Tag Archives: skin

OM Cannabis Infused Epsom Salts – Lavender and Arnica Pain Relief Review

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OM’s Cannabis infused Epsom salts are infused with 25mg each of both THC and CBD in the 6.5 ounce package. The focus is on soothing aches and relaxation. Lavender helps calm the nervous system as well as aid in sleep and relaxation. Arnica aids in pain relief. Both arnica and lavender work synergistic with cannabis.

They also have products based on CBD in other formulations including fragrance free, lemon ginger, rose geranium, and an “athletic” formula.

Product

All of the ingredients are naturally occurring and contain moisturizing oils including apricot kernel, avocado, jojoba, and argan oil. The arnica product also contains lavender, camphor, and rosemary. The lavender contains vitamin E and aloe vera. This product is vegan friendly with no animal products or by-products like gelatin.

Dosing

OM recommends using the entire bag for the maximum effect. As with all edibles, tinctures, patches, creams, balms, and bath products, it is best to start with a small amount. Consider trying a quarter of a bag just to see if you notice any effect and to make sure you don’t have an adverse reaction, since some folks have sensitive skin. Like all topicals, since it is absorbed through the skin and not into the bloodstream, it doesn’t produce the psychoactive effects typically associated with THC.

We found very mild effects with a partial bag and the effects were more noticeable with a full bag.

Effects

We tried the lavender purely for relaxation with no expectation of pain relief. It was a pleasant fragrance and the oils provided a lot of mosturizing with the vitamin E and aloe vera. Very relaxing and set us up of a good nights sleep.

The arnica did have a more pronounced impact on sore muscles and aches. The full bag really provided an impact in relieving soreness and pain. The orange, lavender and rosemary oils gave it a pleasant sent without being too medicinal. We found it less effective treating joint pain or anything deeper than surface muscle and nerve pain. It’s hard for a topical to penetrate deep into joints from the skin even with a long soak.

OM’s line of epsom salts is a good choice to try if you are looking for a topical rich in natural oils that can address muscle or nerve pain. While it does not work on all types of pain and does come with the greasiness, I found it effective for treating minor aches and pains.

Flavor: n/a

Strength: 5/10

Website: https://www.om-wellness.com/

Dixie Synergy CBD:THC Balm Review

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Dixie’s Synergy Relief Balm is infused with 50mg each of THC and CBD in the 1.7 ounce package. Its focus is on easing deep muscle aches, joint pain, and inflammation. Dixie says is is ideal for joint mobility, muscle relaxation, easing acute muscle and nerve pain.

Dosing

Since it is a balm and not divided into doses, it can be difficult to get the dose right. For example, if my usual dose is 10mg and the package contains 50mg, does that mean I need to use one fifth of the product? It has the consistency of a balm and is in a container you cannot see through, so trying to get the dose right could be a challenge. As with all edibles, tinctures, patches, creams and balms, it is best to start with a small amount.

Try a little on your skin just to see if you notice any effect and to make sure you don’t have an adverse reaction, since some folks have sensitive skin. Like all topicals, since it is absorbed through the skin and not into the bloodstream, it doesn’t produce the psychoactive effects typically associated with THC.

Dixie Balm Synergy ReliefProduct

This product is vegetarian friendly and it contains beeswax, so it may not be suitable for vegans that don’t consume honey or other animal products. It is based in infused olive oil, with other oils such as cocoa butter and castor seed oil. Along with the THC and CBD oil are various essential oils including rosemary, lavender, cedar wood, and pine. The smell is nice and mild, with the fragrances of the lavender, and other oils without any of the camphor or other strong smells in other topicals and transdermals.

While the oils make for good moisturizing, they leave the skin greasy initially. The greasy film gets absorbed eventually but it does linger for quite a while. Don’t put on any delicate fabric like silk on over this balm unless you want grease stains on your clothes. Expect to leave greasy hand prints around too, so be sure to wash your hands after you use the balm.

