What’s the Best CBD Oil for Anxiety and Depression? 2021 Reviews

Although clinical evidence is limited, various studies have shown that CBD may act as a natural aid to relieve anxiety and depression (1, 2).

However, CBD isn't the only anxiety-reducing compound that can be extracted from hemp plants. Hemp plants contain various anxiolytic cannabinoids and terpenes (3, 4).

Based on experience, several studies, and well-established principles among herbalists and natural/holistic health professionals, we think that combining other hemp-derived cannabinoids and terpenes with CBD will result in a better chance to relieve anxiety and/or depression (5).

For example, low doses of THC have been associated with anxiety-reducing and anti-depressant effects as well.

Therefore, our list of CBD oils for anxiety consists mostly of ‘full-spectrum' CBD oils.

A small percentage of CBD users will be sensitive to the cannabinoid ‘THC' or will be subjected to regular drug tests. For those, we have listed a high-quality THC-free option.

Keep reading!

#1. Receptra Naturals Seriously Relax (Best Formulation for Anxiety)

When it comes to CBD tinctures that contain a wide variety of anxiety-reducing cannabinoids and terpenes…Receptra Naturals Seriously Relax makes it to the top of the list.

Besides CBD, this tincture contains high concentrations of other hemp-derived anti-anxiety compounds:

• Cannabichromene, or ‘CBC' (a cannabinoid);
• Limonene (a terpene);
• Terpinene (a terpene), and;
• Humulene (a terpene).

Why do I stress the fact that these are hemp-derived compounds?

While adding other types of non-hemp-derived anti-anxiety agents to CBD products makes them more effective, they won't make the anti-anxiety effects of CBD more effective.

CBC, Limonene, Terpinene, and Humulene all come from the same plant as CBD and therefore have a high chance of producing synergistic effects, increasing the anti-anxiety effects of CBD.

That being said, Receptra Naturals Seriously Relax is bolstered with even more anti-anxiety compounds.

And while these don't come from the hemp plants the CBD is extracted from, they are all completely natural and plant-based.

Some of these compounds include:

• Lavender;
• Passionflower;
• Limonene;
• Lime, and;
• Ginger.

All of these compounds have been associated with anti-anxiety or anti-depressant effects (6, 7, 8, 9).

Combine these compounds with a high-quality full-spectrum CBD-extract, and you get a potent cocktail of compounds that have a high chance of relieving anxiety and/or depression.

• Receptra Naturals 15% off coupon code: Herbonaut

Buy Receptra Naturals

Next up …

#2. R+R Medicinals Full-Spectrum Tincture (Best Value Oil for Anxiety)

Besides Receptra Naturals, there are very few CBD brands that have a specific formulation for anxiety relief. That being said, any CBD oil that contains:

• A high concentration of CBD;
• A little bit of THC, plus;
• Other anxiety-relieving cannabinoids like CBG and CBC and terpenes,

Is THE foundation of an effective anxiety-relieving CBD product.

R+R Medicinals provides exactly this type of tincture, and here comes the best part:

It does so at a much lower price point than any other CBD brand I’ve come across.

Their 2500mg tincture contains 9.3% of CBD. With a single dropper, you're taking 83mg of CBD + 8,3mg of other cannabinoids and terpenes.

Some people only experience CBD's anxiety-reducing effects at doses of 50+ mg.

Well, for those people this tincture is the most straightforward choice.

When it comes to CBD oils for anxiety you get the most bang for your buck in with R+R Medicinals Tincture.

For one dollar ($1), you get 25.7mg of CBD and 4,2mg of other hemp-derived cannabinoids and terpenes. When it comes to effective anxiety-relieving CBD products, you won’t be able to find better value for your money.

Looking at the amount of CBD you get in a single drop, this is also the strongest CBD oil on the list.

What’s the bottom line?

If you’re looking for the most affordable option to relieve anxiety with CBD, definitely give R+R Medicinals a try:

Buy R+R Medicinals

Next up …

#3. R+R Medicinals THC-Free Tincture (Best Value Broad-Spectrum Oil for Anxiety)

Although small doses of THC have been associated with anxiety-reducing and anti-depressant effects…

Not everyone wants THC in his/her CBD product.

Here are some reasons why you might want to avoid THC:

• You are subjected to regular drug tests. Drug tests always check for THC and you might fail one if you take a full-spectrum CBD product;
• You know from experience that you're extremely sensitive to THC. Everyone reacts differently to cannabinoids. Some people are genetically pre-disposed to give a very strong reaction to THC. If you think you are one of these people, you might want to avoid THC (keep in mind that this is quite rare).

