It was a busy December! I was happy to be interviewed by the cutting edge magazine Domino about my thoughts on CBD for massage. Happily and 2018 Farm Bill has since passed and hemp-derived CBD is legal in all 50 states.

You can read it here: 

https://www.domino.com/content/cbd-massage/

Anecdotal evidence and the few-and-far-between studies that have been conducted point towards tension-relief as a key effect CBD can have on muscles—but the benefits don’t end there. An endocannabinoid system in the skin, as board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jeanette Jacknin explains, has receptors for cannabinoids like CBD. When the receptors pair up with cannabinoids, they work to decrease inflammation (like acne, psoriasis, and eczema) through immune pathways.

“A lot of these studies have been in mice,” she explains. “Few have been on humans, because research hasn’t been readily available in the United States because of legislation.” With her background in dermatology and holistic medicine, Dr. Jacknin first gained an interest in studying the superficial skin benefits of CBD when she saw the effectiveness that CBD patches and salves had on her own ankle pain.

Soothing Salve, Sopris, $39.99 (use Dr. Jacknin’s discount code JJMD for 20-percent off)

The true legality of CBD is the tricky part: it’s made in the U.S. from hemp (a non-psychoactive plant that cannot give consumers a high), but for the past 50 years, U.S. legislation has looped the entire Cannabis genus (including both hemp and marijuana) together as a Schedule I federally controlled substance. If a 2018 farming bill passes, however, hemp could become totally legal and therefore much more available for clinical studies—as well as new product innovation.

It can be tempting, easy even, to denote the effects of CBD on a placebo effect (after all, placebos do work anyway), but Dr. Jacknin stresses that true effectiveness can be seen when you’re using a high-quality product. A massage, when paired with quality CBD, can show instant effects when it comes to muscle relaxation. The topical, inflammation-reducing effects, however, can take some time.

“If the topical is from a great brand that formulates well with other natural analgesics, the relief of pain can be within near-immediate depending on the individual,” she says. “Topical effects for the treatment of skin problems would take longer in terms of days or weeks depending on the individual and the severity of their case. This relates to [the] perception of symptoms—not a cure of anything.”

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Hi Everyone, I want to tell you about a fantastic CBD brand that I recently discovered…Sopris. I have tried out samples from at least 20 companies over the last 2 years and this has been the most effective by far for me and my friends.

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I was happy to be interviewed by a Vogue writer/editor on the science and marketing of CBD in skin care and cosmetics. Look for it to come out in December!

There is also evidence to suggest that dietary hemp seed oil can raise levels in the epidermis and make eczematous skin look more like the fatty acid profile found in ‘normal’ skin. In 2005, Dr. J. Callaway, published a study done in Finland in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment documenting the treatment of eczema using hemp seed oil.  Dr. Callaway found that symptoms of skin dryness and itching improved significantly in eczema patients after using hemp seed oil for 20 weeks. Dietary hemp seed oil increased endogenous levels of two essential fatty acids (EFAs), linoleic acid , an omega-6, and a-linolenic acid, an omega-3, as well as boosting levels of linolenic acid (omega-6).  In addition, transepidermal water loss decreased, subjective levels of skin dryness and itchiness improved, and the perceived need for medication among patients was reduced. So hemp seed oil can be used together, internally and externally to help with the symptoms of eczema.

 Hemp seed oil itself has had some success with the symptoms of eczema. As these conditions are characterized by overly dry skin, hemp seed oil can moisturize the skin while avoiding further irritation. In eczema, dry skin occurs due to excessive transepidermal water loss, as persistent inflammation compromises the skin’s ability to act as a barrier.  Hemp seed oil may also provide the key to controlling the imbalance that underlies the condition. Its high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are believed to reduce itching and inflammation better than moisturizers that are low in PUFAs. Linoleic acid in particular is thought to be particularly effective.

There are now about 130 cannabinoids which have been discovered!  Amazing! CBD is only one of many, but it is the predominant cannabinoid that we have discovered as of today. We are at the forefront of a whole new science, biochemistry, and industry and dermatology has it’s part too!

 

CBD or Cannabidiol extracts, which are produced directly from  marijuana flowers, are up to 15 percent CBD (or 150,000 ppm).

CBD extracts can be produced indirectly from hemp manufacture as a by-product of the flowers and leaves that are mixed in with the stalks during hemp stalk processing for fiber. This has been done mostly in Europe and 30 other countries and imported into the US until recently, as it was illegal to cultivate hemp in the US until the 2014 Farm Bill.. Now many states have voted to make hemp cultivation legal for research and industrial production

So, Currently CBD from hemp plants are usually only 25 parts per million (so 25ppm vs. 150,000 ppm CBD from cannabis flowers).

 While it seems like “cannabis beauty” is a sudden trend, it’s nothing new, with Eastern cultures including China using these effective ingredients for thousands of years. Hemp oil has trace levels of THC  and is heavy in omega fatty acids, which are essential for moisturizing dull skin. Fatty acids in hemp oil also help regenerate the skin’s protective outer layer, leaving it smoother and younger looking. Cannabis creams cannot get you high. They aren’t designed to penetrate the skin or enter the bloodstream. Besides CBD, a cannabinoid, hemp oil contains vitamins C and E to help protect hair from broken or split ends and protect skin and hair against damage from the sun. They also keep free radicals from damaging collagen and elastin, which, as you know, gives skin its tight, youthful appearance.  B complex vitamins found in hemp are part of the construction process of skin, hair, and nails. Vitamins A and D in hemp oil help with healthy looking skin, as they are responsible for skin repair.  Additionally, vitamin A is widely accepted as important for skin cell growth, inhibiting oil production, and promoting skin cell differentiation