Effects

I tried the balm on a variety of muscle and nerve pain points. I found it to be effective when used on specific types of pain, such as nerve pain in my feet and muscle pain in my leg. I found it less effective treating joint pain or anything deeper than surface muscle and nerve pain. It’s hard for a topical to penetrate deep into joints from the skin and I didn’t find it effective for that type of pain. While I wasn’t able to dispense the product in any type of consistent dose, I found that using a generous amount was needed to get the desired effects. Just using a little produced no effects for me.

The product can get hard in cold weather, but I found it quite pliable at normal room temperature. I found that 2 or 3 pea-sized portions dug out by my finger was the amount I needed to cover the back of my hand or the top of my foot.

The Synergy Relief balm is a good choice to try if you are looking for a topical rich in natural oils that can address muscle or nerve pain. While it does not work on all types of pain and does come with the greasiness, I found it effective for treating minor aches and pains.

Currently available in California, Nevada, Colorado, Michigan, and Maryland.

Flavor: n/a

Strength: 4/10

Website: http://dixieelixirs.com/product/synergy-relief-balm/

Transdermal Patches: An Introduction

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I first learned about transdermal patches from a good friend in Colorado whose son uses the CBD patches for pain management. For their privacy, we’ll call them Brenda and Will. Brenda had the patches recommended by a doctor for Will’s pain related to cerebral palsy. They are easy to apply and have much less side effects than opioids (and most other pain pills). The transdermal’s effects last up to 12 hours, so you don’t have to remember every 4 or 6 hours to administer another dose – or wake up to take them in the middle of the night. While other medications are necessary for his complete pain management, the CBD patches provide a more reliable and consistent foundation of pain relief than Will has ever had.

Brenda then shared that she had used them for pain as well, including after she had knee surgery. When she went in for her 3 month checkup after the surgery, her doctor was surprised to see that the knee had healed as well as if it had been 6 months. He asked her what she had done to accelerate her healing and she shared how the CBD patches had helped manage the pain and must had had an impact on the healing.

She wears the transdermal patches herself as needed for pain relief and other effects.

The transdermal patch is something like a nicotine patch, if you’ve ever seen one of those. It has an outer layer that often looks like a type of bandage fabric, a layer of medication in a medium designed to dispense consistently while worn, then a layer of adhesive to make sure it sticks to your skin.

Patches come in either single formula or a mix. They can comes as THC-Sativa, THC-Indica, THCa, CBD or CBN. There are slao patches with rations, such as CBD/THC 1:1.

To apply them, you find an area of your skin that is venous like the inside of your wrist or ankle. You can apply them close to a point of pain like a knee or hip as well, just try to make sure the area is free of oil, hair or scars. Use isopropyl alcohol to clean the area before applying the patch. Apply it firmly and evenly to ensure it adheres well to your skin. We like to use rubbing alcohol not only to clean the area but that it helps to remove the adhesive once you remove the patch.

Usually patches provide an even, long lasting effect as they release over time. As with edibles, the effects can be impacted by what you eat. If you feel the effects are too strong, try eating something to see if that reduces the effect. The effects can be boosted by using transdermal gels, edibles or smoking flowers. Always get to know your reactions to individual products first before combining them.

A favorite is Mary’s CBN patch, used to help you get to sleep and stay asleep. My local dispensaries often sell out of them within days whenever they get them in.

Read the Review: Mary’s CBN Transdermal Patch.

Transdermal CBD Gel Trampled My Pain

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A good friend was sharing her positive experiences with transdermal patches, and she whipped out the Mary’s Medicinals transdermal gel pens that she uses to boost the effects of the patches. The lotion-like gel is what gave me my initial first-hand experience with a transdermal CBD application.

Besides the pens, Mary’s Medicinals also makes transdermal patches in several formulas – THC Sativa, THC Indica, CBD, and more. Mary’s makes transdermal gel pens in similar formulas. Each pen dispenses a measured amount of medicated gel, that is similar in consistency to a skin lotion.

