As someone who’s chronically stressed, the last thing you want to hear is something telling you the gazillionth time to ‘Relax’. We all know stress is bad for us. But, telling someone to just ‘relax’ is easier said than done.
Unless you’ve spent years at a monastery, you can’t just flip a switch and make all your stressful thoughts and bodily tensions go away.
That’s why you need some kind of intervention to hit that pause button on the stress train. And, what better way to do that than to indulge in self-care; more so in a healing spa!
One of the most powerful massages/spas to beat stress and induce relaxation is – a CBD massage.
If this is your first time hearing about CBD, this is the post for you. Find out what it is and how massage therapists are integrating it into their practice.
But, first – What is CBD?
Short for cannabidiol, CBD is the non-psychoactive cannabinoid that comes from cannabis and hemp. It is extracted from Industrial Hemp Farms. But, do not confuse these words for THC (the psychoactive cannabinoid that links to marijuana, has negative connotations, and causes the ‘high’). CBD is the good non-psychoactive cannabinoid that offers therapeutic benefits.
The massage incorporates CBD-infused creams and oil. So, really, the focus of the massage is the oil itself, rather than the technique. It could be any technique, but the true benefit comes from the application of the oil itself.
Benefits of a CBD Massage
- Helps fight inflammation
- Can relieve physical and mental stress and tension
- Helpful in fighting chronic pain
- May help in nerve pain and anxiety
There’s a ton of scientific literature that incorporating CBD in any form; be it tincture, lotions, oils, or cream has amazing potential health-wise. CBD acts as an antidepressant. It also exhibits antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-anxiolytic properties.
When incorporated in a massage, it can melt away years of tension, muscle pain, joint pain. It can soothe sore and painful muscles; thus making it great for massages.
It speeds up the body’s healing process. It is also good for people struggling with anxiety and gastric issues.
CBD Massage vs. Regular Massage
We already mentioned earlier, that the real strength of the CBD massage is not the message itself. For instance, in hot stone massage, the focus is on the placement and application of the stones and the technique in which the stones are used.
But, in this one – the technique doesn’t matter. It could be any technique, as long as it’s using CBD in any form. That’s what’s important.
The person can tell the difference in how they feel just from the application CBD alone; rather than the rubbing motions.
How to Prepare for a CBD Massage?
One of the best ways you can prepare for a CBD message is to just enjoy it and chill. Do not worry about what to wear or how to lie or whether or not to take a massage beforehand.
The whole point is to achieve relaxation. Therefore, worrying too much about prepping for the massage will defeat the purpose. Arrive with a worry-free mind as you would to any other massage session. Try to enjoy the experience as you indulge in it.
What You Can Expect During the Massage
A whirlwind of emotions – Expect a sudden rushing of thoughts (mostly related to your routine tasks like deadlines, what to eat for dinner, taking care of children, etc.). But, in the middle of all these thoughts – make sure to let them all go and just remember that this is your ‘me time’. So enjoy it to the fullest and make the most of it.
Melting away of tensions – It is only a matter of time before you feel the soothing and healing effects of CBD kick-in. You should sense all the muscle tension and knots melting away. It’s like suddenly being hit with a cool breeze of calmness and serenity. Just make sure to focus not so much on forcing yourself to relax. Try not to think of everyday worries and just enjoy the experience.
Inexplicable calm – Eventually, you will be hit with a wave of calmness and serenity. You should feel the effects of CBD kick-in in no time. Do not think too much about the technique being applied. Since the effects of CBD and you will see that soon you will feel it hit everywhere in your body.
Are There Any Side Effects to CBD Massage?
Most people who have used CBD in any form or have gone through CBD massages will tell you how incredible it is. There’s no shortage of good reviews around cannabidiol.
However, you should note that the NIH (National Institute of Health) has pointed out that we need more research to have a better understanding of CBD, its true benefits, etc.
Most studies so far have focussed on CBD side-effects relating to oral usage. It has found that in some cases a user may experience a mild case of diarrhea, drowsiness, fatigue, nausea, etc. However, none of these are tied to topical usage.
So, that’s something you might want to keep in mind. Our suggestion is that you play around a little with CBD first. Try out tinctures, oils, or creams and see how your body responds to it. Accordingly, you can go for a therapeutic massage involving CBD-infused oils.
What to Do Afterwards?
When it comes to CBD massage, the best thing you can do is just bliss out
as much as you can. Do not hop into the shower immediately afterward. Try to leave all the essential oils and creams on the skin to have a longer-lasting effect. Let the calming ingredients continue to seep through the skin for as long as possible.
The Final Takeaway
There’s no doubt that CBD has myriad benefits. If you can, try to start with a facial scrub or something and see how you feel. It will add one more layer in which you can incorporate CBD oil into your ‘self-care’ routine so you feel more chill and less stressed out.
