Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound from the cannabis plant. As regulations surrounding CBD relax, scientists are undertaking more research into the compound’s potential health benefits. Massage oils are an increasingly popular form of CBD that people can try.
Quick links
- Best vegan option: Susan’s CBD Hemp CBD Massage Oil
- Best non-GMO: Lazarus Naturals CBD Massage Oil
- Best for everyday discomforts: Papa & Barkley Releaf Body Oil
- Best unique oil blend: Charlotte’s Web Massage Therapy Pain Relief Oil
- Best for tension: Juna Ease Functional Body Oil
- Best aromatherapeutic: Empower Bodycare CBD Luxury Body Oil
Is CBD legal? Hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC are legal federally but still illegal under some state laws. Marijuana-derived CBD products, on the other hand, are illegal federally but legal under some state laws. Check local legislation, especially when traveling. Also, keep in mind that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved nonprescription CBD products, which may be inaccurately labeled.
What is CBD?
CBD is the second most common active ingredientTrusted Source in the Cannabis sativa plant. But unlike the most common ingredient, delt-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC, it does not cause intoxication. Advocates claim CBD can provide multiple health benefits, such as:
- relief from anxiety
- pain reduction
- sleep promotion
- treating neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
Limited scientific dataTrusted Source is available to back up these claims. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved one medication — epidiolex — containing CBD to treat severe seizures in children.
The FDA does not regulate general-use CBD products as they do other supplements and drugs. As such, it is essential to look for companies and products that pass third-party lab testing.
Independent testing confirms the amount and overall purity of the products in the oil and ensures it is free of contaminants. Medical News Today has evaluated the third-party lab results of all the products featured.
What is CBD massage oil?
People use CBD massage oil to soften the skin and make it easier to massage the muscles. This leads to relaxation, muscle release, enhanced blood flow, and other benefits of massage. Some oils may include additional ingredients, such as arnica or lavender, to promote pain and stress relief.
Learn more about CBD oil here.
CBD massage oil softens the skin and supports the massage process. Using CBD oils involves applying CBD directly to the skin, which could provide the following benefits:
- pain relief
- reduced inflammation
- relaxation promotion
- fighting insomnia
CBD oil pros and cons
Below, we look at some of the pros and cons of CBD oil.
Pros
- may help with anxiety management
- may help to improve poor sleeping habits
- may relieve pain and reduce inflammation
Cons
- limited scientific research to support benefit claims
- lack of standardized dosingTrusted Source levels may prove difficult for a person to navigate
- lack of research into how CBD oil interacts with other herbs that use the same pathways in the body
Is CBD oil the best choice?
People with muscle or joint pain can apply CBD massage oil right at the pain point. Massage increases blood flow and relaxes muscles. Adding CBD to the process could enhance its effectiveness.
Studies show that applying CBD to the skinTrusted Source may be an effective way to administer it, particularly for people with arthritis. Although there is limited research on humans, researchersTrusted Source found applying topical CBD reduced inflammation and pain symptoms in rats.
CBD is generally regarded as safe. However, it does interact with some medicationsTrusted Source, particularly blood thinners, so anyone considering using CBD massage oil should talk with their doctor first.
How to choose the best CBD massage oil
Considering the following criteria might help people find the best CBD massage oil to suit their needs:
- Dosage: The amount of CBD contained in the product may affect a person’s desired results.
- THC content: A person may prefer to have products with little-to-no THC.
- Certificate of Analysis (COA): Individuals should review a products’ COA to check for contaminants and accurate CBD and THC levels. Third-party labs typically provide these certificates.
Methodology
MNT chooses products that meet the following criteria:
- Ingredients: Products contain safe and high quality ingredients and state all ingredients clearly. They should also confirm they are free from pesticides, heavy metals, and mold.
- Dosage: Products contain or recommend a serving size of a safe CBD dosage and state the dosage clearly.
- Third-party labs: Products undergo third-party testing for contaminants by an ISO 17025-compliant laboratory.
- The COA is available: The company demonstrates transparency and shares the COA of its products following lab results.
Product list
Here, we look at some CBD massage oils for a person to consider.
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
Best vegan option: Susan’s CBD Hemp CBD Massage Oil
- CBD type: CBD isolate
- Potency: 150 mg of CBD per ounce
- Organic: no information available
- Vegan: no information available
Susan’s CBD hemp CBD Massage Oil delivers about 150 mg CBD isolate per 1 oz. The oil comes in larger containers up to 16 oz.
The manufacturers state the product is vegan, made from non-GMO hemp, and that they do not test on animals.
The base oil includes plant oils such as:
- sweet almond oil
- grapeseed oil
- jojoba oil
The company also adds vitamin E, calendula, and chamomile to support the skin. Additionally, the oil contains essential oils of lavender, rosemary, and bergamot.
Susan’s CBD Hemp CBD Massage Oil is available to purchase online.
Best non-GMO: Lazarus Naturals CBD Massage Oil
- CBD type: full-spectrum
- Potency: 100 mg of CBD per ounce
- Organic: yes
- Vegan: yes
Lazarus Naturals CBD Massage oil delivers about 100mg of full-spectrum CBD from hemp per 1oz of oil.
Learn more about the difference between full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD here.
The base oil contains:
- organic jojoba oil
- sweet almond oil
- fractionated coconut oil
The company states that they use only non-GMO hemp grown on their farms in the United States. They also extract and produce CBD oil in-house to ensure potency and quality.
Lazarus Naturals CBD Massage Oil is available to purchase online.
