Relaxing in hot water is something humans have enjoyed throughout history. And why not? Everyone has experienced the extraordinary pleasure of settling into a steaming hot tub and soaking up the stress reducing effects. But is it possible for a bath to have therapeutic value beyond simple relaxation? Can you elevate the enjoyment and curative benefits of a simple bath by adding CBD bath salt, or is it just hype? What exactly does adding a CBD bath salts actually do for you?
In this article we will explore:
Why is a Hot Bath Good for You?
Why is an Epsom Salt Bath Good for You?
Can CBD Bath Salts Make Me High?
What Conditions Can CBD Bath Salts Help With?
How do I choose a CBD Bath Salt?
What Makes Cordial Organics CBD Bath Salts so Good?
Why is a Hot Bath Good For You?
Beyond just the relaxation benefits, scientific studies have shown a ton of ways in which a hot bath can be beneficial.
- An hour long hot bath burns as many calories as a half hour walk and has the same effect on blood sugar response.
- A hot bath produces an anti-inflammatory response similar to exercise.
- Regular hot baths can reduce blood pressure
- Improves peripheral circulation in people with type 2 diabetes.
- Improves sleep quality and efficiency when taken 1-2 hours prior to going to bed.
Heat Shock Proteins
Many of the therapeutic benefits of the hot bath are due to what are known as heat shock proteins. Heat shock proteins are molecules made by human body cells to protect against stresses that would normally be lethal by inhibiting cell death pathways. HSPs rise following exercise and also after passive heating such as in a hot bath. Heat shock proteins also make healthy cells stronger by protecting cells against stress and injuries, making you more resistant to diseases. Raised levels of these proteins have been shown to help the function of insulin and improve blood sugar control. People with diabetes have lower levels of heat shock proteins. Any activity that increases heat shock proteins also improves blood sugar control in a way similar to exercise, so a hot bath could be an alternative for those with blood sugar problems who are unable to exercise regularly.
Why is an Epsom Salt Bath So Good For You?
To be clear, Epsom Salt isn’t really a salt at all, but rather a combination of magnesium and sulfates. Both these ingredients are absorbable through the skin and do wonders for the body when soaked in.
Benefits of Magnesium:
- Ease stress and improve sleep and concentration
- Help muscles and nerves function properly
- Reduce inflammation
- Relieve pain and muscle cramps
- Improve oxygen use
Benefits of Sulfates:
- Flush toxins
- Improve absorption of nutrients
- Help form joint proteins, brain tissue and mucin proteins
- Prevent and ease migraine headaches
How Do CBD Bath Salts Work?
On its own, simple Epsom salt is very good at relieving aches and reducing inflammation. The addition of CBD and other cannabinoids makes these basic therapeutic effects even more powerful while providing additional benefits for the skin itself. CBD is anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, but does not penetrate the skin to enter the bloodstream. The way it works is that topical CBD interacts with CB2 receptors just beneath the surface of the skin and human skin actually has its own endocannabinoid system (ECS). This ECS in our skin is why supplementing with topical cannabinoids works. CBD in the bath both calms pain signals and promotes relaxation while healing minor skin irritations. Soaking in a CBD bath is extremely effective because you really give the skin time to absorb the cannabinoids. It’s also important to remember that most CBD infused bath salts contain supportive botanicals which further enhance the relaxing, healing and antimicrobial effects.
Can CBD Bath Salts Make Me High?
Topical cannabinoids do not enter the bloodstream. They are absorbed by cannabinoid receptors in the skin itself. Humans actually have two distinct endocannabinoid systems to help keep the body in balance. One is internal and one is in the skin itself.
What Conditions Can CBD Bath Salts Help With?
Soaking in a CBD bath can help improve most minor skin conditions while relieving aches and pains in the body. Some conditions that a CBD bath could help with:
- Acne
- Dermatitis
- Psoriasis
- Itching
- Dryness
- Joint Pain
- Menstrual Cramps
- Back Pain
- Stress
How Do I Choose a CBD Bath Salt?
When it comes to choosing a CBD bath salt it comes down to three things: the amount of CBD, the kind of CBD, and the quality of the supporting ingredients.
For the amount of CBD, around 15 grams in the bath is sufficient. Any more and the cost to benefit ratio tilts against you. More CBD in the tub certainly won’t hurt you, but it makes sense to use CBD in the bath more frequently than to use a larger amount but in fewer baths.
When it comes to the type of CBD, the most effective CBD bath salts use full or broad spectrum CBD. Broad spectrum CBD has all cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes in the cannabis plant except THC, while full spectrum CBD contains THC as well. It is important to remember that bath salts containing THC still will not make you high because topical THC cannot enter the bloodstream. As discussed earlier, the cannabinoids are absorbed directly by the endocannabinoid receptors in the skin itself. Since the skin benefits from all the different cannabinoids, full and broad spectrum are unquestionably superior to pure CBD isolate. This is why the kind of CBD in a bath salt is probably even more important than the actual amount used.
And finally, the importance of the supporting ingredients is at least as important as the CBD. Without a good base, CBD won’t add much value. The Epsom salt itself should be ultra pure and processed in a reputable facility. The fragrance added should come from an essential oil, not a synthetic fragrance. Any additional moisturizers added should be organic and of purest quality.
What Makes Cordial Organics CBD Bath Salts So Good?
Here at Cordial Organics, all our products come from the highest quality ingredients and are painstakingly handcrafted by us personally. Our company adheres to the strictest standards including:
- Proof of third-party testing by an ISO 17025-compliant lab
- Disclosing the source of our hemp
- Having no more than 0.3 percent THC, according to the certificate of analysis (COA)
- Potent full spectrum CBD
- All organic ingredients
- No synthetic fragrances or other additives
- Handcrafted in small batches for quality and freshness
CBD Bath Salts – The Takeaway
Hot baths are not just relaxing but are therapeutic in a number of ways. They are anti-inflammatory, reduce blood pressure, and improve circulation. Many of the benefits of a hot bath are due to the creation of heat shock proteins in the body which protect cells in numerous ways. Epsom salt added to the bath enhances the pain-relieving benefits due to the effects of magnesium and sulfates absorbing through the skin. Adding CBD to bath salt provides even more beneficial effects for the skin because CBD is anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-fungal and is absorbed by the endocannabinoid system that exists in human skin. CBD bath salts can’t make you high, even if they contain THC because cannabinoids do not absorb into the bloodstream. The best CBD bath salts are made by reputable companies that have lab data readily available and use full or broad spectrum CBD and organic supportive ingredients.
