The number of people turning to CBD for pain relief is growing each year, thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects on joints and stiffness and its direct effects on the endocannabinoid system in the brain – this helps to reduce pain perception. Just as the number of people turning to CBD is growing, so too is the number of brands and products focused on helping with your pain management.
As this week marks Rheumatoid Arthritis Week, we felt there was no better time to raise awareness of the annual event as well as the CBD products that can help you manage your everyday aches and pains.
Grass & Co. Ease CBD Muscle Balm, £39.50
If you’re looking for an entry point into CBD pain management, Grass & Co.’s CBD Muscle Balm is a great place to start. As a natural alternative to painkillers, topical CBD products, like this, are absorbed through the skin into your system (transdermally), but do not enter the bloodstream. Their restorative results can therefore be felt instantly.
Whether you’re suffering from stiff shoulders or need a post-workout pick-me-up, this balm can be an effective treatment. Apply liberally and gently massage into the affected areas until completely absorbed to ease muscles and joints first thing in the morning and post-exercise to help you move more freely. As well as enjoying the therapeutic benefits of its CBD and botanical ingredients, its rich texture also nourishes your skin while its uplifting aromatic scent can help boost your mood.
Apothem Unplug Bath Salts, £65/250g
Apothem launched in October 2019 as the next big thing with a collection of premium CBD and botanical formulas that aimed to set a new standard. They can be a little on the pricey side but that’s because each product in the Apothem range contains up to 8000mg of CBD isolate and is blended with a range of botanicals and actives that have been carefully chosen for the way in which they synergise with the CBD and unlock its full potential. Each product has also been designed to work with your lifestyle to help better your skin, body and mind every day, so there’s no surprise that it covers pain relief.
Its Unplug pure CBD bath salts help to soothe aching muscles and induce a feeling of deep calm and relaxation. They are also enriched with magnesium and arnica, which reduces swelling and bruising.
Ohne Holy Cramp, £27/10ml
Fed up of periods being painful when they don’t need to be, friends Leah and Nikki founded their trailblazing brand, Ohne, and its daily CBD supplement and the UK’s first pro-period CBD oil, Holy Cramp. No stranger to hormonal imbalances herself, the inspiration for the range was deeply personal to co-founder Nikki. She says: “After being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, my hormones went berserk. I was in my mid-twenties and suddenly had the skin problems of a very unlucky teenager, didn’t get a period for a year, and had unpredictable mood swings. CBD was a total game-changer for me. I started taking it daily and within a couple of months, my periods returned, my mood stabilised, and – best of all – my hormonal acne completely vanished. This seemed like the industry’s best-kept secret, so I just knew I had to share it with our community.”
Ohne’s Holy Cramp is a broad-spectrum 1% CBD oil infused with hemp seed extract, lemongrass and lavender essential oils (that have plenty of benefits themselves) and is designed specifically for those times when you need some extra help to fight period pain in a natural, chemical-free way. Simply rub a few drops onto your temples, belly or lower back in your hour (or three days) of need, or pop a few drops in a bath to help you relax.
Hugg Gym Fit Body Cream, £22.99/100ml
Hugg Gym Fit Cream is another fan favourite and award finalist, thanks to its blend of soothing shea butter, cocoa butter, aloe vera, eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils that’s infused with 100 mg of high-grade CBD. Like Natural Health, which has shortlisted it for the magazine’s 2020 Natural Health Beauty Awards, we like to layer this on tired muscles after a challenging workout or tired feet after a long day. It not only soothes aches and pains but helps to hydrate and moisturise your skin, making it a great addition to your workout and everyday routine.
Hugg is backed by cannabis research firm CiiTECH and offers a full range of science-backed self-care products infused with CBD and all-natural botanical ingredients, which are celebrated for their impressive results.
Cannaray Muscle Balm, £40/60ml
If you can’t book yourself in for a massage to soothe achy muscles, Cannaray’s Muscle Balm and its blend of aloe, arnica, shea butter, eucalyptus, limonene and linalool is the next best thing. It’s no coincidence that Cannaray’s range of CBD products is market-leading, its balm is known to stay on and work even during high-activity sports. For every one-third of a teaspoon, it contains 8mg of Cannaray’s Gold Standard, potent CBD, too.
Apply its lightweight and nourishing formula liberally to your area of concern as needed and it will not only cool and calm your skin but help ease tension. For best results, warm it between your fingertips and work into tight muscles to release knots, whether that’s from your neck, feet, shoulders or back. It also helps to warm up your muscles pre-workout.
