Aromalief was kind enough to send me a free sample of their Hemp Pain Relief lotion to try with a request that I review it. The opinions expressed here are my own and I have not been compensated for this post.
Cannabis vs. CBD vs Hemp
Let’s be real, CBD is the new “thing.” It seems like everywhere you turn, people are claiming that CBD can solve all of your problems.
Dog barks too much? CBD.
Anxiety out of control? CBD!
Muscle aches and pains? ….you guessed it, CBD!
But this has led to a lot of misinformation and companies taking advantage of the lack of regulation in this industry. I’ll be honest, I had to do a lot of research before I realized that this lotion actually wasn’t a CBD lotion. I assumed (like many probably will) that since the front of the package said “Hemp Pain Relief” that it contained CBD.
There’s so much information swimming around out there about cannabis and the different ways that it can be used that it can be very overwhelming!
However, after much reading I finally figured out the differences between all 3 of these different compounds!
Cannabis (also known as marijuana), CBD, and hemp seed oil all come from the same plant – the Cannabis sativa plant. Other than that, they’re pretty different. You can check out the infographic below to learn the differences!
What are the benefits of hemp?
Hemp seed oil is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 acids, wholesome protein, vitamin E, vitamin B2 and B6, and trace minerals.
But, is hemp legal?
It seems like whoever you ask will have a different answer about this.
The most up to date info I found is that the 2014 Farm Bill took the position that states can regulate the production of hemp. However, in 2018 President Trump signed a new version of the Farm Bill that states that hemp is legal on a federal level.
So, that makes it legal everywhere, right?
Well, not exactly. Although it is federally legal, apparently it is still up to the laws in your state.
According to the CBD awareness project, hemp is only illegal in 2 states: Idaho and Nebraska. However, South Dakota’s hemp laws are unclear.
Personally, I hope that state and local police are spending their time and effort on things other than enforcing laws banning hemp, especially in lotion form, but please be sure to check relevant laws in your state before purchasing!
Will using hemp products get me high?
The two main compounds in both marijuana and hemp plants are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD.
THC is the compound that has psychoactive properties, meaning that it can get you high. CBD, however, does not have any psychoactive properties.
The reason that one of these compounds will get you high while the other doesn’t goes back to something in your body called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). THC and CBD bind to different receptors within the ECS, therefore providing different effects.
However, true hemp seed oil contains zero THC and almost no CBD, meaning that there is no risk of getting high off of products containing it.
Aromalief Hemp Pain Relief Lotion
According to their website, Aromalief is the “only vegan pain relief cream that combines anti-inflammatory nutrients with the benefits of aromatherapy to help your body and mind feel better.”
The box that it came in was really cute and everything was packaged nicely (it’s the small things, y’all).
For those of you who don’t know, I have been absolutely ~blessed~ in my life with some serious muscle knots that live in my upper back, mostly in my traps. When these knots really get going, it hurts just to exist. I’m wincing thinking about it.
I’ve tried MANY things to help with these knots. Foam rolling, stretching, yoga, a tennis ball, massage, lidocaine, heating pads, muscle relaxers…….. these things are relentless. If you try pressing on my back, you can hear actual crunching.
Needless to say, I was excited but skeptical to try this product. I had read so many good things about hemp/CBD lotions, but deep down I didn’t really believe it was gonna make much of a difference when nothing else had before.
But it turns out that I was really impressed with this stuff!
When I tell you nothing else has even made a dent in my back pain like this has, I really mean it. The relief is almost immediate once you rub it in, which might have to do with the menthol in it. It definitely doesn’t 100% get rid of the pain, but I was just happy to finally find a product that did something.
It doesn’t really feel like it is numbing the pain in the area, which I guess is what I expected, but more like it is actually just relaxing that area which then reduces the pain. I do wish the relief lasted a little bit longer, but to be fair I also did not apply it as regularly as it says you can on the directions (2-3 times daily).
It smells good and the smell is not overpowering of anything, which was appreciated.
Since this was my first time using a hemp product and I had no clue what distinguished a good product from a bad one, I researched a little and found these guidelines for purchasing CBD/hemp products:
What does the label look like? Does it include an FDA label?
The Aromalief packaging says that it is certified cruelty free and vegan by PETA, but does not include an FDA label (however that is not a big deal since it is not a dietary supplement).
Their website states that, “Aromalief is made in an FDA registered facility and each ingredient has a Safety Data Sheet and Certificate of Analysis. We buy only high quality ingredients from reputable suppliers and do our own internal testing for everyone’s peace of mind.”
Has it been third-party tested?
I could not find any information on their website regarding third party testing to verify the levels of hemp listed.
What’s the dosing?
The dosing (aka directions) are listed on the back of the product, stating to apply 2-3 times daily.
Does it claim to cure any diseases?
Their website states that Aromalief is meant for, “Pains of the body and the soul. This includes: muscle, joint, nerve, and chronic pains PLUS stress, anxiety, and sadness. Our ingredients are the best in the market to help relieve pain due to arthritis, back pain, herniated discs, carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, and more. If your type of pain isn’t listed here, we still encourage you to try it. If it doesn’t help you, then simply return it.”
Although they encourage people with certain conditions to try the product, they are not making any claims that it will cure these conditions.
Is there a batch number?
There is a batch number listed on the package, which is a sign of good manufacturing practices.
Are there additional ingredients in there?
There are additional ingredients in aromalief, which are listed on the back of the package. They also provide an explanation of the additional ingredients on their website.
Bottom line: would I recommend Aromalief? (NOTE: Updated 8/12/2020)
Aromalief definitely did have a positive impact on my muscle pain. The product is certified cruelty free and the company is women owned, which I think are both big positives. It smells good and a little goes a long way.
I’m always in favor of trying something more natural with minimal side effects such as a lotion rather than having to resort to additional medications.
However, I think that the labeling of this product is slightly misleading, and I can’t say whether that is purposeful or not. It was only after doing extensive research that I even realized this product didn’t contain CBD and only contained hemp seed oil. While hemp seed oil does have some health benefits, these benefits are significantly different than the ones associated with CBD.
I did some research and found that most CBD topicals fall in the $30–$60 range.
Aromalief is priced at $40 for 4 oz (although it is on sale right now for $34), which I found to be a little bit pricey because it does not actually contain any CBD.
If you are a well researched consumer and are aware that the product you are buying does not actually contain CBD, then I say go for it! However, if you are specifically looking for a CBD topical, I would take caution not to become confused by the convoluted marketing of hemp and CBD products.
UPDATE: 8/12/2020
Okay, so I really wanted to come back to write this update because I think that since this was the first type of pain relief cream I tried, I was a little too harsh. I may or may not have had the chance to try out a pain relief lotion that contained THC AND CBD, which arguably should provide more relief than one with just hemp, and it literally did nothing AT ALL compared to Aromalief.
I’m writing this update because the past 5 days I have had absolute rock hard muscle knots in my traps and neck, and seriously could not get any relief. I got a massage, did tennis ball rolling, lidocaine patch, heating pad, hot bath, stretching, muscle relaxants, you name it. By today I was on the verge of tears and in sooo much pain.
I honestly had kind of forgotten about this product because it was up on top of my dresser, but I decided to give it a shot and OH. MY. GOD. Immediate relief.
I think I must not have had that much pain goin on when I tried this before?! Or maybe I’m just so giddy to finally get some level of relief that I’ve spontaneously fallen in love with a lotion.
Either way, at this moment this stuff is one of my most prized possessions. The pain is definitely not 100% gone, but it is seriously notable relief. I will 100% be purchasing this again in the future, I don’t care about the price or what is in it as long as it actually does something to help.