Best for everyday discomforts: Papa & Barkley Releaf Body Oil
- CBD type: full-spectrum
- Potency: 200 mg of CBD per ounce
- Organic: no
- Vegan: no information available
Papa & Barkley Releaf Body Oil is a full spectrum CBD oil, delivering 200 mg CBD per 1 oz.
The base oil contains hemp, coconut MCT oil, jojoba oil, and vitamin E oil. The company also adds essential oils to soothe the skin, including:
- tea tree
- peppermint
- lavender
- eucalyptus
The oil is free from chemicals and solvents and comes in a convenient roll-on bottle, making it easy to apply to any part of the body.
The company warns that the oils production facility also processes nuts.
Papa & Barkley Releaf Body Oil is available to purchase online.
Best unique oil blend: Charlotte’s Web Massage Therapy Pain Relief Oil
- CBD type: broad-spectrum
- Potency: 200 mg of CBD per ounce
- Organic: no
- Vegan: no information available
The company claims this product contains 200 mg of CBD extract in each 103 ml bottle, along with other ingredients including:
- menthol
- camphor
- jojoba seed oil
- cottonseed oil
- frankincense oil
- honeysuckle oil
- myrrh oil
- argan oil
- coconut oil
Charlotte’s Web recommends individuals use this product on their arms, legs, and torso. The company claims that the oil aims to help ease minor pains and aches.
Charlotte’s Web Massage Therapy Pain Relief Oil is available to purchase online.
Use code “HEALTH20” for 20% off.
Best for tension: Juna Ease Functional Body Oil
- CBD type: full-spectrum
- Potency: 400 mg of CBD per 1.7 oz
- Organic: yes
- Vegan: no information available
According to the company website, each 1.7 oz bottle of Juna Ease Body Oil contains 400 mg of organically-grown, full-spectrum hemp oil from plants grown in Colorado.
This product also contains oils that may have anti-inflammatory, muscle-relaxing, and healing properties, including:
- turmeric
- grapeseed
- jojoba
- lavender
- geranium
- bergamot
- ravintsara
The company ensures products have third-party testing, and the company posts the results on its website.
Juna Ease Functional Body Oil is available to purchase online.
Best aromatherapeutic: Empower Bodycare CBD Luxury Body Oil
- CBD type: broad-spectrum
- Potency: 500 mg of CBD per 30 ml
- Organic: yes
- Vegan: no information available
The manufacturer’s website states that every 30 ml bottle contains at least 500 mg of CBD from plants grown on a certified organic farm in Oregon.
Other ingredients provide fragrance and may support healing and relaxation, including:
- jojoba seed
- wintergreen
- sunflower
- lavender
Empower Bodycare CBD Luxury Body Oil is available to purchase online.
Comparison chart
The following table compares the products in this article.
| CBD type | Potency | Organic | Vegan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Susan’s CBD | CBD isolate | 150 mg of CBD per ounce | no information available | no information available |
| Lazarus Naturals | full-spectrum | 100 mg of CBD per ounce | yes | yes |
| Papa & Barkley | full-spectrum | 200 mg of CBD per ounce | no | no information available |
| Charlotte’s Web | broad-spectrum | 200 mg of CBD per ounce | no | no information available |
| Juna | full-spectrum | 400 mg of CBD per 1.7 oz | yes | no information available |
| Empower Bodycare | broad-spectrum | 500 mg of CBD per 30 ml | yes | no information available |
CBD for pain
According to a review in Frontiers in Pharmacology, evidence suggests that CBD can reduce pain associated with:
- post-surgery
- peripheral neuropathy
- inflammation
- fibromyalgia
Additionally, a study in BJGP Open found that most adults tolerate CBD well. It also improves chronic pain and mental health conditions, such as anxiety, in many people.
A 2019 evaluation study found that 94% of people with chronic pain reported improved quality of life after 8 weeks of CBD use.
Additionally, about half of the users reduced or eliminated opioid use after adding CBD to their treatment regimen. This may be good news for some people with chronic pain looking to move away from opioids to control pain.
However, people with more pronounced symptoms or severe symptom progression may not find CBD effective against pain.
A 2018 studyTrusted Source notes that topical application is about as effective as other popular methods, such as taking CBD orally.
Topical application bypasses the digestive system, allowing the CBD directly into the bloodstream through the skin. However, topical application does have limitations, including slow absorption.
People with localized pain symptoms, such as inflammation in one area, may find topical application works best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the answers to some frequently asked questions about CBD massage oils.
Is CBD legal?
The United States no longer classifies plants and products that contain 0.3% THCTrusted Source or less as controlled substances. This applies on a dry-weight basis only.
CBD products made from plants with higher levels of THC are subject to state laws. People interested in such products should check their local and state regulations.
Is CBD safe?
CBD alone does not cause the “high” associated with cannabis use, is not addictive, and does not cause significant side effects. However, according to the FDATrusted Source, CBD can interact with some medications, may harm the liver, and its long-term effects remain unknown.
Does CBD work?
Anecdotal reports claim that CBD provides many health benefits, but clinical evidence to support these claims is still limited. A 2021 studyTrusted Source shows that CBD may help people manage conditions such as anxiety and insomnia, but overall, further research will benefit treatment options and availability.
Can I rub CBD on my skin for pain?
Yes. Many companies offer topical CBD products that may have additional ingredients for pain relief, such as menthol and cayenne.
Summary
Topical CBD massage oils may help soothe some symptoms of pain and inflammation.
Topical CBD application allows some of the CBD and other compounds in the oil to get through the skin, potentially providing benefits to the surrounding area.
CBD massage oil may work best alongside other pain management practices. Anyone with chronic pain should talk with their doctor to help diagnose underlying issues and discuss treatment options.