Now:

If you want to avoid THC, why not get a CBD isolate product?

Well, even if you don't want any THC, I still highly recommend taking a CBD product that contains as many hemp-derived cannabinoids and terpenes as possible.

Here's why:

Not only do various studies suggest that these cannabinoids and terpenes may improve CBD's anxiety-reducing effects…

But some of these other hemp-derived cannabinoids and terpenes have anxiety-reducing effects of their own.

These types of products are also called ‘broad-spectrum' products.

And when it comes to high quality and affordable broad-spectrum CBD products, this THC-free tincture from R+R Medicinals makes it to the top of the list.

With 20mg of CBD and 1.5mg of other hemp-derived cannabinoids and terpenes per dollar, this is the most affordable broad-spectrum tincture for anxiety relief.

Buy R+R Medicinals

Next up …

#3. NuLeaf Naturals CBG Oil (Best Mood-Enhancement Cannabinoid-Product)

Although CBG oil isn't the same as CBD oil…

I assume that you're more interested in the right hemp-derived, cannabinoid-based solution for anxiety relief than ensuring that you get a CBD-dominant product.

Here's why:

Hemp contains many different cannabinoids, and CBD is only one of them.

And while CBG has much less scientific backing for its anxiety-relieving effects…

There's at least one study that shows CBG has anti-depressant effects (10). In addition, there are also plenty of anecdotal reports showing that CBG may have potential for anxiety relief.

Our tests showed that CBG has stronger mood-elevating effects than CBD. CBG can be more stimulating and energizing than CBD.

Now:

Not everyone is looking for stimulating or energizing effects. Especially during the night, taking too much CBG could interfere with your sleep routine.

However, if you find CBD too sedative or want something more stimulating, this full-spectrum CBG oil may prove to be more effective in relieving your anxiety and/or depression than the CBD oils on the list.

For us, it had a slightly stimulating effect. But it wasn't anything like coffee for example. It was a calm and centered stimulating effect, not jittery.

As this is a full-spectrum hemp-extract, you also get a decent amount of CBD in it (0.13%). But the main compound is CBG (5.9%). This is a CBG-dominant product.

Everyone reacts slightly differently to cannabinoids like CBD and CBG.

But if you've tried CBD without much effect or found it too sedating, combining this CBG oil with your favorite CBD product, or even trying this alone, may yield positive results.

Buy NuLeaf Naturals CBG Oil

#5. CBDfx CBD + CBN Calming Tincture (Best Sedative Tincture for Anxiety)

Depending on what collateral damage anxiety is causing you, this oil may prove to be more useful than a regular CBD product.

Let me explain.

Besides, CBD this calming tincture has an above-average concentration of CBN (0.46%).

And while there are no studies that show CBN has anti-anxiety or anti-depressant effects…

There are studies that suggest CBN is the ‘most sedative' of all cannabinoids.

And our tests with CBN-dominant products indeed show that CBN has stronger sedative effects than CBD.

Since this is still a CBD-dominant product, you would get the proven anti-anxiety effects of CBD. But because this product has a high concentration of CBN, you may experience slightly stronger sedative effects than with a regular CBD oil.

Therefore this tincture could prove to be especially useful during evenings and the night, just before you go to sleep.

This product also comes with a terpene-blend specifically formulated for anxiety. However, since there's no lab-test report that shows the terpene-profile, we take this statement with a grain of salt.

That being said, the cannabinoid-profile is proven with a lab-test report. And you can 100% sure this product contains the advertised amount of CBD and CBN.

The bottom line:

When anxiety is interfering with your sleep, or you're just looking for a more potent sedating product…

Try out this calming tincture.

Click the button below to go to the CBDfx website:

Buy CBDfx Calming Tincture

#6. NuLeaf Naturals CBD Oil (Best Customer-Rated CBD Oil for Anxiety)

It comes as no surprise: Full-spectrum CBD oils that come from highly transparent CBD manufacturers dominate our lists of best CBD oils.

And when we’re talking about these types of oils, NuLeaf Naturals full-spectrum CBD oil is one that can’t ever be ignored.

Here’s why:

When we look at customer reviews, this is the highest-rated CBD oil that we have ever come across.

In 6 years and 20.000+ reviews, NuLeaf Naturals CBD oil has gotten an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.

When you look at NuLeaf Naturals’ third-party lab-test reports, you can see why.

