Marijuana Massage Trends to Try at Home

Cannabis has become a part of mainstream culture, mentioned daily by national media outlets and losing its stigma as more and more states legalize marijuana and more people turn to the benefits of cannabis for pain relief, stress relief and treatment for anxiety disorders such as ptsd, and other medical  uses. Cannabis has even shown its merit in the field of massage therapy, giving therapists a new vehicle through which to provide added relief and benefits to their patients. Some of the techniques utilized by professional massage therapists who use marijuana in massage can be practiced by anyone. Here is a description of how marijuana is used in massage by professional therapists, and how you can safely incorporate cannabis into self-massage or partner massage.

How marijuana enhances massage

Cannabis oil has been show to reduce pain and help release tension in the muscles, making it a lot easier for the massage therapist to really get in there and do their thing to fully release the tension and loosen the muscle. CBDs, which are compounds found in different concentrations in different marijuana strains, have been shown to reduce the time it takes to heal and recover from injuries to the connective tissues. Marijuana's greatest benefit to massage however may be in its ability to reduce anxiety and help you relax so that the massage will be more effective. If you're not used to getting a massage, having a stranger touching all over your back and possibly triggering a lot of pain in the muscles as tension is release can be very uncomfortable, to say the least. The relaxing properties of THC in marijuana ingested pre-massage can help you be less self-conscious so that you can loosen up and get the greatest benefit from the treatment.

Using cannabis oil and other marijuana topicals in massage is becoming trendy in modern culture, but it is nothing new. Marijuana has been used for its therapeutic and medicinal benefits for thousands of years, practiced in ancient Egypt, China, and Mesopotamia, as well. The oldest surviving medical texts from these cultures mention cannabis use as if it's a long-known, well established medical treatment. Marijuana was used by the ancients to treat inflamation, fever, pain, and many other maladies and complaints. One treatment used in ancient Egypt was to rub an ointment containing cannabis oil on affected parts of the body to help relieve soreness and inflamation.

Marijuana in Massage Today

Today, massage therapists who use marijuana and massage hand in hand use marijuana infused creams and oils to enhance the massage treatment.The Lodo Massage Studio in Denver, for instance, offers a massage in which a cannabis-infused pain relieving cream is rubbed into the muscles as part of a deep tissue massage or other massage therapy session. The formula they use is reputed to have a soothing, cooling sensation that provides relief from pain as well as anti-inflammatory benefits. It's called Apothecanna's Pain Crème, and it contains  a mixture of THC, CBD, arnica, peppermint, and juniper.  Apothecanna has a whole line of different marijuana-infused massage products, each formulated to provide relieving, calming, or stimulating effects. Life Flower Dispensary in Glendale offers Apothecanna products, and they have a dispensary deal where they offer 10% off topicals every Tuesday. Such massage creams and oils won't get you high, but they can certainly help relax the body.

If you're traveling to Denver and interested in a marijuana massage, you can schedule one through many of the marijuana tour companies including Colorado Cannabis Tours and My 420 Tours.

Using Marijuana Massage at Home

Even if you're not a trained massage therapist, you can still reap the benefits of marijuana massage safely at home. The rule is to not go deep unless you definitely know what you're doing—leave deep tissue massage to the professionals, as you can accidentally do serious injury if you manipulate the muscles incorrectly. But if you keep your touch gentle and your strokes light, moving your hands in slow circles or rubbing them up and down across the muscles, you can gain a lot of relief. You can practice gentle touch massage on yourself or on others, and there are many ways to utilize marijuana to enhance the massage. You can incorporate marijuana infused oils and creams like the professionals do, if you're wary of catching a buzz but would like to enjoy the pain-relieving, muscle-relaxing benefits of marijuana. You might even try your hand at creating your own homemade cannabis tinctures. If you're looking for pain relief and muscle relaxation as well as the blissful buzz, your best bet is to ingest thc-containing marijuana pre-massage. Smoking marijuana or consuming edibles will relax the mind as well as the body, providing both a psychoactive and a physical effect. Be sure to use caution if you've never tried psychoactive marijuana before, and if you're pregnant or you have any physical, mental, or medical conditions, ask a doctor first just to be on the safe side. Especially with edibles, first timers should be careful and moderate with dosage until they get used to the way cannabis uniquely affects their mind and body. Start slowly by bringing just a little cannabis into your massages, and work your way up to using marijuana in higher dosages and concentrations after you're sure you like the effect. If you're uncertain, just stick with the marijuana-infused creams and oils and skip the high.

