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For centuries, people have turned to massage as a way to relieve muscle tension, de-stress and relax – not to mention enhancing those “intimate moments”. Now, add a cannabis topical, such as lotion or oil, and pair it with your partner on Valentine’s Day (any maybe some delicious cannabis chocolates) and you can transform a standard massage into a sensual, therapeutic, and relaxing full-body experience you both may never forget.
Benefits of Massage
On the medical side… According to the Mayo Clinic, massage can be a powerful tool to help you take charge of your health and well-being, whether you have a specific health condition or are just looking for another stress reliever. Massage is generally considered part of integrative medicine. It’s increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations.
Massage benefits can include:
- Reducing stress and increasing relaxation
- Reducing pain and muscle soreness and tension
- Improving circulation, energy and alertness
- Lowering heart rate and blood pressure
- Improving immune function
How Cannabis Can Enhance a Massage
On the more sensual side… By adding a cannabis topical to you and your partner’s massage, you can help to manage pain, decrease inflammation and improve muscle relaxation. Now, if you’re giving your partner a massage on Valentine’s Day, it may be more about pleasure than pain reduction, but don’t discount the benefits of muscle relaxation. When your partner’s muscles are relaxed, it allows you to provide a deeper, more intimate and enjoyable massage.
Three Wells Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Malka says because most cannabis topicals are local, they can best treat local areas, like joints and muscles, which means the cannabis oil massaged into the skins is unlikely to get your partner high.
Another benefit of adding a cannabis topical to your partner’s massage is he or she may also feel the effects of their massage longer than a traditional massage.
That’s because of cannabis’ muscle relaxation and anti-inflammatory effects, says Dr. Malka. “Those effects usually will last 4-6 hours after application as most topicals do,” she said. “Of course, it depends upon the oil base. i.e. emu oil, and less so olive oil, jojoba oil, safflower oil and coconut oil get some ingredients through the skin. Also, using a full spectrum extract with terpenes increases permeation, as some terpenes go deeper into the skin. Of the major cannabis terpenes, limonene and Terpineol have skin penetration enhancement properties.”
If muscle relaxation is what you’re after, the topicals with the terpene myrcene, which is resinous and has a green balsamic, musky, and slightly metallic odor, has muscle relaxant properties, while the terpene linalool, which has a pleasant floral scent that is found in lavenders, citrus laurels, birch, coriander and rosewood, is anticonvulsant. Relaxing indica or hybrid strains give “body dominant effects” due to these relaxing terpenes.
If you’re interested in a topical that has anti-inflammatory components, look for products that include terpenes beta-caryophyllene, alpha-pinene, myrcene, humulene, as well as some flavonoid components of cannabis.
The Science Behind It
The cannabis plant contains more than 60 naturally occurring, active compounds called cannabinoids. Of those compounds, CBD and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the most common. They are the two terms you hear most when discussing the active compounds in the plant. Both THC and CBD interact with the body through the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a physiologic system that regulates all the basic functions and patterns of our body including appetite, immunity, inflammation, memory, metabolism, mood, pain and sleep, among others.
The ECS, when running smoothly, plays an important role in our overall health and wellness. When it is out of sync, we can experience side effects and other medical conditions, including inflammation and anxiety. CBD and THC work within the ECS system to naturally help our bodies find and maintain equilibrium.
Cannabis Massage Topical Products
The Three Wells products page has a wide variety of cannabis topicals like oils, lotions, creams and balms that could help make this Valentine’s Day a memorable one for you and your partner. Here are some of our favorites:
- Releaf Body Oil 1:3 – This high-quality and effective topical from Papa & Barkley is definitely not for your average massage. With a 1:3 CBD to THC ratio, Releaf Body Oil is made with sun-grown cannabis, MCT oil, and organic essential oils like eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, and lavender. This soothing oil offers targeted and whole-body relief from aching muscles and joints. Fast-absorbing and lightweight, this sensorial body oil offers targeted topical relief. It feels smooth on skin and works to reduce muscle tension – all the better when used as a massage oil. The therapeutic blend of essential oils combined with full-spectrum cannabinoids leverage the natural power of the whole plant. Apply it to tight muscles directly or all over for a relaxed, soothing sensation.
- Releaf Body Lotion – If you’re looking for a lotion, soothe your partner’s skin from head-to-toe with Papa & Barkley’s 1:3 CBD to THC ratio Releaf Body Lotion. Papa & Barkley’s clean, natural body lotion is also the perfect moisturizer to add to your daily routine. The fresh-pressed rosin in their formulation provides the full-spectrum of cannabinoids, phytonutrients, terpenes and chlorophyll of the plant to help promote skin vitality. Target discomfort and hydrate your skin with jojoba oil, shea butter, and mango seed oil to find comfort from head to toe.
- Releaf Balm 3:1 – If you want less THC, try Papa & Barkley’s 3:1 CBD to THC ratio Releaf Balm. With 180mg of cannabinoids, the whole plant is just what you need to keep your joints mobile and moving. Natural essential oils like peppermint, lavender, tea tree, and eucalyptus lend themselves to an herbaceous scent and gentle cooling effect. Plus, organic beeswax helps with normal inflammation and adds moisture to keep your skin soft and soothed. And the best part? Releaf Balm is non-intoxicating, so you don’t worry about it making you feel high! Customers enjoy massaging it into their feet, knees, back, neck, and shoulders.
- Mary Jane’s Medicinals Massage Oil – This massage oil has a lovely smooth texture that absorbs easily through the skin. It is very popular among massage therapists for this reason. The cannabinoids in the oil interact with receptors in the peripheral nervous system to promote systemic relaxation and relief from pain.
- Deep Calm Massage and Body Oil – This 3:1 THC to CBD ratio topical from Green Bee Botanicals can relieve pain and inflammation both on and under the skin, and also soothes irritated, dry, itchy skin. Green Bee Botanicals formulated this pain-relieving salve to calm itchy, dry, irritated skin and to alleviate aching muscles and joints. Pure anti-inflammatory cannabis extracts are paired with traditional soothing herbal remedies chamomile, comfrey, calendula and lavender. Customers say they’ve used it for relief from everything from post-workout stiffness and arthritis pain to itching, dry skin, mosquito and bug bites, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, winter dry skin, chafed skin and even minor burns.
This Valentine’s Day, up your gift game and show your partner how much you love them by giving your partner a cannabis massage that you both are sure to enjoy.
