Issue link: http://www.bodysensemagazinedigital.com/i/1225677
CBD and Massage CBD is all the rage these days. From the CBD gummy bears you might find at your local gas station to the highly regulated hemp industry that produces products for spas and therapists, there is a spectrum of good and bad CBD information, products, and expertise. Here are just a few things for you to ponder as you consider whether CBD is right for you. BLISSED OUT AND PAIN-FREE For a small upcharge, Colorado massage therapist Matthew Behr says he incorporates CBD into a full- body massage or applies it to specific areas of pain and tension. "Objectively, I can feel the (client's) tissues relax with much more ease as the topical soaks in, and I am able to really get more work done. People leave feeling completely blissed out and report being totally pain-free." KNOW WHAT YOU'RE BUYING "There is a lot of garbage out there in the CBD world," says Allison Taylor, vice president of Spa and Wellness at Receptra Naturals, which produces CBD products. "So many products are white-labeled with hemp extract from questionable sources with little to no research and testing. You deserve to know exactly what you're buying, why you're buying it, and how to use it." THE LAWS ARE CATCHING UP Whether a state will allow massage therapists to use CBD is up to the interpretation of the massage regulatory board in that state, and the speed at which federal, state, and massage board regulations catch up to one another in the aftermath of the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which opened the door to legal hemp farming. For example, some states have specific policies and rules regarding the use of CBD, with some outright saying they cannot be used in the practice of massage therapy. Most others will not give guidance on the issue at all. Check with your massage therapist to see if CBD is something they are offering with their services. 12 Body Sense