To learn more about marijuana massage, check out this article from Massage Magazine.

 

 

 

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By Rafi at iBakeDenver

In the cannabis industry world, nothing is getting more attention for healing and overall treatment for ailments than CBD. Commonly referred to as Cannabidiol, one of the main chemical compounds found in marijuana and hemp products. CBD has been approved as a drug in the United States for all types of conditions, primarily seizures, inflammation, chronic pain, muscular disorders, Parkinson's disease, and several other types of wellness sufferings.

The main question when choosing CBD is which type will work best for your specific condition or illness. There are several to choose from, and we'll be exploring the differences between CBD Oils versus CBD tinctures. Both carry a dosage amount for specific causes, and both are non-psychoactive like straight-up marijuana, and both need their own defining reasons as to which one to choose that will work best for you.

For Pain: Is CBD Oil Better Than a Tincture?

CBD first hit the market as a new discovery in 1940. That seems like lifetimes ago. However, the entire CBD industry has morphed into one of the new age and completely alternative healing for many populations. I've preferred and used CBD tincture Denver has to offer for a plethora of muscle pains and bodily inflammations.

My dog even gets to benefit from CBD oil, especially when he's been stung by a bee, as the proponents in CBD act as an antihistamine to combat the inflammation or swelling a sting might incite. I apply a few drops directly to the sting site, then place a few drops in the palm of my hand for him to lick and take into his system. Works like a charm.

In essence, CBD oil has miraculous benefits, such as:

• Alleviates anxiety and depression by having the ability to calm the nervous system
• Treats epileptic seizures
• Minimizes symptoms of PTSD
• It helps people who are dependent on opioids
• Reduces symptoms of ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
• Offers relief for pain that is unmanageable
• Soothes symptoms of diabetes
• Provides pain-relieving effects for arthritis symptoms

In regards to CBD oil versus a CBD tincture, let's examine the differences and how a tincture would benefit in certain cases.

A Spotlight on CBD Tinctures

First off, we know that CBD oil is extracted from industrial hemp. The potency of the full-spectrum cannabinoids is in its rawest and most extreme phase, thereby needing to dilute the resulting derivation using an MCT carrier oil. Whether it's olive oil, hemp seed oil, or coconut oil, this allows the maximum cannabinoid potential to remain effective yet be more calming for digestive purposes.

Since there are no psychoactive effects from CBD oil, many advocates tend to place a drop or two under their tongues--commonly referred to as the sublingual method. In other cases of CBD oil use, you can apply directly to your hair, skin, or nails to ensure direct contact with the source needing to reap the pristine benefits. Also, adding a few drops to your cooking, such as baked goods, can enhance the overall quality of the final product while also helping you to alleviate any bodily pain you might be suffering from on any given day.

CBD tinctures are created by soaking natural cannabinoid matter into an alcohol and water solution. The tinctures themselves are derived directly from cannabis plants or industrial hemp using the alcohol diluted in the water. Because the taste of tinctures can be oft-putting, certain herbs and flavoring agents can be added to make the solution more palatable.

For faster absorption into the body, tinctures are also recommended to be taken sublingually. One way to make certain you're getting your daily dose of CBD to manage your symptoms is to place a few tinctures drops into your favorite beverage or food. However, if you feel the need to cook with a CBD tincture addition, use the water-soluble variety, so it will be easier to incorporate into the ingredients.

Which is Better: CBD Oil or CBD Tincture?

The main difference between an oil and a tincture is in their composition. Tinctures may contain other ingredients to keep the flavor more to your liking, while the oils are diluted with other oils--as mentioned above--in lieu of other flavorings or water and alcohol. What is known is that CBD tinctures have a lower concentration of cannabinoids than CBD oils, mainly due to the flavoring additives in the tinctures themselves.

With all of the additives into the tinctures, not only are they more appealing in taste, they have some extra health benefits as well. If you're adding chamomile herb for relaxation and agave sweeteners and vitamins to enhance the overall absorption benefit, it stands to reason that a CBD tincture seems to be better for you in the long run. The best tinctures contain only herbal extracts, water, and possibly polysorbate 80 so as to ensure the product isn't straight oil.

