We here at Honest Marijuana love it when cannabis and creativity join forces. It’s the answer to our every “shipping” dream (cannativity? creatabis?) and has produced some truly unique forms of marijuana, like Thai sticks, moon rock, and purple weed. But nothing even comes close to the joy we feel when we think about CBD patches.
Though the CBD patch and the THC patch have only been around for a few years, transdermal patches have existed for almost 40 years. Way back in 1979 when dinosaurs still roamed the earth and kids had to walk to school uphill both ways, the FDA approved the first transdermal patch (scopolamine for motion sickness).
Other patches followed, but the most famous transdermal patch is the nicotine patch, which was introduced in 1991 to help tobacco users kick the smoking habit.
With the legalization of medical and recreational cannabis in the early part of the 21st century, the next logical step was the CBD patch. Now that it has finally arrived, we’re sure it’ll take the crown as the most famous transdermal patch of them all.
But what exactly are CBD patches, and how do they work? The experts at Honest Marijuana will answer that question and reveal everything you need to know about the newest and coolest way to get the CBD you need.
First, though, let’s talk about the ingredient that makes a CBD patch a CBD patch.
What Is CBD?
CBD (cannabidiol) is one of many chemical compounds within the cannabis plant. Scientists have given these compounds the name cannabinoids. THC is perhaps the most well-known cannabinoid. Others include:
- CBG (cannabigerol)
- CBL (cannabicyclol)
- CBN (cannabinol)
- CBT (cannabicitran)
And those are just the tip of the cannabinoid iceberg. Scientists have isolated 113 different cannabinoids. Think of these as building blocks that make up the entire chemical composition of the cannabis plant. Pretty cool, huh?
What Is A CBD Patch?
A CBD patch is a Band-aid
-like piece of plastic infused with the cannabinoid CBD. To get relief from chronic issues like pain and anxiety, you simply apply the CBD patch to a venous part of your body (that’s veins, not the planet), like your ankle, your arm, or the inside of your wrist.
Your body heat activates the patch and causes it to release a small amount of THC through your skin and into your bloodstream. Think of it like an IV without the pesky needles.
We’ll get into the specifics of how the CBD patch works in just a moment. But first, we’ll answer the question on everyone’s mind: will a CBD patch get you high?
Will A CBD Patch Get You High?
A CBD patch will NOT get you high. The patches have been specifically produced to minimize THC (the wonderful stuff that does get you high) while maximizing CBD. No CBD product will get you high unless it has been mislabeled or you took the wrong stuff.
Are There Any Side Effects From CBD Patches?
There are very few side effects associated with CBD (in any form). Even less so with CBD patches. That’s because the cannabinoid is delivered slowly over a long period of time instead of quickly over the course of just a few minutes (think smoking a doobie).
One of the only commonly reported issues is a tendency to experience dry mouth after taking CBD. But in a world full of treatments with a long list of negative side effects, a little dry mouth is a small price to pay for a decrease in your symptoms.
The only other possible side effect of note has to do with CBD’s interaction with other medications. CBD inhibits your liver’s ability to break down most of the pharmaceuticals that humans take. This isn’t really a problem if you stop one medication and take CBD for the condition instead.
But if you’re taking a medication for something like high blood pressure or a heart condition (which CBD doesn’t treat), adding CBD into the mix can render those medications ineffective. That can be a major problem. To avoid complications, be sure to talk to your doctor before using a CBD patch.
How Does A Transdermal CBD Patch Work?
When you apply a transdermal CBD patch to your skin, you set up a drug concentration gradient. That’s just fancy speak that means the patch contains a lot of cannabinoid, while your skin does not. When a substance (like heat or CBD) is in high concentration, it naturally wants to spread out into the surrounding area.
This concept is similar to pouring boiling water into a coffee mug and leaving it sitting on your counter. The hot water contains a lot of heat (212℉ worth), while the atmosphere around it doesn’t. Because of this difference (the gradient), the heat naturally “spreads out” into the air around it.
