January is CBD Month! You may be asking, “what’s CBD?”, but chances are, unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple years, you’ve at least heard of it. CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a chemical compound of the Cannabis Sativa plant, more commonly known as hemp or marijuana. It’s used in lotions, oils, edibles, and more, and it has been and continues to be the buzzworthy wellness product of the past few years. Many people claim all sorts of benefits from using CBD, but how can it help you in the bedroom? Read on to learn more about the hype over hemp!
First, the basics…
Yes, CBD comes from the hemp or marijuana plant, but it won’t get you high, and here’s why:
Cannabidiol is a naturally occurring substance in the cannabis plant, but its one of two main “layers” of compounds in the plant. CBD’s cousin compound, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the active ingredient in marijuana that makes you feel high. CBD is distilled from the hemp plant, which has a much lower concentration of THC, so CBD products contain none of the psychoactive substances that THC does, so it doesn’t cause any sort of euphoria or that “high” feeling. That being said, CBD alone can lead to other good feelings, hence its usefulness in all sorts of healthcare products, and even in the bedroom. This powerful natural compound just may be able to take your sex life to a new “high” place of enjoyment!
Even though CBD products contain no THC, won’t get you high, are derived from hemp, and will not show up on a drug test, they are still tightly regulated in some states. While hemp growth and the use and sale of CBD from hemp-based products is federally legal, the laws are a little more strict in some states than others, but are also changing constantly, so look into the legality of CBD products in your state before getting herbal in the bedroom.
How & why it works:
CBD and the other main chemical compound in marijuana, THC, both work with the endocannabinoid system in your body. That’s right…there is a whole system of your body, controlled and influenced by cannabinoids, which controls homeostasis and can affect everything from your mood, appetite, & immune health to your sex drive and your response to sex. Some cannabinoid compounds are naturally occurring in your body and regulated in this system, but it also processes cannabis compounds from external sources, whether smoked, ingested, or even rubbed on your skin, which can alter the way your brain and body work together through this system.
CBD is fat-soluble, which means it can be easily absorbed when rubbed on the skin. CBD oils and lotions are a popular treatment for everything from muscle aches to chronic stress, and all it takes to reap those benefits is smoothing on a little lotion. This is the property that can make it useful in products like lubes and arousal oils as well. When applied directly to the body, most notably the genitals, the CBD compounds can be quickly absorbed through the skin and start to take noticeable effect. So lets get right into the good stuff…how can CBD lubes and oils improve your lovemaking?
1. It can intensify sensation.
One of the most easily noticeable effects of using CBD oil in a sex product like lube, is that it will just make everything FEEL better! Everything from masturbation to penetrative sex will feel enhanced; every touch, elevated. Some users of CBD lubes even describe the sensation as “my vagina felt high without my mind being high”. Sounds pretty convincing for anyone looking to enjoy sex more! This makes CBD a great ingredient for products like arousal oils, such as the CBD Cannabis Intimate Pleasure Oil or Flora And Bast CBD Intimate Arousal Oil. For optimal effectiveness, apply the CBD product to your clitoris or vaginal area a few minutes before you intend to get busy so it has time to “soak in”, then just enjoy the sensations of sex in a whole new way!
2. It can eliminate painful sex.
Many, many women experience pain or discomfort during sex due to a huge variety of medical conditions, and CBD lube applied directly to the vaginal area and on the penis before sex can help with that. Try a water-based lube like GoLove CBD Intimate Lubricant or Bella Aqua D’amore for quick absorption. The active ingredient of CBD can help relax the muscles and tissues in the vaginal canal during sex, leading to increased feelings of comfort and ease. Many users even experience relief from symptoms of anxiety when using CBD products, and that can be a psychosomatic trigger of painful sex which may be assisted from using CBD lube. If you experience pain with penetrative sex and have tried other relief methods to no avail, CBD lube may be your saving grace!
3. It can soothe vaginal dryness.
As a general rule, using some type of lube is always important when having sex (read more about that here), and CBD lubes offer a bonus of possible long-term reduction to vaginal dryness and discomfort. The CBD helps to relax the vaginal area, leading to more arousal, easier penetration, and stronger orgasms, which is a super fun way to increase your natural production of lubrication! CBD can also reduce inflammation, so any irritation you may experience due to the friction of penetrative sex may be a thing of the past. For the longest-lasting dryness relief and friction control during sex, try a silicone-based CBD lube like MDScience CBD Silicone Personal Lubricant or Bella Olio D’amore. And since these products are silicone instead of oil-based, they’re safe with latex condoms, but not with silicone toys.
4. It’s good with a partner or on your own!
CBD has great features that make it ideal in lubes for sex, but there’s no reason you can’t enjoy these benefits for solo play, too. There is no reason you shouldn’t enjoy the enhanced arousal that can be enjoyed with a product like She-Ology CBD infused Love Oil, or the increased sensations from the tingly menthol in MDScience CBD Female Arousal Cream. CBD Cannabis even encourages you to use their products on your own with Masturbation Creams for him and for her.
The Takeaways?
Whether you’re using it for partnered sex or masturbation, CBD may just be the magic ingredient missing from your sex life! You may even find that CBD products can help improve your mood & energy levels or help lessen pain throughout your body. There are many different products on the market, so do your research and do a little experimenting to see what works best for you, then just have fun with it and reap the rewards. Take control of your pleasure and take your sex back to nature and see what’s out there!
