Bodywork Buddy Blog : A Guide to CBD Care for Massage Therapists

A Guide to CBD Care for Massage Therapists

The powerful natural benefits of CBD have been shrouded by mystery and secrecy in Western medicine until relatively recently. But CBD in healthcare and bodywork is anything but new. In fact, in Eastern traditions, rejuvenative CBD care has a long history dating back to as early as 2637 BC.

Today, the use of CBD oil for wellness is beginning to make its way into the realms of massage therapy--from deep tissue and Swedish practices to the world of Ayurveda. More and more therapists and spiritual healers are turning to CBD massage oil to nourish and harmonize the mind and body of clients, both physiologically and in spirit.

And… to activate the whole system from the inside > out and outside > in.

So what are the advantages of CBD care as a type of massage therapy? Are there any side effects and/or legal risks to be aware of? And how can you begin incorporating CBD care in your massage practice?

What are the health benefits of CBD care?

CBD is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid that functions similarly to the body’s own essential cannabinoids. In fact, both plant-derived cannabinoids and human-derived cannabinoids interact with our CB1 and CB2 receptors. These two types of cannabinoid receptors are found all throughout the body, and are an integral component of our body’s self-regulating endocannabinoid system (ECS).

A well-operating ECS means greater functioning in a long list of body processes. The ECS directly affects the performance of many crucial functions, like movement, coordination, sleep, immune system response, sleep habits, memory, pleasure, appetite, metabolism, and more.

Researchers are regularly discovering more about the exciting potential benefits of CBD and CBD massage therapy. Here’s what they do know-- By interacting with cannabinoid receptors, CBD can stimulate the ECS to help it better sync and bring balance to the body’s nervous, digestive, and immune systems. This provides a range of powerful natural wellness advantages.

Adding CBD care to your massage therapy practice can help naturally boost your clients’ endocannabinoid systems to promote balance and encourage overall general wellness. The natural wellness potential of CBD care stretches far and wide, with more discovered happening all the time as more and more research is conducted.

Massage therapists can utilize the balancing properties of CBD to benefit your clients in a unique way. You can rub CBD massage oil products like CBD body lotions and CBD salves into any troublesome areas directly for more focused effects.

What are the potential risks of CBD care in massage therapy?

Are there any harmful effects of CBD massage therapy you should be aware of? Not really.

Because pure CBD massage oil is 100% plant-derived and naturally stimulates cannabinoid receptors, CBD care appears to be low-risk. Researchers have looked into the risks of CBD oil, and discovered that it is safe and non-toxic, even in high amounts.

But one thing you may want to keep in mind is that not all CBD massage oil is the same. The hemp CBD market is relatively young, and a lack of regulations has allowed companies to introduce CBD products that haven’t been tested for safety or CBD content.

So when you set out to buy CBD massage oil for your massage therapy practice, it is important that you check that the manufacturer sources their CBD oil from hemp plants that are grown without pesticides or other chemicals. It is also important to make sure that they test their CBD oil products to make sure that they contain a reliable level of CBD and that they’re free of contaminants.

Is CBD oil massage therapy legal?

If you use CBD oil that is derived from hemp, then you’re legally free to incorporate it into your CBD care practice under federal law. The cultivation and distribution of hemp and the use of hemp products like CBD oil are now legal nationwide since the Farm Bill was signed into law in 2018.

But if you’re using CBD massage oil derived from marijuana, you are violating federal law and maybe even state law, depending on where you live. So even if you’re in a state that allows for the recreational use of cannabis, marijuana-derived CBD oil is ultimately still not legal.

In short-- To play it safe, it’s best to stick with CBD oil from the hemp plant.

Using hemp CBD massage oil can also enhance the benefits of CBD care since hemp oil naturally contains a list of nourishing vitamins and minerals that boost the overall health of the skin and hair. The hemp plant also naturally contains a higher concentration of CBD than other cannabinoids, making it a great source for a CBD-infused massage oil.

What are the best CBD massage techniques and practices?

If a client is experiencing tight, tired muscles and joints, it’s good to hone in on those areas so that the CBD and other nutrients found in your CBD massage oil can offer natural soothing relief.

When CBD oil is massaged into fatigued muscles, the CBD compounds are absorbed right through the hair follicles and skin. This allows the CBD to interact with cannabinoid receptors found on the skin’s sensory nerve fibers and subcutaneous tissue, delivering the balancing benefits of CBD right to where your clients need them the most.

What are the best CBD massage oil recipes?

Often times, massage therapists find greatest benefits from a CBD massage oil product that is made with full-spectrum pure CBD oil. This type of CBD massage care product contains CBD, plus all the natural vitamins, minerals, trace cannabinoids, terpenes, and other material that is naturally found in hemp oil.

There’s evidence to suggest that CBD and all the compounds found in full-spectrum hemp CBD oil work together synergistically to maximize CBD’s natural benefits. This is why, depending on your specific rejuvenating goals, you may prefer creating or buying a CBD massage cream or CBD massage lotion made with pure CBD oil.

Others may opt for a CBD massage oil made with CBD isolate. CBD isolate comes from the same all-natural hemp CBD oil, but is put through a filtration process that eliminates all the other plant materials except for CBD. It comes in the form of a fine white powder and can offer an even higher overall concentration of CBD.

If you already have a favorite massage oil with your ideal concoction of herbal supplements, you can easily infuse CBD into it with CBD isolate. Simply heat your massage balm, salve, oil, cream or lotion of choice in a saucepan at a low heat setting, and gradually stir in your desired amount of CBD isolate.

When it’s all said and done, the recipe you choose really just depends on the type of CBD care you want to provide your clients.

What is the cost of CBD care for massage therapists?

While incorporating CBD oil into your massage therapy practice increases your overall costs, doing so can greatly enhance the overall experience for your clients. The cost of providing CBD care for your clients greatly depends on the type and quality of product you’re using. Pure hemp CBD massage oil can vary in price, with high-quality products containing full-spectrum hemp-derived CBD oil coming in around $50 for a 1.3 ounce jar or more.

You can save money by making your own hemp CBD massage oil with CBD isolate, a 99% pure CBD powder that easily blends into other nutritious oils. Because CBD isolate is so highly concentrated, only a small amount of it is needed. You can find high-quality CBD isolate that’s been tested for safety and purity for around $50 for a 1-gram jar.

How can you begin incorporating CBD care?

Here are a few recommendations to successfully provide CBD care (and education) to your clients:

Get up-to-speed on the body’s (quite spectacular) endocannabinoid system and how CBD can support its regulatory functionality.
Get a grasp on the range of CBD massage benefits, especially the advantages of CBD massage oil for muscle and joint tightness and fatigue.
Brush up on how spiritual healers and bodywork therapists around the world are using CBD care.
Make sure you’re using the highest quality of hemp CBD massage oil.
And, of course, enjoy the fruits of professional development each step of the way on your road to providing whole-body CBD care.

About the author

Michael Coleman is the VP of Marketing and Sales at Medical Marijuana, Inc., the first publicly traded cannabis company in the United States. He lives in San Diego, CA.