The pandemic has put a crimp on just about everyone’s plans during the past year; and for those who suffer from muscle cramps, the shutdown has made getting to a doctor more difficult than ever. No wonder why sales of OTC topical pain relievers are soaring. According to IRI Worldwide, mass market sales of external analgesics rubs jumped nearly 14% in food, drug and mass for the year ended December 27, 2020.  At the same time, sales of some CBD-infused pain relief formulas have soared more than 200%, according to IRI.

Nextraction is an all-natural producer of pure, raw cannabinoid ingredients derived from hemp for manufacturers of novel consumer products and bio-pharmaceutical research. 

Most recently, to demonstrate the efficacy of CBD in topical applications, the company has formulated an acidic cannabinoid lotion with CBDa as its active ingredient at a dose of 3mg/ml (finished product), along with a proprietary blend of naturally derived terpenes.
 
 
What's Inside

Nextraction executives explain that CBDa is a COX2 inhibitor (inflammation) and has some affinity for the endocannabinoid system (ECS) directly, which may modulate all biochemical/hormonal reactions within the body. 
 
“We've only just discovered the system and the part it plays in the human and animal hemostasis,” explained Nicole Foss, vice president, research and formulation, who added that CBDa is also thought to work on the TRPV receptors. 
 
 The WET Process
 
To obtain CBD from hemp, Nextraction relies on a water-based extraction method that is free from alcohols, hydrocarbons, and carbon dioxide. The cannabinoid content of the raw ingredient ranges from 70-98% total cannabinoids by weight. The hemp biomass is grown to organic standards in the Pacific Northwest region of the US. The water extracted technology (WET) cannabinoid ingredient is combined with distilled water, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, black currant, steric acid, magnesium, shea oil, emulsifying wax, gluconolactone, sodium benzoate, MSM and a proprietary botanical terpene blend known to be an ESC CB2 (endocannabinoid system- subtype 2) receptor agonist, decreasing periphery inflammation. Because of Nextraction’s WET processes, this truly gives products using Nextraction’s CBD, a real all natural product, according to company executives 
 
“The terpenes, as we currently understand, enhance CBDa availability and enhance the activation of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS),” explained Foss.

The natural terpenes work double duty, imparting a unique scent to the Nextraction formula, too. 
 
“We've found the sandalwood undertones, with the orange/tangerine top notes, are a perfect balance of feminine and masculine scents—pleasing everyone,” said Foss.
 
When it comes to frequency of use, efficacy is paramount, but the pleasant scent could be enough to convince consumers to swap out their Bengays and Biofreezes for the Nextraction formula, which is still in development as we went to press.
 
“We certainly see this lotion as a replacement for these heavily mentholated products, but we also believe it would be a great additive to these products as well,” explained Foss. “We've handed out more than 150  samples and folks have reported positive relief from bug bites and associated itching, ectopic dermatitis, sun irritation and sunburn, and of course major inflammation and joint pain.”
 
Foss said Nextraction has received wonderful anecdotal feedback from older consumers who used the formula for joint pain. At the same time, there is some antibacterial/antimicrobial research looking at cannabinoids for acne treatment.

That’s good to know as masks are just one of the fallouts from the pandemic.
 
Below are Journal articles detailing cannabinoids and the possible indications:
 
Kupczyk P, Reich A, Szepietowski JC. Cannabinoid system in the skin - a possible target for future therapies in dermatology. Experimental Dermatology. 2009;(8):669. Accessed January 14, 2021.http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.heal-wa.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsbl&AN=RN254994400&site=eds-live

Del Rio, C., Cantarero, I., Palomares, B., Gómez-Cañas, M., Fernández-Ruiz, J., Pavicic, C., García-Martín, A., Luz Bellido, M., Ortega-Castro, R., Pérez-Sánchez, C., López-Pedrera, C., Appendino, G., Calzado, M. A., & Muñoz, E. (2018). VCE-004.3, a cannabidiol aminoquinone derivative, prevents bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis and inflammation through PPARγ- and CB 2 receptor-dependent pathways. British Journal of Pharmacology, 175(19), 3813–3831. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.14450
 
 
Disclaimer:
No content in this article, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
 
Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or health condition.