The primary advantage of applying topical medicine is the application of pain relief directly to the point of discomfort. Topical relief comes in ointments, gels, and lotions. Many are plant-based, such as capsaicin creams. Topical remedies are increasing in popularity due to a widespread--if not entirely accurate--perception of medication safety. Denver marijuana dispensaries can advise you.

The main attraction of topical cannabis is the low incidence of side effects. Cannabis salve “efficiently relieves arthritic and rheumatism pains. Among others, it has proven to be extremely efficient for the treatment of burns (even of 2nd degree), certain types of eczemas, psoriasis and fungus.”

Better, more effective topical cannabis products have high THC concentrations. To reassure users who fear getting high from use of topical cannabis:  cannabis topicals only treat pain. They don’t provide stimulus to the brain, cause any intense urges to eat, and they won’t change your brain’s chemistry.

Triathlete Stacy Sawyer echoes that support with her own testimonial that the best method for pain relief she has found is topical cannabis. In addition to leaving the user with mental faculties intact, she says, topical cannabis does not show up on any drug test. Unlike topicals containing menthol and camphor, “marijuana…work[s] with your body to address the source of the problem without causing more discomfort.”

Cannabis creams, lotions, sprays, and ointments work with the body because the human body produces its own cannabinoids. In short, cannabis mimics the substances the human body already uses to fight inflammation and chronic pain. Once you’ve decided to swap out the topical chili peppers or NSAIDs for topical marijuana, it’s time to figure out how to choose a worthy product.

Hempista recommends the sniff test. Literally. How does the product smell? If it smells old, musty, cooked, or “off,” then choose something else. If the product smells fresh, then consider whether its packaging will keep it fresh. You’ll also want to be sure that the product doesn’t carry a strongly medicinal or other unpleasant scent, because going around the office smelling of skunk or diesel fuel is unadvisable.

Oiliness is another concern. In short, avoid products with heavy ingredients like beeswax and coconut oil, which can be sticky and stain clothing with grease spots. Be aware that higher quality, more exotic ingredients will increase the price of the product.

Check the ingredients list. Even “all-natural” products should fully disclose the ingredients in the product, listed in descending order by amount. Cannabis should be listed within the top three ingredients, with THC being the active chemical and its concentration clearly shown. The amount of cannabis considered effective varies per person, but anything less than 5 mg total cannabinoids is often times not enough. It’s also worth noting that homemade ingredients tend to have higher THC concentrations. If any product sold by a dispensary has not been tested for the cannabis concentration and other chemicals, then the manufacturer has something to hide, and you should drop that product from consideration.

What you put on your body is just as important as what you put in your body. With three locations in the Denver area, the best dispensary in Denver can assist you with determining the right topical product to relieve your aches and joint pains. Altitude Dispensary is your go-to choice among Denver marijuana dispensaries. Call (303) 756-8888 for more information.