Balm, salves, creams…what are they? In a general sense, the terms are interchangeable. Balms are simple concoctions typically made from a fatty oil base and a natural wax. And, of course, Ergo Hemp Co.’s products have CBD!  It is easy to comprehend how something enters the bloodstream when injected or ingested but it can be difficult to understand how putting something on your skin translates on a cellular level. Let’s take a look!

Our skin is the largest organ on our bodies. The skin act as a molecular passageway absorbing oils like the ones used in balms. Our skin is the protector if you will, between our internal bodies and the outside elements. There are three layers that make up this massive protective organ:

• Epidermis
• Dermis
• Subcutis

The epidermis is the first defense against outside elements and acts as a brick wall keeping moisture, pathogens, and chemicals from moving freely into the body. Directly behind is the dermis where you can find blood vessels, glands, hair follicles, and nerves (along with their receptors). Deeper down into the third layer of the skin we’ll find the subcutis where our fatty and fibrous tissues are housed.

Photo credit: The Conversation 

Our bodies have an endocannabinoid system (ECS); a network of enzymes and cell receptors found in the central nervous system, immune system and, our skin! The main role of the ECS seems to be contributing to the control of cells’ balance, proliferation, differentiation, tolerance and death and this is true when it comes to skin cells. Throughout the ECS, receptors known as CB1 and CB2 are present. (Read the previous blog post on Hemp & CBD to learn more about this system and its receptors.) Activation of these receptors can reduce inflammation, which is partially responsible for skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

Pictured above: Location of CB receptors. Photo credit: National Center for Biotechnology Information

Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) are fats that can be found in foods such as coconut oil! Due to their short chain length, these magic fats are rapidly broken down into the body and less likely to be stored as fat. They are also a great energy source for the body. MCTs, though they are fat, can miraculously be used to help burn more fat! These oils create ketones, and ketones increase your metabolic rate (aka your metabolism) and burn the fat you already have!

What does that mean? Basically, CBD gets absorbed through the protective layers of our skin then activates/interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors balancing our immune system’s response to things like inflammation and psoriasis.

Now to discuss our ingredients specifically. Our balm consists of 500mg of CBD, MCTs (coconut oil), beeswax, eucalyptus essential oil and lavender essential oil -that’s it! Here’s why Ergo Hemp Co. use these ingredients in our CBD Balm:

CBD is fat soluble and, well, coconut oil has a high content of fatty acids. Basically, when paired with coconut oil, CBD works better in the body. The higher the fat – the better. Since coconut oil is 90% fat, there’s no wonder it’s often the preferred method. Lipid-based oils are best because the lipids can simply be absorbed through the body.

Here at Ergo Hemp Co. we believe in using pure, natural ingredients.  We chose beeswax as the base for our balm because of its dense composition and it is 100% natural made.

The essential oils are a bonus to our balm! Eucalyptus oil is a natural remedy for colds and promotes respiratory health benefits. It is also great when applied to the skin to alleviate arthritis and skin ulcers. Lavender oil is often used to ease anxiety and nausea. The essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties and relieves aches and pains. This essential oil blend gives our balm the extra one-two punch it needs to ease our pains.

When applying our balm, be mindful of where you’re spreading it. The best spots are:

• Temples
• Neck
• Elbows
• Knees
• Other joints
• Wrists
• Soles of feet and
• Shoulders

Major veins are close to these areas, which make for the most efficient absorption.

CBD balm is an excellent choice as an alternative from ingestion. Working with the endocannabinoid receptors found in our skin, we can enjoy the healing effects of CBD by massaging a soothing balm to be directly absorbed into our bodies!

 

Co-authored by: Samantha Thomas

Sources:

1. https://theconversation.com/the-skin-is-a-very-important-and-our-largest-organ-what-does-it-do-91515

2. https://www.projectcbd.org/cbd-for/skin-conditions

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2757311/