By Lisa Black
Why are topicals great? They are an excellent way to get the pain-easing benefits of cannabis without getting high. Formulated in-house by Insa’s dedicated artisans, these soothing treatments are infused with cannabis for profound relaxation – helping to relieve the body of discomfort – and moisturization—an added bonus.
What is a topical? How does a topical work? Do they REALLY work?
The Ultimate Guide to Topicals would be incomplete without an explanation first of how topicals work. Topicals are a product that have a very familiar base, such as a lotion or cream. This base is infused with a cannabis concentrate. There are many kinds of topicals such as lotions, lip balm, bath bombs, and personal lubricants. Once applied to the skin, the topical is trapped in your lipid layer, it doesn’t go into the blood system. Yes, they really can work! THC and CBD topical products have been shown to be excellent choices for many patients and customers.
What are the benefits of using a topical?
According to Leafwell, topicals can have many benefits for users including overall relief in pain and inflammation, a reduction in acne, anti-aging qualities for skin, migraine pain relief, alleviating cancer-related neuropathic pain, a reduction in eczema and psoriasis, moisturizing the skin, alleviating symptoms related to neurological disorders, increased sexual pleasure, aiding in wound healing, and more.
How do you use a topical?
For use, apply the topical until the entire desired area is covered; usually, every 3 hours as needed is a great start. If you find that you want to apply more before or after that 3-hour window, feel free to do so. Topicals can be considered a “use as you need” cannabis product, especially since it’s not intoxicating.
How long does a topical take to work?
Topicals typically take up to 15 minutes at most to start working. This fast-acting relief is one reason why topicals are popular with users.
What are the effects of topicals? Do topicals get you high? Will they show up on a drug test?
Lotions or salves do not get you high. A topical product can have a lot of THC in it, and you still will not get high from it due to how your body absorbs it. Why have THC in the product if it doesn’t get you high? THC has been known to work wonders for reducing pain, even in topical form. Depending on the test’s sensitivity and the application’s frequency and location, THC from topically applied cannabis may show up on a drug test.
How strong are topicals?
There are tons of cannabinoids, the active ingredients of cannabis, in Insa’s tinctures. For example, each jar or lotion has at least 400mg. This high amount of cannabinoids can offer a great deal of relief. Remember, as with all cannabis products, check the label before use, as the amount of THC depends on the cannabinoid ratio. The ratio of CBD to THC that you should choose depends primarily on your desired effects.
Which topical is right for me? What’s the difference?
The Insa lotion comes in a THC only option that contains 400mg of cannabinoids. The Insa salve (pronounced “sav”) has a THC only option as well as a variety coming soon that has 1:1 ratio of CBD to THC. These different formulations are known to be good for different things, and some people respond more strongly to either CBD or THC. For pain relief, both the salve and lotion have gotten great feedback from customers. Topicals have been reported to be great for sore muscles at the end of the day or skin conditions.
Our lotion is reported to work for sore muscles and targeting pain, such as tenderness from arthritis. Our soon-to-be-in-stores 1:1 salve can be excellent for pain as well as skin repair; it’s known for helping with conditions like eczema. If you’ve found that the THC only topicals can be better for your pain and a 1:1 looks to be better for your skin conditions, that’s completely normal. It all depends on the person and how their body responds to the cannabinoids in the products.
It doesn’t stop there. Users have said Insa lotions and salves not only help with pain and eczema but have also been known to relieve the symptoms of sunburns, psoriasis, and even bug bites.
Topicals are also beginner-friendly, and as they are not intoxicating, they are popular with a wide range of people, from marathon runners to grandmothers. We currently have limited availability and offerings vary from location to location, so go to www.insa.com to see the store closest to you and their menu.
Finished reading The Ultimate Guide to Topicals and still want expert help deciding which topical is right for you? Stop in-store to speak to a knowledgeable associate. Insa has locations in Orlando, Clearwater, Tampa, Hudson, Tallahassee, and new this month, Lake Placid. You can learn more about topicals at https://insa.com/products/category/topicals/.
Lisa Black is Head of Education and Training at Insa
*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
