It’s official. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S. affecting approximately 40 million adults every year according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. A growing number of Americans are becoming increasingly unable to handle the modern-day stresses of their everyday lives and are looking for therapeutic relief that doesn’t come with a list of additional side effects.
For those who experience anxiety on a day-to-day basis, life can be debilitating and finding an alternative option like CBD is essential to getting life back on track, which is why we’ve made a list of the 10 best CBD for anxiety.
Best CBD for Anxiety: Product Methodology
The following list of companies was compiled after careful deliberation and research. We evaluated the companies based on the following criteria:
- Product Quality
- Sourcing
- Extraction Method
- Price
- Customer Service
- Transparency
1. Kanibi
Kanibi was founded in 2019 with a mission to provide customers with the purest form phytocannabinoid-rich hemp (PCR). Their products are sourced from 100% organic hemp and double third-party tested, offering customers high-grade products at an affordable price. The third-party testing results are easy to find while navigating through their sleek product pages. Their CBD oil comes in a number of fun flavors that customers can’t stop raving about.
Price Range: $44 – $129
Sourcing: 100% organic hemp grown in Kentucky
Products To Try: CBD oil, gummies, and capsules
Lab Testing: Double third-party lab testing
Extract Type: Full-Spectrum
Pros:
- Free shipping on orders over $100
- 30-day, no questions asked return policy
- Clean CO2 extraction
Cons:
- Small product offering
- No CBD isolate oils
2. Fab CBD
Fab CBD was founded in 2017 and has already created quite the buzz for themselves. Focused on preventative health and helping consumers live healthier lives, Fab offers a variety of products that are discreet and delicious such as their popular CBD oil, chews, and superfood supplement blend. CBD oils range from 300mg-2400mg so you can truly customize your dose without sacrificing quality.
Price Range: $39 – $158
Sourcing: 100% organic hemp grown in Colorado
Products To Try: CBD oils, CBD chews, and superfood supplement
Lab Testing: Third-party lab results available online
Extract Type: Full-Spectrum
Pros:
- Free shipping on orders over $89
- CO2 extracted
- Delicious CBD oil flavors
Cons:
- Only sold online
- Expensive
3. cbdMD
cbdMD prides themself in both the quality and innovation of their products from harvest to extraction. Their strength lies in the unique aquaponics and vermicompost methods used to grow their hemp efficiently in the most nutrient-dense soil. They have a wide selection of CBD oils ranging from 300mg to 7500mg and a unique sleep aid formula that includes melatonin and herbal extracts like valerian root and chamomile. If you are often experiencing anxiety before bedtime, this award-winning product could be a great option to try.
Price Range: $10 – $340
Sourcing: Non-GMO grown in Kentucky
Products To Try: CBD oils, chews, gummies, and capsules
Lab Testing: Third-party lab testing available online
Extract Type: Broad-Spectrum
Pros:
- Free Shipping in U.S.
- 30-day back 100 % guaranteed policy
- Unique sleep CBD oil formulation
Cons:
- Product design
- Lab results are hard to find on the website
4. Charlotte’s Web
Founded by the well-known Stanley brothers, Charlotte’s Web has gained a reputation as one of the most trusted brands in the industry. Their website provides a plethora of information for how to use CBD, including a quiz to help you find the right product for your needs. In addition to being committed to the quality of their products, they also dedicate their time to their non-profit the Realm of Caring. Transparency is important to Charlotte’s Web and they include videos of their lab and extraction process online to showcase that.
Price Range: $35 – $280
Sourcing: 100% organic hemp grown in Colorado
Products To Try: CBD oils, capsules, and gummies
Lab Testing: Third-party testing available with batch number online
Extract Type: Full-Spectrum and CBD Isolate
Pros:
- Free shipping over $75
- CO2 extracted
- Large selection of products
Cons:
- Expensive
- Shipping can be slow
5. NuLeaf Naturals
NuLeaf Naturals likes to keep things simple and pure, focusing on the quality of their products rather than their variety. NuLeaf utilizes CO2 subcritical and supercritical extraction to produce CBD oil that is of the purest and most potent form. No additives or preservatives can be found in their oils, so if you’re looking for a fruity flavor to mask the taste of your CBD oil, then this may not be for you. Their full-spectrum CBD oils range from 240mg to 4,850mg.
Price Range: $39 – $439
Sourcing: 100% organic hemp grown in Colorado
Products To Try: CBD oil
Lab Testing: Third-party lab testing is available via email only
Extract Type: Full-Spectrum
Pros:
- Wide range of CBD oil concentrations
- 30-day risk-free trial
Cons:
- Limited product selection
- No third-party lab results available online; must email
6. Pure Hemp Botanicals
Pure Hemp Botanicals is rooted in their mantra “compassion in action” and embraced in all aspects of their business. They take compassion for the planet seriously and partner with businesses that care about the impact on the planet as much as they do by reducing the carbon footprint and using eco-friendly processes. It comes as no surprise that they grow their hemp under 100% organic conditions. They offer both full-spectrum and CBD isolate oils which can be a great option for users who may want to experiment with the entourage effect.
Price Range: $25 – $125
Sourcing: 100% organic hemp grown in Colorado
Products To Try: CBD oils, capsules, softgels
Lab Testing: Third-party testing available on “Lab results” page
Extract Type: Full-Spectrum and CBD Isolate
Pros:
- Free Shipping over $75
- Offers monthly subscriptions to reduce the costs
- Great customer service
Cons:
- Doesn’t accept Amex
- CBD oils aren’t flavored
7. Populum
Populum believes in creating products that better your well-being. They partner with domestic farms in Colorado to deliver high-quality hemp products to consumers who are looking for alternative solutions. Their CBD oil is a unique blend of hemp seed, coconut, grapeseed, and orange oil. They have a beautiful, simple product design that screams premium quality but consumers should note that their hemp is not organic and is extracted via ethanol.
