Meandering terminologies like lotions, moisturizers, creams, salves, tinctures, and oils surround within cannabis marketplace. It makes one wonder, what is a lotion anyway? Is there a difference between CBD oil and CBD lotion? Or what is the difference between a cream and a salve?

These are honest questions that confused people think about, when they read the listed options under topical cannabis category both in the local or online marijuana dispensaries. Learning lingo and diversity between cannabis related products available can be a challenging task but a little knowledge can go a long way.

What is CBD salve?

Generally, in terms of function, salve, ointment and balm have no real difference and can be used interchangeably. An ointment is oil based preparation that can be applied directly on the skin. Salve is an ointment that promotes healing of skin. Balm is referred to as an aromatic or fragrant ointment that soothes, heals or mitigates pain.

CBD cream and lotions are another group that differ from salves, ointments, or balms. The former make use of water and moisturizers as base and the latter use wax and fatty oils without water. Therefore, you will see that the texture is different but the function will be nearly same.

How CBD salve function?

When something gets injected or ingested into your body, it gets absorbed through the digestive system or blood stream but how can something applied on the skin ultimately translate at functional level.

Actually, skin is the largest organ that is very active and functional. It plays the role of a barrier against potentially damaging foreign substances, regulates body temperature, is a sensory organ, eliminates waste via sweat, synthesis Vitamin D and even absorbs fatty oils quickly used in ointments.

When CBD salve is applied topically, the cannabinoids infused in its base gets absorbed by the skin cell membranes. As soon as, it penetrates the healing mechanism starts on tissue layers and surrounding cell.

For this reason cannabinoid salves or cream are great alternative for specific skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema and arthritis as the CBD activity can be targeted directly on the specific area for discomfort or pain relief.

The CBD is similar to the cannabinoids produced in your own ECS or endocannabinoid system. Human ECS consists of network that produce cannabinoids naturally, which bond with receptors that regulate functions like –

• Inflammation
• Pain
• Skin sensitivity
• Appetite
• Immune response
• Memory

When CBD from the salve interacts with natural Cannabinoid receptors in ECS the body function gets a boost. It functions more efficiently and controls all kinds of internal processing associated with homeostasis in a great way.

CBD salve is effective in medical healing

• Arthritis joint pain and inflammation
• Muscle pain or soreness
• Chronic skin disorders like eczema and psoriasis
• Autoimmune disease
• Anxiety and depression

Is there a difference between CBD oils and CBD salve?

The main difference is that salves are rubbed directed on affected skin but oils are consumed orally. Salve work faster because they are applied on source directly and don’t need to go through multiple phases of metabolism and absorption.