A little at-home CBD spa treatment is what we all need right now.
A long day of work, a stressful assignment at school or just the constant chaos of life — what stresses are you carrying around? The seemingly unrelenting pressures of daily life can start to weigh us all down. If these sentiments ring true, you need to treat yourself to a hefty dose of self-care. Using the power of science, build an at-home spa treatment kit, to look after the person who matters most – you.
If science calls the shots for rest and relaxation, how does that translate into your list of ingredients for an at-home spa treatment? First, it means the power of cannabidiol (CBD) to promote stress-relief, calm, and sleep. Second, it will include several key-scents known throughout aromatherapy like lavender, vanilla, and pine.
The bonus? You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a day at the spa. You can build an entire day of soothing spa treatments with readily available creams, balms, and bath bombs, or make some at home.
But before listing the best CBD spa suggestions and aromatherapy options, let’s get to the science.
The Science of Relaxing With CBD
Cannabidiol is structurally similar to the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but it is non-intoxicating. Over the years, researchers have determined it has beneficial medicinal effects when consumed and also as applied topically. The topical benefits are why so many skincare companies are launching products infused with CBD oil.
If the primary goal of spas is to promote rest, relaxation, and soothing sensations, CBD is a choice ingredient based on what we know thus far.
There is already a growing body of preclinical and clinical trials supporting CBD’s anti-anxiety and stress-relieving properties. For example, in 2011, researchers determined that CBD reduced cardiovascular and behavioral responses among lab rats to acute restraint stressors. Although this test utilized intravenous CBD, it laid the groundwork for future studies into CBD for automatic stress responses [1]Granjeiro, E. M., Gomes, F. V., Guimarães, F. S., Corrêa, F. M., & Resstel, L. B. (2011). Effects of intracisternal administration of cannabidiol on the cardiovascular and behavioral responses … Continue reading.
There is also substantial evidence that CBD reduces various types of anxiety, like generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and anxiety-related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
One of the most recent studies on this topic looked at CBD to reduce social anxiety among teenagers. Following several weeks of treatment, most teens reported lower scores using two different scales, Fear of Negative Evaluation Questionnaire and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. As the authors conclude, “CBD significantly decreased anxiety measured by both scales. The results indicate that CBD could be a useful option to treat social anxiety” [2]Masataka N. (2019). Anxiolytic Effects of Repeated Cannabidiol Treatment in Teenagers With Social Anxiety Disorders. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 2466. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02466.
Ingredients for Your DIY CBD Spa Treatment
Incorporating CBD into your at-home spa is easier than ever before. Cannabidiol is everywhere these days, and especially across the skincare and cosmetics industries. But, you can easily make many CBD-infused options at home as well.
If you are planning a big day of self-care, what should you pack in your DIY spa treatment kit?
CBD Infused Bath Bombs
Nothing beats a steamy soak for melting away the physical symptoms of stress. A hot bath combined with a CBD Bath Balm is an added level of relaxation. Rxleaf has formulated the Koal CBD Bath Balm with Epsom Salts, sweet-rose essential oils, and pure CBD for penetrating relief.
CBD Salt Scrubs
If you work on your feet, you’ll know they already bear the brunt of your long stressful day. All at-home spa treatments should always include a salt scrub to soften and soothe this overworked body part. Make a CBD Salt Scrub with minimal ingredients, and use as you soak in a bath, or before a pedicure.
CBD Mozisturizers
After a soak and a scrub, the final step to any spa treatment is a protective and hydrating moisturizer. Cannabidiol applied topically is thought to reduce inflammation, soothe irritating skin conditions, and may even have benefits for post-workout relief. Koal CBD Moisturizer contains 300 mg of pure CBD and is the final touch to a CBD spa treatment.
Boost Relaxation with Calming Essential Oils
Combine a series of CBD-based spa treatments with the soothing scents of essential oils for added relief on your big day of self-care. Of course, you can always incorporate these scents directly with a dab on your wrists and neck. You can also find scented candles, diffusers, and other scented spa additions to infuse the room with these calming aromas.
Here are a few of the most recommended scents for relaxation:
Lavender
Long associated with spa treatments, lavender is a go-to aromatherapy option for stress, anxiety, and depression. There are decades of study into its calming benefits. As only one example, a 2016 study explored the benefits of lavender following childbirth. As they concluded, “Inhaling the scent of lavender for 4 weeks can prevent stress, anxiety, and depression”[3]Kianpour, M., Mansouri, A., Mehrabi, T., & Asghari, G. (2016). Effect of lavender scent inhalation on prevention of stress, anxiety and depression in the postpartum period. Iranian journal of … Continue reading
Pine
Strangely enough, pinene (the terpene behind the aroma of pine trees) is one of the primary scents of indica-dominant medical marijuana strains. In animal studies, pinene seems to have an anti-anxiety effect when inhaled. As per a 2014 study using lab mice, “There was significant anxiolytic-like activity, which remained constant for the 5 days’ inhalation of α-pinene.” A forest-scented candle or a drop or two of essential oil on a diffuser may scientifically melt away stress. [4]Satou, T., Kasuya, H., Maeda, K., & Koike, K. (2014). Daily inhalation of α-pinene in mice: effects on behavior and organ accumulation. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 28(9), 1284–1287. … Continue reading
Vanilla
Sweet and delicious, the scent of vanilla promotes pleasant feelings. Over the last few decades, vanilla has become a new favorite among skincare companies, perfumers, and aromatherapy producers because of these uplifting effects. According to research by the Social Issues Research Center, patients undergoing a stressful medical scan experienced sixty-three percent less stress than the control when exposed to the scent of vanilla. [5]The Smell Report. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2020, from http://www.sirc.org/publik/smell_vanilla.html
Aromatherapy and CBD Blend for the Ultimate Spa Treatments
Cannabidiol’s unique therapeutic properties for stress, anxiety, and mood pair well with soothing essential oils. Incorporating both ingredients into a CBD spa day adds value to the bath, massage, or facial routine you already have lined up.
If the unrelenting pressures of work, school, or life, in general, are becoming difficult to handle, it’s time to implement a critical self-care regime. That means hitting spas, a daily dose of CBD, and incorporating essential oils into your environment. And, if you don’t have time for the spa, there is no reason why you can recreate the experience at home.
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