Discover the benefits of making your own cannabis-infused oil at home and grab the recipe for a homemade Cannabis-Infused Massage Oil with options for infusing both cannabis flowers and cannabis concentrates.
What is Cannabis Massage Oil?
The expanding legality of cannabis across the globe has led to an increase in the popularity of many different types of cannabis oil including hemp seed oil for cooking, CBD oil for anxiety and inflammation, cannabis-infused coconut oil for homemade edibles, and now, cannabis massage oils for topical applications.
Cannabis oils are made by extracting various cannabinoids, like CBD or THC, from the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids can be extracted from the plant material after undergoing the process of decarboxylation with either heat or solvents.
The cannabinoids are then mixed with a carrier oil, as cannabinoids are lipophilic and better absorbed with fat. Many popular carrier oils include coconut oil, MCT coconut oil, or hemp seed oil. Together the cannabinoids and the carrier oil come together to make an infused oil that can be used on the skin, topically, like massage oil.
Will Cannabis Massage Oil Get Me or My Clients High?
The topical application of cannabis onto the skin is a great application method for first-time cannabis users because it does not induce an intoxicating experience like inhaling cannabis or consuming edibles would.
Using a cannabis massage oil infused with either CBD or THC will not get you or your clients high or cause any intoxicating effects. This is because it is believed that the cannabinoids cannot penetrate the skin deep enough to pass through the tough outer layer of the skin to reach the bloodstream.
Additionally, it is not believed that topically applied cannabinoids like THC will show up in the bloodstream or urine when tested (1).
Cannabis Massage Oil Benefits
Cannabis oils are increasingly gaining acceptance in the health and wellness world. This trend can be attributed to the strong anecdotal evidence and emerging studies confirming that cannabis can be used as a remedy for common ailments.
The topical application of cannabis may be highly beneficial in the following cases:
1. Pain Relief
Anecdotal reports have identified cannabidiol, CBD, as providing immense pain-relieving effects, and now scientific studies are beginning to support the theory.
As stated by Harvard Health, “CBD may offer an option for treating different types of chronic pain” (2). They also mention several studies that show the beneficial use of CBD for arthritis pain. Additional studies show that CBD may help reduce chronic pain and inflammation.
2. Reducing Anxiety and Depression
Cannabis oils applied topically or otherwise, are often used to manage the symptoms of anxiety and depression, under the care of a medical doctor or not. There is not yet enough significant clinical evidence to support the use of cannabis to treat anxiety or depression, but that doesn’t mean many people don’t use cannabis for this exact reason.
A lack of better medical options or unwanted side effects associated with prescription medications is just a few major factors that have led to many living with these disorders to embrace a more natural approach to healthcare.
If you are brand new to using cannabis, be sure to check out this Beginners Guide to Using CBD Oil to Manage Anxiety.
3. Alleviation of Cancer-Related Symptoms
Cancer-related side-effects that stem from cancer treatment such as nausea, pains, and vomiting can be treated with cannabis and is one of the main qualifying conditions of receiving a Medical Marijuana Card.
Cannabis massage oil may help alleviate cancer-related pain. One study found that cannabis oral sprays containing both CBD and THC “generally well tolerated, with no evidence of a loss of effect for the relief of cancer-related pain with long-term use” (3).
4. Alleviation of Symptoms Associated With Neurological Disorders
Oral sprays containing CBD, like prescription medication Sativex, have been used in order to reduce muscle spasticity and reduce epilepsy seizures in children. They may also prevent neurological degeneration of people with Alzheimer’s disease, as CBD has been found to be a powerful neuroprotectant (4).
Many caretakers who care for loved ones with advancing neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s or dementia use cannabis-infused massage oil to bring pain relief and a sense of calm to their loved ones, without introducing any potential intoxicating effects.
How To Make CBD Massage Oil At Home
For the cannabis-infused massage oil recipe below we infused the oil with dried cannabis flower buds along with other medicinal herbs. Of course, we understand that getting your hands on dried cannabis flowers is easier said than done in many parts of the country.
Luckily, you can still make your own cannabis-infused massage oil with CBD oil or CBD concentrates if you do not have access to cannabis flowers. You would choose either one depending on how strong you want your CBD massage oil.
For a strong CBD massage oil, we recommend using a CBD concentrate which contains 500mg of CBD in just 1mL. This means you do not have to add a lot of volume to your massage oil to get a strong final product.
To make your own CBD massage oil with CBD oil or CBD concentrate you already have, simply follow the recipe as is, minus the cannabis flower, and add the CBD product at the end.
Just be sure to ensure that your infused massage oil is under 240° when you add the CBD oil or concentrate.
500mg THC-Free CBD Concentrate
Cannabis-Infused Massage Oil with Flower
If you have access to stems, leaves, trim, or other forms of cannabis flower, they are perfect to use in this recipe. Together with our cannabis herb, we combined other healing herbs including lavender, calendula, mint, and clove.
Of course, you can easily customize the fresh or dried herbs you want to infuse into your cannabis massage oil depending on the experience you’re looking for. You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.
Cannabis-Infused Massage Oil
Discover the benefits of making your own cannabis-infused oil at home and grab the recipe for a homemade Cannabis-Infused Massage Oil with options for infusing both cannabis flowers and cannabis concentrates.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups hemp seed oil
- ½ cup dried lavender flowers
- ¼ cup dried calendula flowers
- 1 ounce decarboxylated cannabis flower
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped mint
- 2 teaspoons whole dried cloves
Instructions
- Preheat a water bath to 185° F. Various water bath techniques are explained in the notes section below.
- Combine all ingredients together in a 16-ounce mason jar, wipe rim and finger tighten the lid.
- Place the mason jar into the water bath and cook for 4 hours.
- After 4 hours, remove the jar and allow to cool enough to handle. Strain the oil into a clean mason jar through a filter or cheesecloth.
- Let the oil cool to room temperature, seal the mason jar, and store in a cool dark place until ready for use.
Notes
- Make sure the cannabis flower is decarbed prior to adding it to this recipe or you may not experience the activated effects of CBD or THC.
- If you are using an Immersion Cooker or Sous Vide Cooker, fill a vessel deep enough to hold a 1-quart mason jar with an inch of water above lid with hot water. Preheat the water to 185° F.
- If you are using a Crock-Pot or Instant Pot for your water bath, fill the cooking vessel with enough hot water to cover the mason jar with an inch of water above the lid.
- If using an Instant Pot; set the slow cooker mode to 185°F and preheat.
- If using a Crock-Pot; preheat on high until 185° F is reached, then turn to low, a digital probe thermometer is recommended for Crock-Pot to ensure accurate temperature control.
- We recommend sanitizing my jars in the 185° F water for at least 5-minutes before filling with any ingredients. This step isn't necessary, but good safety practice.
