Many of our clients come to Elixinol looking to use CBD oil to work alongside and support other natural treatments designed to promote health and wellbeing. One of those common treatments is physical therapy.
We recently sat down with the President of Elixinol, Gabriel Ettenson, a licensed physical therapist who practiced in New York during his early career. During our discussion, we talked about how CBD oil can be integrated with a physical therapy regimen to maximize wellness and help you to feel like yourself faster.
How Does Physical Therapy Work?
Before making his way to Elixinol, Gabriel spent 16 years working as a physical therapist on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
“I was working with every from stressed-out lawyers to children looking to deal with issues,” he said, “up to seniors dealing with neurodegenerative diseases and surgery.”
Physical therapy seeks to treat injuries, diseases, or other conditions through physical methods like stretching, exercises, heat, cold, or massage. The goal is to help the body heal itself. These natural methods are prioritized over drugs or surgery, which may have more side effects and may only temporarily repair the problem instead of healing it.
“The physical therapist identifies issues and teaches their patients how to correct those issues,” Gabriel says. “If you have a problem with your low back and it looks like your spine is excessively arched, their job is to allow your spine to move back to a natural position.”
“Physical therapy is working with a patient to structurally correct the problem. It’s all designed to give some input to a person that their body can do what it was designed to do.”
When Gabriel worked as a physical therapist, he had never heard of hemp CBD oil, though he’s always believed that Western medicine is too reductionist and focused on strong medications that can come with risky side effects.
Now, after seeing what CBD can do, he recommends it from a lifestyle perspective as a tool that can support the potential results that come from physical therapy.
Topical CBD for Physical Therapy and Recovery
Topical CBD oil and physical therapy can go hand in hand, especially during patient recovery. Topical balms can be applied directly to affected areas and localized issues, delivering CBD’s calming support and relaxing properties straight to the areas that need it most.
Elixinol’s Hemp Balm and Extra Strength Hemp Balm can be easily integrated before or after therapy appointments. This can help with relaxing the area in question to prepare it for the upcoming treatment, or to calm the area post-treatment.
Carrying CBD oil in physical therapy offices, therefore, may be an option that practices might consider in order to provide patients with everything they need to heal fully. As the therapist works on structural problems, CBD oil can address them at a cellular level to make the therapy more effective.
Combining Topical CBD With CBD Oil Tinctures, Capsules, or Powder
Topical CBD, which is applied locally, can always be complemented by taking CBD orally or sublingually, whether or not you’re currently attending physical therapy.
Oral and sublingual delivery methods can provide full-body benefits from the CBD, including being anti-inflammatory, improving focus, relaxing the muscles, and soothing minor discomfort. It can help get the body into a state of homeostasis, which will help your body be more receptive to the work you’re doing in physical therapy.
If you’re interested in these methods, there are a number of ways to integrate them into your daily life before, during, or after treatment.
Our CBD tinctures and powder are both water soluble and have subtle flavors. They can be mixed into water or smoothies pre- or post-treatment, even if you’re on-the-go. Our CBD liposomes are also a good option; they’re fast-acting and can either be mixed with water or taken sublingually by applying it under the tongue.
Dietary Supplements Can Support a Holistic Approach to Wellness
A CBD oil and physical therapy integration can be a great step towards a healthier, happier life, but there are other things you can do support a full and holistic lifestyle, too. Gabriel stressed that it’s important for us to ensure we’re living a healthy lifestyle in as many ways as possible for true wellness.
Some of these healthy decisions include:
- Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Focus on plant-based diets with lean meat and foods healthy fats like fish and nuts. This doesn’t mean you can’t ever have sweets, but moderation is key; before reaching for that slice of cake, remember to balance it out with good-for-you foods your body can derive nutrients from.
- Exercise regularly. Both cardio and strength training are essential components of a healthy life. It will improve cardiovascular health and mental health, strengthen bones and joints, and improve overall well-being. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week.
- Prioritize good quality sleep. Sleep, like exercise, is essential to our well-being. Getting enough good quality, restful sleep will not only help you feel rested through the day, but it also can have a direct impact on health. Chronic sleep deprivation can result in an increased risk for diseases (including heart disease), mental health struggles, and flare-ups of chronic conditions. Your body needs sleep to heal itself, so if you’re struggling to get in a good night’s rest, check out our water-soluble CBD Cocoa Powder, which is designed to help you relax and sleep better at night.