The nice thing about transdermal delivery is that it bypasses your lungs, liver, and stomach (places where your body filters or breaks down the cannabinoid). So you get 100 percent of the medicinal value of the CBD.
Are All CBD Patches The Same?
Currently, there are two distinct types of CBD patches: matrix and reservoir. At first glance, they may seem to be the same, but let us assure you that there are significant differences. The primary difference lies in how the patch is constructed.
Let’s examine the matrix patch first.
Matrix Patches
Source: www.sciencedirect.com
In a matrix patch, CBD is infused into the matrix of the patch itself, often in the adhesive. When the adhesive comes in contact with your skin, the CBD begins to move from the area of higher concentration into the area of lower concentration (as described in the section above).
The dose of CBD you get depends on the amount of cannabinoid held in the matrix and the size of the patch (i.e., the area of skin it covers).
Reservoir Patches
Source: www.sciencedirect.com
Reservoir patches get their name from the fact that CBD is—you guessed it—contained in a reservoir within the patch. The reservoir holds the CBD in solution (most often with a gel) and releases it through a rate-controlling membrane between the reservoir, the adhesive, and your skin.
People have been using reservoir patches successfully for almost 40 years. In addition, reservoir patches provide more controlled delivery rates, so the wearer doesn’t get too much medication all at once. For these reasons, reservoir patches are more effective than matrix patches.
What Are The Benefits Of Transdermal Delivery?
Transdermal CBD patches provide a whole host of benefits over most other methods of cannabis consumption. Here are just a few of those benefits.
Transdermal Patches Are Discreet
If you’re looking for a discreet way to get your CBD without popping pills or dripping tincture under your tongue, the transdermal patch is the answer to your prayers. In fact, CBD patches are the most discreet consumption method on the market today.
Depending on how long the patch lasts (anywhere from four to six hours or more), there’s no need to administer another dose for quite some time.
Transdermal Patches Can Be Formulated To Yield Specific Results
Transdermal patches make it possible to deliver specific cannabinoids (or mixes of cannabinoids) in order to target specific problems. When you smoke a joint, you’re getting a whole mix of different cannabinoids. With the CBD patch, you only get CBD, so the medicinal effects will be stronger.
Transdermal Patches Last Longer
Transdermal patches release CBD slowly over a number of hours (four to six on average). That means that the medicinal effects last at least that long. This is in stark contrast to other methods of consumption (like oils or isolates), which peak quickly and then taper off, requiring you to take another dose.
What Strains Work Best For CBD Patches?
When it comes to CBD patches and transdermal delivery, it’s not so much the specific strain that matters. Instead, it’s the purity of whatever strain is used that makes the most difference.
Now, obviously, if your goal is to make a CBD patch, you would want to use a high-CBD strain with as little THC as possible. After that, it’s all about the purity. The purer the strain the more CBD, terpenes, and trichomes will be available for use in the patch.
Organic marijuana is some of the purest product on the market and provides the best raw material for transdermal patches. Make sure the patches you use are made with 100-percent organic cannabis (like that produced by Honest Marijuana).
Are CBD Patches Right For You?
We get asked this question a lot. Our response? Just give it a try and see for yourself. What have you got to lose except your pain?
With CBD patches, you don’t have to worry about side effects because CBD doesn’t really have any. And you don’t have to worry about psychedelic effects because CBD doesn’t do that. If you’re unsure how to get started or which patch to choose, talk to the budtenders at your local dispensary. They can point you in the right direction.
And if you don’t like your experience with CBD patches, you can always switch to one of the many other forms of high-CBD cannabis on the market today. There are so many to choose from (joints, blunts, bongs, dabbing, edibles, drinks, pills, oils, creams, tinctures, isolates, dissolvable strips, live resin, shatter, wax) you really can’t go wrong.
For more information on all things marijuana and to check out our 100-percent all-natural cannabis products, visit HonestMarijuana.com today.
The post CBD Patch: The Ultimate Guide To CBD Transdermal Patches appeared first on Honest Marijuana.
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