What's better for anxiety—Kava or CBD Oil?
I use both situationally but lean more heavily on kava. Stress and anxiety is my primary concern and I feel that kava combats that more directly via its interaction with the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. I mostly use CBD Oil as a pain and soreness reliever as its effects on inflammation are remarkable. You may have a preference. You may use them evenly. It will depend entirely on your specific needs.
Kava root works directly to calm the nervous system
Kava first took root in the most beautiful places on earth (Vanuatu, Hawaii, Fiji) where it has been used medicinally and ceremonially for more than 3000 years. In these idyllic places there is nothing alternative about kava; it’s medicine, it’s culture, it’s nourishment for the family and the community.
Scientific studies have backed-up what the Polynesians have always peripherally understood: kava directly affects the body’s sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems via chemical compounds called kavalactones. Stress and anxiety put your mind and body into a threatened state of awareness. Kavalactones gently remind them that the coast is clear by binding onto various receptors in the brain, particularly the part of the brain known as the amygdala, which regulates feelings of fear and anxiety.
Kava is most often used to treat:
Stress and anxiety
Difficulty relaxing
Insomnia
Addiction relief
Depression
It’s important to note that kava does not impair your ability to function throughout the day. In fact, it has the unique ability to provide relaxation and increased clarity. To help guide you in the right direction, many kava suppliers will classify their product(s) as:
Heady: Increases focus and clarity with an underlying sense of calm
Heavy: Promotes deep relaxation and improved mood
Balanced: Relaxed, calm; a nice mix of heady and heavy.
Kavalactone blends and strength vary product-to-product with a recommended daily limit of 300mg. Not all kava is the same. The best suppliers use only noble kava and all-natural supporting ingredients. Partnering with an ethical company goes a long way toward ensuring a successful and effective kava regimen.
The Best Kava to Buy
1Hour Break is a small, family owned supplier that works with kava growers in Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. The kava cultural in Vanuatu is as ancient as it gets and the company has a deep connection with the local community.
The tincture itself blends kava with complementary ingredients including lemon balm, lobelia herb and passion flower. It’s a sublingual spray so it kicks in quickly which is great in those stressful moments when you really need it.
It costs $25 per bottle (less than $1.70 per serving/dose) and if you buy multiple bottles you can knock over 25% off the sticker price.
CBD works to restore balance to the body as a whole
Cannabis has been used by human societies since at least the third millennium BCE. It was highly valued for its fibers, medicinal properties and ceremonial contributions. Then very recently (historically speaking) the whole world went full Reefer Madness. The once beloved plant became a pariah known by many other names. Marijuana, in particular, stuck. If you want to get an idea of just how recent cannabis’ villainy is, look up the origin of the word marijuana. It’s got all the twists and turns you’d expect, immigration, racism, classism.
Nowadays, when people say marijuana what they typically mean is Tetrahydro Cannabinol (THC). That’s the chemical compound that produces cannabis’ psychoactive effects. Strip it away and cannabis is transformed from a geriatric politicians worst nightmare to a harmless house plant.
CBD Oil is the result of modern science taking a long overdue look at this ancient plant. Cannabidiol (CBD) is just one of many chemical compounds found in cannabis that affects receptors in the human brain, lungs, liver, kidneys and immune system. It's no wonder CBD provides relief to so many different ailments. Once removed and isolated CBD can be diluted with a carrier such as coconut or hemp seed oil.
CBD Oils are classified as:
CBD Isolate: Extracted, isolated CBD in its purest form. 99% Cannabidiol.
Full Spectrum CBD: CBD extracted along with all other cannabinoids including THC.
Broad Spectrum CBD: Full-spectrum minus the THC.
CBD is most often used to treat:
Generalized pain and inflammation
Anxiety
Neurological disorders
Suppression of cancer growth
CBD Oil regulations are loosening but it’s legality differs state-to-state. Due diligence is important even for CBD isolates and broad-spectrum CBD each of which can carry a THC content of up to 0.3%. Trace amounts of THC aid in CBD’s ability to bond with C1 receptors in the brain. It is a non-psychoactive quantity safe for users of all ages.
The Best CBD Oil to Buy
For CBD Oil, Plant People CBD Drops is a solid choice. They are transparent about what goes into each bottle—100% organically grown hemp sourced from a registered farm in Colorado, tested in-house for purity, quality and consistency then sent a third party lab for verification. Their lab results are available by request.
The formula contains more than 80 naturally occurring cannabinoids, vitamins, omega fatty acids and trace minerals as well as bioavailable organic coconut MCT oil.
The 520mg bottle costs $69. That’s good for 13 doses or a little over $5 per serving/dose.