While things like CBD oils used to be the standard product available in most places, nowadays, the honor of most popular item goes to CBD topicals.
Available pretty much all over the place in different forms, CBD topicals are popular for their effectiveness and the myriad of ways they can be used.
However, CBD topicals are so different from most other types of CBD products that a lot of people start to wonder how they work.
Just how do CBD topicals work inside the body?
What Are CBD Topicals?
CBD topicals are a super broad term, and that specific classification can apply to all manner of products.
Ultimately, however, CBD topicals refer to any kind of product that is applied directly to your skin rather than imbibed orally.
They are usually made from CBD oils blended with substances that can be easily rubbed onto the skin.
This can be Shea butter, coconut oil, or anything that moisturizes the skin and is absorbed through its layers.
Absorption through the skin is the fundamental base of CBD topicals. By rubbing them on the skin, users can absorb the CBD.
But how does it actually work?
How Do CBD Topicals Work?
CBD is a cannabinoid, and all cannabinoids work in the same base way; they interact with and affect the endocannabinoid system.
The endocannabinoid system, or ECS, exists in all mammals, including humans, and handles a myriad of different bodily functions.
Among these functions are things like controlling the inflammation response and assisting the immune system.
Unfortunately, science is yet to demonstrate the precise mechanisms behind how CBD works when applied topically.
There are two primary schools of thought. The first is that CBD topicals act just like other types of CBD; they are absorbed into the body, broken down, and carried across the entire ECS. This would make topicals pretty much the same as other types of CBD, and any localized effects psychosomatic.
The other school of thought believes that CBD topicals directly interact with the ECS in the skin, mainly because CB2 receptors are found in large quantities in the skin.
This is how, proponents say, CBD can have such a noticeable effect in the one place where the topicals were applied.
It is absorbed through simple osmotic action; the topical is rubbed onto and absorbed through the skin via a process known as an osmotic transfer. This is basically a diffusion of water across the permeable membrane of the skin. Water, and other substances, want to move through a differently pressurized solution, such as the bloodstream.
This is why CBD topicals seem to almost disappear after applying; they are absorbed directly into the body!
While we are all still waiting on the entire scientific community to reach a consensus, there are plenty of people out there still seeing the significant benefits of imbibing CBD. So, what are these benefits?
Why Do People Want to Take CBD Topicals?
One of the main reasons people take CBD is for conditions relating to inflammation, which the ECS directly governs. While inflammation is generally a good thing, it can sometimes go bad and cause problems.
In cases such as arthritis or a muscle injury, inflammation can actually get in the way and obstruct everyday life.
By taking CBD topicals, users hope to help reduce the inflammation and make their days easier.
Another big reason to use CBD topicals is to aid in targeted wound healing, whether as a result of a specific injury or a long-term problem. Again, the science is still being worked out, but it would appear that CBD has the potential to help reduce the time it takes to heal from injuries, incredibly muscular ones.
This is why so many people tend to apply CBD topicals after a particularly strenuous workout – it helps them to recover and get ready for another intense workout session.
Final Thoughts: How CBD Topicals Work in Our Body
Unlike many other supplements, CBD is still actively being researched at the moment. This is why there is still so much confusion surrounding its specific effects and how it all works.
Thankfully, regardless of the actual scientific consensus, there are still plenty of people enjoying its benefits right now. So, there is no real harm in giving it a try and seeing for ourselves whether or not CBD topicals could help us heal and feel better.