This CBD oil contains high concentrations of CBD, with their strongest bottle containing 4850 mg of CBD and a CBD percentage of 5.93% …

Plus, it contains many other cannabinoids like THC, CBC, and CBG, and also hemp-derived terpenes like beta-caryophyllene and alpha-humulene. In addition to CBD, some of these compounds are associated with anti-anxiety/anti-depressant effects as well.

So while NuLeaf Naturals CBD oil doesn’t contain any non-hemp-derived anti-anxiety/anti-depressant compounds, it contains the full spectrum of hemp-derived cannabinoids and terpenes that are associated with anti-anxiety/anti-depressant effects.

Add to this that this oil is made from organic hemp and doesn’t contain ANY additives (it’s the purest hemp-extract on the list), and you’ll quickly understand why we rate it so high.

• NuLeaf Naturals 20% off coupon code: herbonaut

Buy NuLeaf Naturals

Up next …

#7. Charlotte’s Web Original Formula (Honorable Mention)

Charlotte’s Web CBD oil is a true full-spectrum CBD oil that contains a wide variety of hemp-derived cannabinoids and terpenes in high concentrations.

Their ‘Original Formula’ is better in that regard as it’s ethanol-extracted. Ethanol extraction is one of the most effective extraction methods for extracting especially terpenes from hemp. Receptra Naturals (#1) is another ethanol-extracted tincture.

All other variables kept the same, like hemp strain and growing conditions, ethanol-extracted CBD products have the best cannabinoid- and terpene-profiles.

Of all full-spectrum CBD oils we've reviewed this one has the highest concentration of CBC, which stands for ‘cannabichromene' (0.38%).

While there's no scientific evidence (yet) that suggests CBC has anxiety-reducing effects, there's some anecdotal evidence on various forums like Reddit.

In any case, having such a high concentration of different cannabinoids can only be good for the overall effects of a CBD product.

Charlotte's Web is one of the most transparent CBD brands.

Now:

Even though all CBD oils on this list prove with the help of third-party lab-test reports that they’re completely free of contaminants …

If you want an extra layer of assurance, Charlotte’s Web is a producer that literally controls the whole manufacturing process from planting the seed to shelving the final product.

During its manufacturing-cycle, a bottle of Charlotte's Web CBD oil is subject to 20 different quality control tests.

This is yet another great full-spectrum option for anxiety relief.

• Charlotte's Web 15% off coupon code: HERBONAUT

Buy Charlotte's Web

How We Rate CBD Tinctures for Anxiety and Depression

Summarized, here’s what we’re looking for when we’re looking for a good CBD oil for anxiety:

• It should contain a full spectrum of hemp-derived cannabinoids and terpenes or as many as possible, and/or;
• It should contain one, or more non-hemp-derived anti-anxiety/depressant compounds, and;
• It should be easy to ingest above-average concentrations of CBD with it, this means a CBD concentration of at least 2%.

To learn exactly how we rate CBD products, please read our CBD products rating system.

Frequently Asked Questions About Using CBD Oil for Anxiety

How to Use CBD Oil for Anxiety/Depression?

Taking CBD oil or tinctures for anxiety should be taken as for any other purpose.

Orally ingesting CBD tinctures consists of two parts:

1. Putting the drops under your tongue for 30-60 seconds (the sublingual method), and;
2. Swallowing the drops after it.

If you follow these steps, the CBD will get absorbed in two ways:

1. Through the mucous membranes beneath your tongue, avoiding the gastrointestinal tract, and;
2. Through the gastrointestinal tract itself.

Since CBD isn't very well absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract, we highly recommend using the sublingual method before.

Learn more:

• How to Use CBD Oil for Anxiety

When to Take?

There are no official guidelines, but in my experience, taking CBD oil in the morning, right after breakfast, works best for promoting feelings of calmness and relief.

How Much Should I Take?

Since CBD oil is not a medicine in the traditional sense, there are no official dosage guidelines.

Generally, we recommend starting with low doses and work your way up gradually. Start with the recommended dose from the manufacturer for a single serving.

Studies that looked at the effects of CBD on anxiety found results with relatively large doses of 300-600mg of CBD. Keep in mind these were purified CBD products and you might need a much smaller dose if you use a high-quality full-spectrum oil like the ones on our list.

When Can I Expect Results?

CBD oil is not a medicine and it's not certain whether it will provide you with any relief for your anxiety or depression.

What Are The Side Effects?

