One of the most common reasons why people use cannabis is to help alleviate pain. Whether it’s arthritis, sore muscles, or sports injuries, the cannabinoids in the medicinal plant bind with receptors in your body to reduce inflammation and dampen pain, enabling you to find relief. While you can smoke, vape, or enjoy an edible, these methods often come with the well-known cannabis high. If you’re wary about feeling the psychoactive effects (or you don’t want to feel them at all), there’s another solution: a cannabis salve.
Topical Pain Relief
A cannabis salve is a cannabis-infused topical product. In general, it contains cannabis, an oil, beeswax, and other herbal ingredients that provide additional pain relief. It’s not all that different from other topicals, such as lotions, ointments, creams, and balms. All of these products get applied to the skin, and the cannabinoids absorb in. The most noticeable difference between these products is their thickness. Lotions, ointments, and creams tend to be the softest, while balms are the most solid. Salves lie in the middle.
Benefits of Using a Cannabis Salve
One of the biggest benefits of using a cannabis salve is that there’s no risk of getting high, no matter what the THC content in the product. The cannabinoids do absorb into your skin, but they don’t penetrate deep enough to reach your bloodstream. Instead, they find CB receptors near the site of application and bind with those, providing localized relief without psychoactive effects. If you’re unsure about putting THC into your system (or even small amounts of inhaled or ingested
THC produce an uncomfortable high), this may be a great option for you.
Other benefits of using a cannabis salve include:
- You can reapply the topical as often as you need
- It provides fast pain relief
- Along with reducing pain, it can also help to reduce inflammation
- It’s portable
- It’s discreet (there’s no smoke or distinct cannabis odor)
- If you have the right ingredients, you can easily make a topical at home
How to Use a Cannabis Salve
Using a cannabis salve is easy. Before you apply it, however, you should first cleanse the area to remove dirt, oil, and dead skin cells, a process that will allow for maximum absorption. Once clean, dry the area thoroughly.
When you’re ready, apply a generous amount of the salve to the target area. Gently but thoroughly massage it to help it penetrate deeper. If necessary, you can add a second, or even third, coat. Allow it to sit for a few minutes before you cover the area. You can also bandage the area if you need to. Don’t forget to wash your hands afterward. Some salves contain ingredients that could irritate your eyes, nose, or mouth, so you want to make sure you’ve gotten them off your hands before you touch your face.
Get the Relief You Need
If you’re interested in the pain-relieving properties of cannabis but don’t want the high that often comes with inhaled or ingested options, a salve provides an excellent alternative. You get fast, effective relief without having to worry about any psychoactive effects, no matter what the THC content of the topical. It’s a win-win situation.