sciences, 22(11), 5479.

Manini, A. F., Yiannoulos, G., Bergamaschi, M. M., Hernandez, S., Olmedo, R., Barnes, A. J., ... & Hurd, Y. L. (2015). Safety And Pharmacokinetics Of Oral Cannabidiol When Administered Concomitantly With Intravenous Fentanyl In Humans. Journal Of Addiction Medicine, 9(3), 204.

Perez, E., Fernandez, J. R., Fitzgerald, C., Rouzard, K., Tamura, M., & Savile, C. (2022). In Vitro And Clinical Evaluation Of Cannabigerol (CBG) Produced Via Yeast Biosynthesis: A Cannabinoid With A Broad Range Of Anti-Inflammatory And Skin Health-Boosting Properties. Molecules, 27(2), 491.

What ingredients should I look for in the best pain cream?

Look for active ingredients like menthol, capsaicin, lidocaine, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for effective pain relief.

How does menthol in pain creams work?

Menthol provides a cooling sensation that can help distract from pain and reduce discomfort by stimulating cold receptors in the skin.

Is capsaicin effective in pain relief creams?

Yes, capsaicin can reduce pain by desensitising nerve endings and decreasing the amount of substance P, a chemical that transmits pain signals to the brain.

Can pain creams with lidocaine be used for all types of pain?

Lidocaine is effective for numbing localised pain, such as nerve pain, but may not be suitable for deep or systemic pain.

Are natural ingredients in pain creams effective?

Natural ingredients like arnica, camphor, and essential oils can provide relief for mild to moderate pain and are preferred by those seeking natural remedies.

How often can I apply pain cream?

Follow the instructions on the product label, but generally, pain creams can be applied 3-4 times daily.

Are there any side effects of using pain creams?

Side effects are rare but can include skin irritation, redness, or allergic reactions. Discontinue use if these occur and consult a doctor.

Can I use pain cream with other medications?

Consult your doctor before using pain creams with other medications to avoid potential interactions, especially with oral pain relievers or blood thinners.

Do pain creams work immediately?

Some pain creams provide immediate relief, while others, like those containing capsaicin, may take a few days to reach full effectiveness.

Are prescription pain creams better than over-the-counter ones?

Prescription pain creams may contain stronger or specialised ingredients for severe pain, but many over-the-counter options are effective for mild to moderate pain.