CBD oil is not based on alcohol, and therefore if you're seeking more wellness benefits and have an aversion to alcohol, then the oil is your best choice. If you prefer the natural taste of hemp and appreciate the added flavorings of tinctures, then this is the route to take. Either type of product, you need to ask yourself whether you plan to ingest the CBD directly (oils) or are you planning to use CBD to mix in with your favorite drink (tinctures)?

Conclusion

Choosing a CBD product doesn't have to be difficult if you know what type of pain you have and how you plan to use the oil or tincture. Both are effective, and both carry enormous wellness benefits. One isn't necessarily better than the other; it's simply a matter of navigating your purposes for using CBD and whether a tincture or an oil application is beneficial to your overall well-being and taste buds.

The CBD industry is growing at an alarming rate, and if you need relief from bodily pain and suffering, perhaps choosing either an oil or a tincture would be the most extraordinary addition to your lifestyle and wellness regimen.

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Rick Simpson Oil is something I’m very thankful for in the cannabis industry. The miracle oil gave my little brother some of the best relief and quality of life in his struggle with brain cancer. But my brother isn’t the only one. I have seen hundreds of people being healed up the power of RSO. But for those new to the terminology, what is RSO?

What is Rick Simpson Oil?

The beauty that is Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) is a full extract cannabis oil meant to be taken orally or applied topically. RSO is a marijuana extract made utilizing a solvent to extract cannabinoids. RSO has high levels of THC with a fine medley of other cannabinoids. The most common solvent used in making RSO is grain alcohol. No prohibition coming with this stuff

Seriously though, this stuff helped my brother live with a better quality of life as he was dying of cancer. I’m a fan.

Cannabis material is placed in a large container with alcohol then added after. The mixture is stirred and crushed into the alcohol until the liquid is nice and green. After a little time, alcohol is drained from the remaining plant mixture. That mixture will then be heated in a container and the residual alcohol will evaporate.

High potency oil, often dark in color and a thick deep green consistency, is the ultimate result of the process and can be siphoned into a syringe-style applicator for dosing. When buying, consumers of RSO should use indica cannabis strains to intake the oil for maximum healing. Indica strains are well-known for their subdued, relaxed highs which is a fundamental key to assist in healing.

How RSO Got Its Name

Rick Simpson was born in the pot nation known as Canada. In 2003, he was diagnosed with skin cancer. Doctors weren’t prescribing him medicines “made from marijuana” known to help with cancer. 

Rick Simpson decided to make his own, despite legality at the time. In the past, he had used cannabis to treat medical issues, so he made a cannabis oil to treat his skin cancer topically. 

He decided to attempt treating his cancer with full extract cannabis oil by applying it directly to the area affected with skin cancer and giving it a good bandage dressing. Simpson grabbed this idea after reading studies from the National Cancer Institute, which THC had been found to kill cancer cells in mice.

After several days, the bandages were removed, and found the affected area of his body had cleared right up.

Even with Simpson’s cancerous growths disappearing completely, his doctor still refused to acknowledge cannabis as a treatment alternative. Boo!

After his recovery, Simpson began to produce the full extract cannabis oil for those who were/are in need. This brought popularity to Simpson and the extract and thus full extract oil became known as Rick Simpson Oil.

How to Get Incredible Benefits From Rick Simpson Oil

There is a method that the man himself suggests when using an RSO regimen.

The goal is to consume 60 grams of RSO over the course of 90 days.

• Week 1: Start with three doses every day

• Weeks 2 through 5: Double your dose every four days

• Weeks 5 through 12: Take one gram of RSO daily until you’ve consumed the full 60 grams

In the first week, three doses should be taken each day, once in the morning, afternoon, and night. RSO is very potent. The beginning dose should be the size of half a grain of rice. After the first week, the measured dose should be doubled every four days. It will take approximately three to five weeks before the dosage reaches a full gram of RSO in a day. 

Continue to take a full gram in a day until the full 60 grams are consumed. The most common side effects when undertaking an RSO regimen are excessive tiredness and/or psychoactivity. Over time, the body will adjust to the higher dose of RSO; this typically takes three to four weeks.

Dosing RSO For Max Effectiveness

Thankfully, RSO is an activated formulation, meaning no heat needs to be applied to the product when consuming it. Because of this, patients have many options on how to administer it. 

