Here are the 5 Best Vegan CBD Brands to Alleviate Anxiety and Pain
Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, may be the hottest new supplement to hit the natural healthcare market in years, but many people want to know if their supplements are 100% vegan or contain hidden animal products. Everyone from Rob Gronkowski to Kim Kardashian to Kristen Bell (who defines herself as vegan) has touted the cannabis derivative as a magical elixir to treat pain, anxiety and stress. So it's no wonder that the trendy new compound is making a big splash in the health and wellness world, among plant-based eaters and everyone else.
“There are now thousands of CBD supplements available for purchase on the shelves in nearly every natural food and nutrition store across the country,” says Erin Willis, a holistic nutritionist and cannabis educator in Oakland, Calif. “Research suggests that it offers a wide range of therapeutic effects, including treating anxiety, depression, psychoactive disorders, and epilepsy, as well as acting as a strong anti-inflammatory agent.”
There are also plenty of first-hand accounts online about the wondrous abilities of this buzzy new supplement, which is widely available in vegan-friendly capsules, oils and gummies. “I got into CBD a few months ago,” Kim Kardashian recently told People. “It’s saved my life. Even to sleep at night, I like the gummies. I will just use a little bit and fall asleep. I don’t think I would take a Xanax or an Ambien again.”
Although the jury is still out on whether CBD actually lives up to the hype, preliminary scientific research does suggest that the trendy alternative medicine could very well be the real deal. According to a 2015 study conducted at the University of Kentucky College in Lexington, Kentucky, regular use of CBD oil can significantly decrease chronic pain from arthritis. After four consecutive months of topical use on lab rats, researchers concluded that the subjects had far less inflammation and pain at the end of the trial than they did when it first started.
That said, not all CBD supplements are created equally. Willis suggests seeking out high-quality products by doing your due diligence and avoiding the temptation to buy dietary supplements or oils from big-name retailers online. “CBD is not regulated, so there are lots of questionable products on the market,” she warns. “I do not recommend finding your products through Google or Amazon.”
Instead, Willis suggests seeking out well-established brands and boutiques to help determine the right type of supplements for your individual needs. “These are all products I have come to know and love and I use some of these daily,” she says. “I personally know the creators and owners behind each brand and can contest the integrity of these products.”
Here, Willis shares five of her all-time favorite recommendations for vegans.
Find everything from easy-to-swallow capsules to tinctures to CBD-infused body balms at this bountiful online boutique. “They take on the most holistic approach to hemp CBD medicine and they’re one hundred percent vegan,” says Willis. “Starting with the seed to how the hemp is grown to the extraction process, this hemp medicine is full of vitality and richness. Go ahead and use code MOTHER20 for twenty percent off.”
Potli is a purveyor of anything and everything you could ever want for your kitchen pantry. This California-based company peddles sources raw ingredients to make CBD olive oil and chili sauce for aspiring chefs who want a side of CBD with their healthy fare. “These products make CBD supplementation incredibly easy to achieve,” says Willis.
This Humboldt County, Calif.-based company makes small batch CBD products ranging from skincare to intimacy oils to flower rolls, which can help ease anxiety and depression. “I use the Kiskanu facial oil religiously!” raves Willis.
Bloom Farms has earned plenty of accolades from magazines including Vogue, Rolling Stone and Allure for its organic, environmentally-friendly wares. The organic company makes a wide array of whole-plant tinctures and also sells CBD paraphernalia. “The Sequoia Mint vape pen is my go-to,” says Willis. “It's so refreshing and discreet and clean!”
If you'd rather eat your CBD than take it topically or in capsules, Calivolve is the answer to your prayers. This gourmet chocolatier serves up a wide range of CBD-infused candies, including dark chocolate, cherry and mint chocolate truffles. “They're the most delicious vegan chocolates!” says Willis.
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