The biggest buzz in the spa world today revolves around CBD oils and salves and the perceived benefits of both ingesting the oil and using the CBD salve for massages. The salve is infused with essential oils such as lavender, vanilla and peppermint to create a treatment that may reduce pain, inflammation and even anxiety. CBD is one of the many cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant; but unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), another compound found in the plant, CBD is not psychoactive, so side effects of getting high are slim to none. 

Spas and wellness centers across Colorado are now offering CBD infusions to their traditional body treatments, while others offer customized services. The healing properties of naturally derived hemp cannabinoids can intensify the benefits of the massage for longer lasting relaxation and pain relief, and the deep relaxation and pain relief from a CBD massage can last anywhere from a day to a week, depending on severity of the trauma and method the CBD salve is being applied. If it is applied right off the shelf, the benefit will probably not last as long as when applied by a massage therapist who deeply integrates the salve into the muscles and joints. 

There are many salves that are CBD-infused, including the salve found at Colorado Springs-based naCHer Apothecary, which according to its website “offers a symphony of beneficial supporting ingredients such as eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, menthol crystals and even bergamot oil.” They suggest using the salve consistently between body treatments. 

Denver-based Mary’s Nutritionals has also been at the forefront of the booming CBD industry by bringing modern technology and horticulture together, developing products that maximize the benefits of natural plant nutrients and ultimately offer reliable and effective relief. 

“We’re now exploring spa-focused product offerings — the next logical step for Mary’s Nutritionals was a full-spectrum, hemp-infused oil that could be used during a CBD massage, as well as a daily moisturizer,” says Lynn Homderd, CEO of Mary’s Nutritionals. “The product is vegan and nut, paraben and gluten-free.” 

These Colorado spas are incorporating CBD into their services:

Photo courtesy of the Vail Athletic Club

SPA AT THE VAIL VITALITY CANTER AT VAIL MOUNTAIN LODGE 

As Vail is one of the cornerstone of Colorado’s outdoor lifestyle, it’s no wonder that the Spa has been in the forefront of performance-based treatments for three decades. Recently the spa introduced several treatments that incorporate CBD oils, including the CBD Massage and the High Mountain Scrub, which consists of a hemp and coffee scrub, followed by a full body massage with Nature’s Roots organic cannabinoid oil. vailmountainlodge.com/spa 

LODO MASSAGE STUDIO 

This massage studio offers a completely customized signature service called the Mile High Massage for a starting price of $69. Based on client needs, the therapist will incorporate different modalities as well as adding Denver-based Apothecanna’s extra strength relieving body crème, which is infused with CBD, arnica, peppermint and juniper. lodomassagestudio.com 

SPA AT SAINT JULIEN 

Last July, the award-winning Spa at St. Julien in Boulder joined other Colorado spas in offering CBD treatments with the launch of “The Ultimate Colorado Bliss Experience.” It starts with a full body exfoliation, and for a smart reason: the spa believes that scrubbing the dead cells off the skin allows for optimal absorption of the CBD products. You’ll then be gently wrapped in a lavender and sage body butter (infused with CBD oil) while you receive a hot oil scalp massage. The treatment continues with a full-body massage with CBD oil. A bit pricy but a blissful way to spend an hour. stjulien.com/spa

Photo by Katherine Hanlon.

Originally published in the Summer + Fall 2019 issue. 

Wendy Wilkinson has been a writer and publicist in the celebrity/lifestyle worlds for more than twenty-five years. Her work has been published in many national and regional publications including the Los Angeles Times, Colorado Living Well, Cowboys & Indians, and Fit and Fit Yoga. As an author she co-wrote Parents at Last, Celebrating Adoption and the New Pathways to Parenthood, People We Know, Horses They Love, with cover Robert Redford, and Morgan Freeman & Friends, Caribbean Cooking for a Cause.