Taking CBD oil is not without risks. The biggest risks related to using CBD products are related to their potential interactions with traditional prescription medication.

CBD can interfere with the metabolization of various prescription drugs. If you're on prescription drugs and want to use CBD products for anxiety, please consult with your doctor first.

Other important risks related to taking CBD products are related to quality control. Products can be contaminated with heavy metals and pesticides, which if ingested over long periods of time, may worsen your anxiety symptoms.

If you want to learn more about preventing potential health risks related to CBD-use, click the link below:

• CBD Oil Side Effects and Other Health Risks

Learn More More About CBD

How to Use CBD Oil for Anxiety: A review of studies that looked at CBD's mechanism of action in relation to its anxiety-reducing effects and experimental studies that looked at the effects of CBD on anxiety in humans.

The Best CBD Oils: A list of our most recommended CBD oil brands, includes full-spectrum CBD oils, broad-spectrum CBD oils, and CBD isolates. All are 3th-party lab-tested to confirm they're contaminant-free and contain high levels of CBD.

The Best CBD Gummies: A list of our recommended CBD gummies. All are 3th-party lab-tested to confirm they're contaminant-free and contain high levels of CBD.

The Best CBD Vape Oils: A list of our recommended CBD vape oils. All are 3th-party lab-tested to confirm they're contaminant-free and contain high levels of CBD.

The Benefits of CBD Oil: A review of over 100 studies that found potential health benefits associated with CBD.

CBD Oil and Pain: A review of studies that looked at CBD's mechanism of action in relation to its pain-reducing effects and experimental/case studies that looked at the effects of CBD on pain in humans.

CBD and Terpenes: An exploration of the relationship between CBD and terpenes and why there's a strong theoretical foundation of combining both.

CBD Isolate vs Full-Spectrum: A deep-dive into the different types of CBD products: CBD isolate, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum, and their pros and cons for you as a CBD products consumer.

Scientific References

1. Crippa, J. A. S., Derenusson, G. N., Ferrari, T. B., Wichert-Ana, L., Duran, F. L., Martin-Santos, R., . . . Hallak, J. E. C. (2010). Neural basis of anxiolytic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in generalized social anxiety disorder: a preliminary report. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 25(1), 121–130. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881110379283

2. Shannon, S. (2016b). Effectiveness of Cannabidiol Oil for Pediatric Anxiety and Insomnia as Part of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Report. The Permanente Journal, 20(4). https://doi.org/10.7812/tpp/16-005

3. Baron, E. P. (2018). Medicinal Properties of Cannabinoids, Terpenes, and Flavonoids in Cannabis, and Benefits in Migraine, Headache, and Pain: An Update on Current Evidence and Cannabis Science. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 58(7), 1139–1186. https://doi.org/10.1111/head.13345

4. Souto-Maior, F. N., Carvalho, F. L. D., Morais, L. C. S. L. D., Netto, S. M., de Sousa, D. P., & Almeida, R. N. D. (2011). Anxiolytic-like effects of inhaled linalool oxide in experimental mouse anxiety models. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 100(2), 259–263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2011.08.029

5. Russo, E. B. (2011c). Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. British Journal of Pharmacology, 163(7), 1344–1364. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01238.x

6. Malcolm, B. J., & Tallian, K. (2017). Essential oil of lavender in anxiety disorders: Ready for prime time? Mental Health Clinician, 7(4), 147–155. https://doi.org/10.9740/mhc.2017.07.147

7. Akhondzadeh, S., Naghavi, H. R., Vazirian, M., Shayeganpour, A., Rashidi, H., & Khani, M. (2001). Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 26(5), 363–367. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2710.2001.00367.x

8. Komiya, M., Takeuchi, T., & Harada, E. (2006). Lemon oil vapor causes an anti-stress effect via modulating the 5-HT and DA activities in mice. Behavioural Brain Research, 172(2), 240–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2006.05.006

9. Fadaki, F., Modaresi, M., & Sajjadian, I. (2017). The Effects of Ginger Extract and Diazepam on Anxiety Reduction in Animal Model. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, 51(3s), s159–s162. https://doi.org/10.5530/ijper.51.3s.4

10. Musty R, Deyo R. A cannabigerol extract alters behavioral despair in an animal model of depression. Proceedings June 26; Symposium on the Cannabinoids. Int Cannabinoid Res Soc. 2006;32. Retrieved from https://icrs.co/SYMPOSIUM.2006/2006.SYMP.MAINPAGE.html