CBD is all the rage at the moment and it’s now legal in all 50 states, even Utah. Proponents of CBD tout numerous health benefits including pain relief, reduced anxiety, and therapeutic effects on the body’s nervous system. CBD may also be a powerful anti-inflammatory. But with newfound popularity, seemingly thousands of CBD companies have cropped up. So I had questions: How do you choose just one? How do you know you’re getting the real thing? Can CBD be used to promote a healthier outdoor recreation lifestyle?
43 Solutions CBD
Faced with those questions, I got in contact with 43 Solutions CBD, a company based in Durango, Colorado. They make CBD tinctures and salves from hemp plants containing less than .3% THC (the legal delineation between hemp and marijuana. That means you can safely take CBD without feeling any psychoactive effects (getting high).
43 Solutions is a “farm to table” operation. They derive CBD from hemp plants grown on organic farms on Colorado’s Western Slope. After harvest, a state-certified extractor pulls the plant extract in a safe environment that has been inspected by the state. They use a process that creates full-spectrum CBD (rather than CBD isolate). 43 Solutions has an explanation about the difference on their website.
As an outdoor enthusiast, my main concern is using CBD to enhance post-activity recovery, and to mitigate joint and muscle pain while recreating. So I’ve been testing out two products, the CBD Hemp Oil Tincture, and the Ultra Deep Tissue Salve.
CBD Hemp Oil Tincture
Almost two years ago, I had surgery on an arthritic knee. Ever since then, it’s been painful to charge hard while skiing, and nearly impossible to go trail running. Lessening that knee pain is the relief I seek. So every day for the last two weeks I’ve been consuming 5 ml of 1,000 mg CBD Hemp Oil Tincture, administered from the included dropper in the mornings. I also take another dose in the evening if I went especially hard on the slopes that day.
I’ve taken CBD oils in the past, and quite frankly, they taste terrible. But 43 Solutions actually makes oil that tastes good! Their tinctures come in three flavors: cinnamon, peppermint, and hemp. I’m using the cinnamon flavor and it’s really good without even a hint of bitterness. The CBD is suspended in a carrier of hemp seed oil, which itself is rich in omega fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins.
While the CBD Hemp Oil Tincture tastes great, the jury is still out on whether it is doing much for my knee pain while recreating. However, I have noticed an overall positive effect – I’ve been sleeping better, joint pain while doing everyday tasks is reduced, and my chronic back pain has not flared up ever since I’ve started this experiment. In addition, I have anxiety problems in social situations. That too has noticeably lessened. Now correlation does not equal causation, so who knows if the CBD is responsible for this, but I think it’s worth continuing the test. After all, taking CBD sure isn’t hurting, even if I am experiencing some sort of placebo effect.
Ultra Deep Tissue CBD Salve
Along with the effort to manage knee pain, I’ve been rubbing the 43 Solutions Ultra Deep Tissue CBD Salve into my bum knee before and after outdoor activity. This stuff is the bomb. Made from all organic ingredients, this topical includes menthol, camphor, and eucalyptus along with cinnamon, clove, and lavender. In addition to the full-spectrum hemp oil, there’s rosemary oil, olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax, and vitamin E.
This deep tissue salve has a nice, cooling effect when rubbed into the skin. It reminds me of Icy Hot or Biofreeze, except 43 Solutions is all natural. I’ve felt an almost immediate effect when using it, especially after activity when my knee is sore. Besides my chronic pain, the salve has been great for relief of minor muscle aches in my neck and shoulders.
Final Word
Of course CBD’s supposed health benefits have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. And the standard disclaimer is that CBD products are “not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.” As for myself, I can’t say that CBD products from 43 Solutions are a miracle cure for all the ails me. But I am confident in saying that overall I feel better while using the CBD Hemp Oil Tincture. That feeling of well-being is hard to explain – it’s like I’m more present and centered during the day. A plus for sure. As for pain relief, the Ultra Deep Tissue CBD Salve definitely works to diminish muscle and joint pain.
So if you’re curious about CBD, or serious about trying it out to see what it can do for you, I definitely recommend 43 Solutions. They’re dedicated to natural farm practices and never use pesticides or chemicals. Along with being dedicated outdoor enthusiasts, (snowboarders – but I won’t hold that against them) they’re also scientists with chemistry backgrounds. They lap-test every batch they make to ensure quality and potency.
Check them out at www.43cbd.com to find out more, or to order some for yourself.