Pulse June 2019 | Page 46

SafeTY firST! By kelly stoll SOURCInG TOPICAL CBD PRODUCTS With the advent of a Booming cBd industry, everybody—from consumers to suppliers to vendors—seems to want in on the magic. There is good reason to be excited—with drug prices soaring and limited (or unsafe) alternatives to pharmaceutical medications, CBD, or cannabidiol, is a welcome addition to the wellness industry. Sourced correctly, CBD is safe, non-addictive, non-psychoactive and non-toxic. CBD should be celebrated as a natural alternative to treat pain and inflammation, and research on its applications should be ongoing. Spa directors, therapists and clients all have something powerful to gain from using cBD, but it’s increasingly important that you are educated and thorough when choosing the right line of cBD products for your spa. in the absence of a mature regulatory body to manage the hemp industry, it is up to you to source clean and effective cBD products for your customers. here are some things to consider when choosing a topical cBD product for your spa. know the benefits. To start, it’s important to know how topically applied cBD works so you can choose a product with maximum effec- tiveness. in effect, cBD is nature’s version of advil, with anti-inflam- matory and analgesic properties that reduce pain. The overly simplified explanation goes like this: cBD inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory molecules that are present in chronic and acute inflammatory processes in 44 PULSE ■ jUnE 2019 “One thing to remember is that 1000mg of pure hemp oil is not the same thing as 1000mg of CBD. There can be a mere fraction of CBD in the hemp oil— unless the CBD dosage is specified on the label, you cannot project the efficacy of the product.” the body. cBD can benefit conditions such as arthritis, muscle and joint pain, skin irritation and neuropathic pain. While much of the published research has been done on rats rather than humans, there is mounting anecdotal evidence from the many people benefiting from its use. There is also anecdotal evidence that cBD, taken orally, has anti-anxiety effects, although more research is needed. in short, cBD works. choose products that label cBd in milligrams. researchers have yet to determine the exact milligram dosage that the average person needs to trigger the anti-inflammatory benefits of cBD. most likely, it’s different for each individual. however, studies suggest that there is a dosage threshold that must be met to stimulate the endocannabinoid system and reduce inflammation. Look for companies that label the number of milligrams of cBD