If you’re having a bad day – whether from mental stress or aches and pains – infused bath bombs might help you find some middle ground. However, sorting through the waters to find the best bath bombs requires a little buyer know-how. We handpicked the best of the best to make the choice easier for you.
Appearances can be deceiving, as is the case with bath bombs. These hemp-enriched, colorful balls are everywhere and they each claim to melt away stress, pain, and inflammation. While the wide variety is great for us as consumers, it can also be quite overwhelming.
WHAT ARE CBD BATH BOMBS?
CBD bath bombs add another therapeutic layer to your favorite bath-time accessory. You can buy them online or make your own, but in general, oil bath bombs are made by mixing cannabidiol with baking soda, Epsom salt, coconut oil, essential oils, and artificial coloring for an aesthetically pleasing touch.
When you use a CBD bath bomb, the health benefits are practically overflowing!
While you may think bath bombs are all fun and games, according to research, taking a bath offers multiple health benefits – from balancing your hormones to moisturizing your skin to helping you breathe better. So, when you use a CBD bath bomb, the health benefits are practically overflowing!
Inside the Cannabis sativa plant is an array of anti-inflammatory and anti-stress compounds. Many of which have been used since the dawn of time to treat a variety of health conditions.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are two of the main cannabinoids you’ve probably heard about. However, the cannabis plant also contains:
- Flavonoids (pigmentation)
- Terpenes (aromatic property of cannabis)
- Other cannabinoids, such as cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabinol (CBN)
It’s worth mentioning that you can also use CBD bath salts or soap to further cannabidiol’s soothing, therapeutic effects in the bathroom.
Potential Medical Benefits of CBD Bath Bombs
Researchers have already begun to explain how CBD differs from THC based on its non-psychoactive properties and natural ability to relieve pain and inflammation. The way bath bombs work is by providing you with the potential to:
- Induce sleep – Studies support the use of cannabidiol before bed for increased sleep duration. Soaking in infused waters could provide calming effects that help you stay asleep, especially if you suffer from insomnia.
- Alleviate anxiety – People with anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may benefit from the anxiolytic role of CBD. Scientists mention the need for more clinical studies to explain how it works, but you may find that bath bombs help you relax and overcome stress.
- Ease joint and muscle pain – Finally, people use CBD to treat pain related to arthritis-like symptoms and migraines. According to a survey about cannabidiol use in America, this is the highest reported reason people use this compound.
Our Criteria for Selecting the Best CBD Bath Bombs
The road to CBD as a medication is paved in uncertainty, since funding for clinical research is limited. On top of this obstacle, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t yet provided guidelines to regulate the market. For these reasons, you must be careful who you buy from, as there are some companies that unfortunately don’t care too much for their customers’ health. So, when it comes to choosing a brand, we suggest you use criteria similar to the following. As we compiled this list of the top-ranking bath bombs, this is how we rated each brand:
Certificate of Analysis (CoA)
Most of the brands we selected offer buyers to access a certificate of analysis (CoA), an important feature to verify potency and safety. Some brands ranked higher based on how easy it was to find this information while others ranked lower if access to a CoA was only granted after purchase. Either way, you’ll want to ensure your product doesn’t contain contaminants, such as heavy metals.
Amount of CBD
Potency factored into ranking too, so brands with 50mg and up received higher ratings than competitors with anything below 50mg. This is because the benefits of cannabidiol in a bath bomb are different from smoking CBD. Bathwater dilutes potency and, therefore, higher concentrations of cannabidiol make it easier for your skin to absorb.
Price Point and Essential Oils
Brands that sell single bath bombs below $10 ranked higher, including brands offering the option to buy variety packs. We also considered essential oils as a deciding factor. Those infused with lavender oil and eucalyptus won us over for their therapeutic effects on the mind and body, while brands with unique essential oil combinations ranked even higher for originality. On top of this, we prefer brands with natural ingredients.
Extract Type
CBD comes in a few different extract types depending on your preference: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate.
Safety and Side Effects of CBD Bath Bombs
Taking a bath with a CBD bath bomb poses little threat—except maybe the risk of slipping, but just watch your step. In fact, cannabidiol has a better side effect profile than most medications. Some people have reported the following side effects from CBD, but as a bath bomb, it’s unlikely you’ll experience:
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Drowsiness
- Weight change