Price Range: $36 – $333
Sourcing: Non-GMO hemp grown in Colorado
Products To Try: CBD oil, capsules, and bundles
Lab Testing: Third-party lab testing available on the website and with purchase
Extract Type: Full-Spectrum
Pros:
- Non-GMO
- 30-day risk-free trial
Cons:
- Not organic
- Ethanol alcohol extraction method
8. Mission Farms CBD
Mission Farms CBD is a family-owned business that was started to help families and customers feel better the natural way. They infuse their products with organic essential oils and their products are targeted for specific conditions, such as anxiety. They maintain their quality of standards by playing a hands-on role in every step of their hemp cultivation and processing. Their products are triple-tested and affordable so you can be confident you are getting only the very best.
Price Range: $29 – $100
Sourcing: Hemp grown with organic soil in Oregon
Products To Try: CBD oil
Lab Testing: Third-party tests can be found easily on their website
Extract Type: Broad-Spectrum
Pros:
- Triple third-party tested products
- Discounts offered for referrals
- 30-day satisfaction guarantee
Cons:
- No free shipping
- Full-spectrum options not available.
9. Sabaidee
Sabaidee wants you to live your healthiest life by providing you with high quality, organic hemp grown in Colorado. They aim to be transparent by disclosing everything about their products on their website, including third-party test results. They have a narrow product range, although consumers looking for anxiety relief will find plenty of CBD oil options to choose from, flavored lightly with mint.
Price Range: $49 – $250
Sourcing: 100% organic hemp grown in Colorado
Products To Try: CBD oil
Lab Testing: Third-party lab testing results are available online
Extract Type: Full-Spectrum
Pros:
- Easy to navigate website
- Great customer service
Cons:
- Limited product selection
- Ethanol extraction methods used
10. Joy Organics
Joy Organics was founded by Joy Smith who, after struggling to find an effective natural CBD product for her chronic pain and insomnia, decided to create a company rooted in a therapeutic mission. Joy Organics utilizes the highest standards in the industry to produce organic, high-grade products that deliver the highest bioavailability.
The company specializes in formulating highly bioavailable softgels using a nano-emulsion technology that increases bioavailability up to 200% over an oil-based CBD product. Considering this alone, Joy Organics is definitely worth a try.
Price Range: $29 – $100
Products To Try: CBD oils, softgels
Sourcing: 100% organic hemp grown in Colorado
Lab Testing: Third-party lab results are available on each product page
Extract Type: Broad-Spectrum
Pros:
- Free Shipping in U.S.
- CBD softgels have one of the highest bioavailabilities on the market
- CO2 extraction method
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
- Expensive
- Full-spectrum options not available
What is Anxiety?
We’ve all experienced anxiety in one form or another. Anxiety stems from fear and can arise when you are worrying about a future event, a past trauma, or a current predicament that you are unable to solve. Anxiety, while not a favorable emotion, is not inherently bad. Yet, when anxiety becomes so persistent and chronic that it prevents you from enjoying or partaking in your life, then it becomes severe enough to require some form of intervention.
Symptoms of anxiety are not the same for everyone, but are common in that they are caused by the activation of the flight-or-fight response. Common symptoms include heart palpitations, pain and uneasiness, rapid breathing, heavy sweating, fatigue, lethargy, dizziness, gastrointestinal issues, and nervousness to name a few.
What Causes Anxiety?
Anxiety is caused by a highly complicated web of experiences and internal physiology. A combination of genetics, environmental influences, lifestyle, and brain structure are all components that can contribute to the personalized experience of anxiety.
For many people, prescription drugs are not a viable option. In addition to the rising costs of prescription drugs and healthcare premiums, prescription drugs come with a cost to your health. While companies label these effects as “side effects,” the truth is that the majority of the drugs on the market are nonspecific.
This means that while they are created to have a targeted effect, they actually act on multiple systems in your body. The worst part of prescription drugs is that for certain individuals, they can actually make the symptoms worse or have no benefit at all.
The explosion of CBD as a natural remedy for anxiety has created a ton of excitement among people who are looking for an alternative solution. But exactly how does CBD help reduce anxiety?
CBD For Anxiety
CBD, or cannabidiol, is the non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid found in the plant cannabis sativa. Researchers investigating the properties of CBD have discovered that CBD is capable of binding not only to the receptors in our endocannabinoid system (ECS), but also to other receptors involved in mediating pain and inflammation.
In particular, studies have shown that CBD acts as a 5-HT1a receptor agonist. 5-HT1a receptors bind to 5-HT, or in layman’s terms, serotonin. The binding of CBD to these receptors is similar to the effects of commonly prescribed anti-anxiety and antidepressant serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These results while still in the early stages provide a promise that CBD can be a viable alternative option for those suffering from anxiety. While further research is necessary to uncover the full potential of CBD, it’s becoming quite clear that CBD has real therapeutic benefit.
What Are My Options?
CBD products come in all shapes and sizes—literally. You can purchase CBD oils or tinctures, topicals, edibles, capsules/softgels, and vape solutions. The studies conducted on CBD thus far have focused on oral and inhalation use and you will find that most guides focus primarily on CBD oil. The main reason why CBD oil is so readily recommended and used is because of its high bioavailability, ease of use, and discretion.
Nevertheless, since CBD affects everyone differently based on their physiology, certain products and formulations may work better for some while not for others. The studies we listed in this review saw a reduction in experimentally-induced anxiety in participants who took between 300-600mg oral CBD. When deciding on what products will work best for you, keep this range in mind and, if you’re new to CBD, start low and go slow.