Mary's Medicinals Transdermal Gel Pens

I was experiencing severe pain in my left wrist, unable to support any weight with it in several different positions.  Traditional pain relievers (advil, aspirin, tylenol) didn’t make much of a dent in the pain. I tried ingesting THC and CBD tinctures which provided some general relief but didn’t target the pain. It had gone on for weeks and I was about to make an appointment with my doctor to see if it was arthritis or something more serious.

My friend suggested I try the transdermal lotion. I rubbed a nickel-sized portion of the CDB lotion on my wrist and within an hour the pain was completely gone. I have had no sign of the pain since then and it has been over 6 months. From that point on, I have been an advocate for transdermal CBD application. Whether as a topical gel or in transdermal patches, it works especially well for pain that is specific to one area.

My pain was likely from inflammation, which CBD can be great at reducing. I have also used the CBD gel rubbed on my temples to reduce headache pain or on the back of my neck at the base of the skull when I feel tension built up there. The great thing about the pen is that it dispenses small portions so it easier to control how much you use.

For general aches and pains, edibles and tinctures are fantastic. For pain in specific areas, transdermal gels and patches provide more targeted relief.

Read more about Mary’s Transdermal Pens and patches, including one of our favorites for sleep, Mary’s CBN transdermal patch.

Papa & Barkley’s THC and CBD Cannabis Transdermal Patches Review

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I have not had great experiences with Papa & Barkley’s transdermal patches – see my review of them here. As I always want to give products the benefit of the doubt, I tried a 3:1 formulation with 21mg of THC and 7.76mg of CBD. I document the effects I experienced throughout a day in this post.

Morning

Papa & Barkley Transdermal THC CBD Patch showing discoloration and seepage
Papa & Barkley Patch showing discoloration and seepage

9:10 am – After a shower, applied alcohol to the inside wrist to clean it. Opened the Papa & Barkley patch container. I noticed discoloration and “seeping” of the ingredients from inside the patch to the patch surface, which shows up as discolored brown areas. I tried wiping off the sticky area but they just pill and clump, the stickiness won’t wipe off. I noticed the strong smell of camphor that is usual with this brand of transdermal patch. I set a timer to help document effects.

9:25am – I begin to feel some irritation on my skin, partly the menthol and camphor but also an uncomfortable slight stinging sensation.

9:50am – I feel some impacts of the THC in my sinuses and somewhat in my body. I feel very little pain relief. The stinging sensation where the patch is on my skin continues, a little more irritating but not so painful that I want to remove it.

10:05am – I’m feeling more of the THC effect, stronger “high” feeling in my muscles, slightly spacey head. Very mild pain relief, as if I took a dose of ibuprofen.

10:50am – Effect has plateaued, been steady for about the last 30 minutes. From the effects I’m experiencing I think the THC in this batch might be a Sativa-dominant hybrid, as I feel the head-focused effects more than any body effects. The heady effects include heightened senses, especially sight and smell, some calming, anti-anxiety effects and a mild sense of well being. There were also some mild relaxing body effects.

Afternoon

12:20pm – Effects stayed pretty consistent over the last two hours. Went for a nice long walk with the dog and didn’t feel too tired or lethargic, energy stayed pretty steady. Consistent irritating feeling where the patch is.

1:21pm – After lunch, the effects decreased noticeably. Instead of a tired, nap-oriented feeling it is more like a fading of the effects. Still experienced some relaxing effects and ability to concentrate is still good but the energy and head effects have diminished. Stinging on skin at patch site remains as does very strong unpleasant smell of menthol and camphor.

2:00pm – With the effects almost gone and the stinging on the skin continuing, I removed the patch and cleaned the area with alcohol. Left a pink/red patch on my skin from the irritation.

Conclusion

While the patches are effective, the drawbacks of the leaky patch plus the irritation to my nose and my skin turns me off from these patches. I have friends who are less sensitive to the smell and the skin irritation that use them to manage pain and inflammation, so I know some folks don’t experience the same downsides as I do.

My preference is still for Mary’s Medicinals patches