When taken effectively, Rick Simpson Oil has been known to treat medical conditions such as:

• Cancer

• Multiple sclerosis

• Arthritis

• Asthma

• Chronic Pain

• Inflammation

• Depression

• Insomnia

• High Blood Pressure

Each dose should be about the size of half a grain of rice and should be administered once every eight hours (morning, noon, and night); the first dose will be about ¼ drop of RSO. I hope I don’t have to say this but I probably do, don’t be a badass!

My brother, both a major stoner and dealing with major pain from awful brain cancer, sometimes couldn’t handle feeling the potent high. Start low and build to it.

RSO has an incredibly robust and bitter taste that can be a little too clingy on the ol' throat. I always suggest taking it with a tasty treat high in fats of your absolute choosing. My brother was a big stoner and still couldn’t stand the taste every single day. Don’t be brave.

Foods such as peanut butter or yogurt mask its bitter taste and increase THC absorption throughout your body. 

Where to Find Rick Simpson Oil in Colorado

Kind Meds is located off Santa Fe in Denver

Current deals on RSO include:

• 1 gram of RSO for $35

But if you or anyone you know are hurting and can't find RSO available near you, it is incredibly easy to make at home. And perhaps we’ll be able to break it down for you soon.

Check out Cannasaver for the buds to get you started on your healing path. And for real guys, if you or anyone you know needs good knowledge on a better way to relieve what ails, RSO is the way to go.

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CBD for Dogs

 

Unlikened to the 2000 stoner movie Dude, Where's My Car? where Jesse (Ashton Kutcher), and Chester (Seann William Scott), are entertained by Nelson's (David Herman), stoner dog as the dog tokes from a self resembling pipe, CBD for dogs seems to be having a positive growing effect on man's best friend.

 

CBD Cannabis produced pet products are produced mostly from hemp which has significantly different properties than the most consumed pot plants. Further discussion on the difference between hemp and medicinal marijuana will be discussed in another post, but for the most part, Hemp is part of the cannabis plant family but has an extremely low level of THC,  grows differently than THC-containing cannabis, and is well known for industrial use. Both are derived from the Cannabis Sativa L plant. Hemp contains from 0.3%-1.5% of THC while medicinal cannabis contains around 5% to 10%.

 

CBD extracted from Hemp -aka- Hemp Cannabidiol, or Hemp CBD is a non-psychoactive oil  extracted from cannabis plants.  Non-psychoactive meaning your dog won't get stoned!

 

Dogs, similar to humans produce natural chemicals in the body that interact within the endocannabinoid (EC) system called cannabinoids.  These cannabinoids work the same way in animals as they do in humans.  They work directly on the endocannabinoid (EC) system through cannabinoid receptors.  

 

Cannabinoid receptors are a class of cell membrane receptors. There are two types.  CB1 receptor which is expressed mainly in the brain, the central nervous system, lungs, liver and kidneys. The CB2 receptor is expressed mainly in the immune system. 

 

There are several companies and entrepreneurs already extracting, baking and shaping cannabis derived pet products. A quick internet search and you'll delight your best pal with a variety of healthy CBD treats including liquid concentrates, oils, edibles, biscuits, and capsules with plenty of treats sure to please and keep your pet at peace.

 

The American Pet Products Association suggests that the U.S. pet industry grew at an 8% CAGR to reach $58.51 billion in 2014.  $13.72 billion of that was derived from the retail pet medicine market with CBD-based products.  

 

The APPA ( American Pet Products Association) has shared some interesting data that should provide insight as to the future revenues of CBD for dogs. They report that in 2015 the total pet industry expenditures in the United States hit $60.28 million and is estimated to hit $62.75 million this year.

 

$15.42 billion was spent on animal care, followed by $14.28 billion spent on animal supplies and over-the-counter medicine. Live animal purchases captured $2.12 billion while  pet food delivered $23.05 billion. Pet services such as grooming and boarding grew to $5.41 billion in 2015.

 

Dogs are best friends and family members.  They are loyal and trustworthy. They also know all your secrets and see everything you do when no one else is around.  Just think... what if your dog could really speak?!

 

Enjoy the Now!

MrD.
 

About the Author: MrD. (pen name) is a writer, educator, musician, producer, public speaker and founder of 420GIVES(tm) a non profit organization giving back to the community.  420GIVES.com

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