Lower back — a massage ritual with a CBD cosmetic cream

According to the Assurance Maladie, 84% of the French population will experience at least one episode of lower back pain during their lifetime. Common lower back pain (with no identified structural cause) is in the vast majority of cases benign and self-resolving.

The Haute Autorité de Santé distinguishes:

• Acute lower back pain: less than six weeks.
• Subacute lower back pain: between six weeks and three months.
• Chronic lower back pain: beyond three months — roughly 5 to 8% of cases.

The HAS recommendations rest on four pillars: informing and educating the patient, maintaining adapted physical activity, active physiotherapy (strengthening, mobility), and painkillers where necessary on medical advice.

Since February 2021, cannabidiol has been listed in the European Commission's CosIng database. CBD creams, balms and topical oils are governed by European cosmetics regulation 1223/2009. The European Commission additionally authorised the use of hemp leaves in cosmetics in 2024.

The Conseil d'État ruling of 29 December 2022 definitively settled the French framework: hemp flowers, leaves and derivatives are authorised provided the finished product contains less than 0.30% THC.

In legal terms, a cosmetic may claim no pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory or analgesic action whatsoever. The permitted vocabulary revolves around "muscle comfort", "massage ritual" and "a moment of relaxation".

A typical formulation combines:

• Cannabidiol from hemp, at variable concentrations (often 100 to 1,000 mg per 30 to 100 ml container).
• Menthol: the traditional cooling sensation.
• Camphor: the characteristic note of massage balms.
• Methyl salicylate: a wintergreen scent, another classic active ingredient.
• Plant oils (jojoba, fractionated coconut, sweet almond).
• Butters (shea, cocoa) for texture.
• Waxes (beeswax or plant-based) for consistency.
• Preservatives, emulsifiers and fragrances compliant with the cosmetics framework.

Before buying, check:

1. The CBD content in milligrams.
2. The certificate of analysis published by the brand (CoA), issued by an independent laboratory and less than 12 months old.
3. The full INCI list, clear and free of banned cannabinoids (HHC, H4CBD, THCP and HHCO have been classified as narcotics since June 2024).
4. Compliance with the THC threshold of < 0.30%.

A coherent self-massage routine:

1. Take a lukewarm shower to soften the muscles.
2. Scoop a walnut-sized amount of balm into your palm.
3. Warm it between both hands for 10 seconds.
4. Apply it to the lumbar area, without pressing hard.
5. Massage in slow circles for 3 to 5 minutes, working up from the glutes towards the lower ribs.
6. Breathe deeply throughout the massage.
7. Let it absorb for a few minutes before getting dressed.
8. Wash your hands thoroughly (menthol stings on contact with the eyes or mucous membranes).

Repeat once or twice a day as needed, as part of a wellbeing ritual.

If you are having physiotherapy for your lower back, a CBD cosmetic balm can fit in between sessions without interfering. A few principles:

• Never replace the exercises prescribed by your physiotherapist with a simple massage using a balm.
• Movement remains central: daily walking, gentle mobility work, progressive strengthening.
• Massage is a complement: it contributes to comfort, muscular relaxation and a positive perception of the body.
• If you have any doubt about a movement or a posture, ask your physiotherapist.

Poor sleep worsens the perception of lower back pain. A few principles aligned with the HAS and INSV recommendations:

• A suitable mattress: neither too soft nor too firm.
• The foetal position or lying on your back with a cushion under the knees to relieve the lumbar area at night.
• A regular bedtime, ideally before 11 pm.
• A cool bedroom (18-19 °C) and a dark one.
• No intense screen use in the last 30 minutes before bed.

A CBD balm applied in the evening can slot into the bedtime routine as a calm moment.

• CBD is not a medicine. If lower back pain persists or is intense, consult a healthcare professional.
• Red flags justifying a prompt consultation according to the HAS: pain that wakes you at night, fever, a history of cancer, unexplained weight loss, bladder or bowel disturbance, motor deficit, a history of recent trauma.
• Do a skin test 24 hours before the first application if your skin is sensitive.
• Do not apply to damaged skin, open wounds or mucous membranes.
• Use is not advised for pregnant or breastfeeding women (in line with the precautionary position of ANSES, which proposed in June 2025 that CBD be classified as "presumed toxic for reproduction").
• Use is not advised for minors.
• If you are on medical treatment (anticoagulants and antiepileptics in particular), seek your doctor's advice.

• 84% of the French population will experience an episode of lower back pain during their lifetime.
• The HAS recommends activity, physiotherapy and painkillers where necessary — not prolonged rest.
• CBD cosmetics have been listed in the European CosIng database since 2021.
• A CBD balm fits into a self-care ritual, with no therapeutic claim.
• Check the content, the certificate of analysis, the INCI list and THC compliance at < 0.30%.
• Red flags (fever, neurological disturbance, night pain) = prompt consultation.

• Conseil d'État, 29 Dec. 2022, no. 444887 (flowers/leaves) — primary
• ANSM — Thematic file on cannabis for medical use — primary
• ANSM — Progress report, Feb. 2024 (final year of the trial) — primary