Do CBD Patches Actually Work?

With the ever-growing trend of CBD hemp oil, there’s no limit to the types of products that people use to get a dose of cannabidiol (CBD). One of the more recent and innovative delivery methods is CBD patches, which allow for hemp extract to enter the blood stream through transdermal absorption. But with new products comes new questions, especially when it pertains to the CBD market.

What are CBD patches used for?

CBD patches are typically used to achieve the same therapeutic benefits that people experience with other CBD oil products, like the anti-inflammatory or analgesic (pain killing) effects. In particular, these patches may help alleviate pain in localized areas, or provide long lasting relief since they continue to release CBD for many hours.

These patches are perhaps most similar to other CBD topicals, but the majority of CBD creams and lotions are not transdermal, meaning they don’t penetrate beneath the skin to enter the bloodstream. CBD patches on the other hand are formulated differently, with the specific purpose of allowing CBD to enter the body through transdermal absorption. The effects may start to work in a manner that’s more akin to a capsule or a gummy because of the way these patches offer an extended release of CBD.

Transdermal CBD patches are popular among athletes and people who maintain an active lifestyle, primarily because they offer hours of relief without having to worry about dosing or re-administering the product. These patches are also a very discreet method of taking CBD, and if you’re always on-the-go, it’s easy to take these patches anywhere and apply them for all-day relief.

The Best CBD Patches

In our research of over 100 CBD brands, we’ve found many high quality edibles, vapes, and tinctures that we feel confident recommending to our readers. But in our search for the best CBD patches, it was evident that not many companies offer transdermal patches. So in order to make the process easier for consumers, we narrowed down our selection to highlight our top three picks for CBD patches:

How long does it take for CBD patches to work?

When using a transdermal patch, the CBD enters your blood stream more slowly over an extended period of time. Because of this, it can be difficult to tell exactly when it begins to take effect. However, it typically takes an hour or so before the CBD penetrates through the skin into the bloodstream.

Do CBD patches make you high?

Much like any other natural hemp-derived CBD product, CBD patches will not produce a psychoactive effect like the “high” that is associated with marijuana. Instead, you may experience a sense of calm, or notice that your muscle pain is less jarring than before.

So do these products work?

Like any other kind of CBD application style, your personal experience may be different than someone else’s, and it can depend heavily upon how your body absorbs CBD and the type of products that you use. To get the most out of your CBD patch, we recommend applying it to a venous area like the inner wrist where the CBD can easily enter the bloodstream. Alternatively, you can opt to place the patch directly over an area where you experience pain or discomfort, which will allow the CBD to target this area more specifically. Overall, the feedback from people who use transdermal CBD patches notes that they enjoy the subtle effects, as well as the slow absorption of CBD over a longer period of time.