Soular Alchemy - Classic 5000mg CBD Hemp Spagyric Infusion

If you tune in regularly to read our blog posts, you’ll know that here at The Amazing Blog the girls and I have been big fans of all things CBD for quite some time now. Several studies have demonstrated that CBD is good for the body and the soul, so of course, as wellbeing and beauty devotees, we try to incorporate different types of CBD products into our daily routines.  With CBD oils and tinctures being some of the most popular forms, it’s a tincture we’re reviewing today. In basic terms, the difference between CBD oil and a tincture is the alcohol-base, that said, they both mimic the same therapeutic properties. 

The brand that we are talking about here is the award-winning Soular Alchemy. Based in the U.S., it was founded by Kristopher Grove and Trevor Polinsky who both have a background in the organic foods and/or the natural wellbeing sector. Polinsky and Grove came together to primarily share their knowledge and to educate people on the health benefits of the hemp plant. What makes this brand so unique – and also why it caught our eye – is the ‘beyond full-spectrum’ statement which they advertise. We all know about isolate, broad-spectrum and full-spectrum; but beyond full-spectrum CBD? That’s a new term for us. In an interview, Polinsky explained that the notion of beyond full-spectrum refers to the fact they use the whole plant to make their tinctures; thus the user gets the maximum ‘entourage effect’. This means that they use the whole hemp plant rather than a single aspect, this offers significant beneficial results with the compounds working together boosting the health benefits, and overall therapeutic effect of the cannabinoids.  Unlike other brands, the process they use is actually a lot more complex than just a CO2 or ethanol extraction. The process that they use is called ‘spagyric’, which is from a method of ancient alchemy used in the preparation of tinctures. Spagyric production depends on the manipulation of the three mythologised substances that alchemists believed made up everything: salt, mercury, and sulphur - which translated to the minerals and salts representing ‘body’, the essential oils and organic acids being ‘soul,’ and alcohol was its ‘spirit’.  In short, it consists of several extractions to separate and recombine multiple plant components, including CBD, terpenes and flavonoids with a little bit of the organic cane ethanol as solvent. When all of these components are brought back together, they interact chemically with each other, creating what is called ‘ester’, a state where the elements enhance each other, creating a full entourage effect, carrying the whole benefits of the plant. Reassuring points are that all their products contain less than 0.2%, are produced with Good Manufacturing Practices, and are also EU compliant. And, the bonus here, is that the hemp is organic and free of pesticides, heavy metals, and microbials. We like that you can access their full lab analysis on each product directly from their website (i.e. for the Classic Hemp Spagyric Infusion see here).

The product that Soular Alchemy sent us is the Classic 5000mg Hemp Spagyric Infusion in 50ml. It contains a potent 50mg of total cannabinoids per ml. This is the biggest size of the tinctures that they sell and it includes all of the terpenes present in the hemp flower. The other distilled botanical terpene extracts here in the blend are sacred frankincense, blue mallee, Bavarian hops, lime and basil. All of these ensure that it’s an all-round efficient product, without addressing one specific need. Apart from the hemp spagyric, there is organic MCT coconut oil too. It comes elegantly packaged and is very instructive detailing the different terpenes present inside each plant and their benefits. To use, shake the bottle then put the drops under the tongue, hold the liquid sublingually here for a minute, then swallow. This allows the Infusion to bypass the digestive system avoiding it being broken down by enzymes and enables it to transfer through the membrane reaching the bloodstream quicker. Soular Alchemy recommends starting with 12 drops and then increasing as and when needed. If you’ve tried other full-spectrum CBD oils, then you’ll know how some can taste earthy and bitter leaving a bit of kick at the back of the throat when swallowed. Not this one. We couldn’t get over how pleasant, smooth and palatable it was, leaving absolutely no aftertaste. Our Executive Editor who thoroughly testing this out, remarked on having a better quality of sleep, less anxiety and noticeable pain relief from both her perpetual stiffness and arthritis. Although the price tag may seem hefty, it certainly seems to have lasted her well with plenty more to use. When asked if she would buy more - the answer was a resounding yes! Their two awards attest to this tincture's quality: Best CBD Tincture at the CBD Expo East 2019 Orlando, and Finalist for Best Tincture at the World CBD awards 2019 Barcelona. Apart from this Classic Infusion, there are also nine other Infusions to choose from, see here. So, if you are searching for a more specific action-oriented product to soothe a specific condition, Soular Alchemy does smaller doses of 1500mg of their hemp spagyric infusions in a 15ml bottle. These contain the selected terpenes to target particular conditions like depression, insomnia, anti-bacterial action, pain relief, to name but a few. As for this Classic 5000mg Hemp Spagyric Infusion at 50ml that we’ve reviewed today, you can buy it directly from their website here for $250.00.

Paso’s CBD Milk Chocolate

Do you love chocolate? Because here at The Amazing Blog we certainly do! With the past year of world turmoil, we’ve been on the search to find comforming products to help relax during this time of uncertainty and take a step back. We’ve heard lots about our #amazingfinds of today with their chocolate, their very special CBD chocolate, no less. meet Paso CBD 75mg Milk Chocolate which gives you just that.

Paso CBD stared when best friends (and cousins), Alex and Sophie left their jobs in consulting and law to venture into the cannabis industry. They created this company with the idea of creating enjoyment in the simple pleasures of life. Their friends were hesitant about CBD products, which only motivated them more to create products that normalise CBD. They pride themselves on their high standard products that are 100% organic, premium CBD and ‘non-psychoactive’ which they source from hemp extract from farms in Colorado and Oregon. Even though their products are entirely hand made in the UK. They support Cool Earth which is an organisation that is committed to ending tropical deforestation and conservation of the rainforests. Paso has cleverly been able to master producing edible CBD products, that actually taste good. Some of the products in their line include vape pens, cartridges, e-liquids, CBD gummies and oils. Their chocolate comes in White, Dark and Milk; Milk is the one we’re going to talk about today.

We’re impressed with their branding and the sleek royal blue cardboard packaging which reveals the silver foiled chocolate. This all feels very premium. Milk chocolate is THC-free and broad-spectrum. Each square of chocolate contains 3mg of CBD, where you break off a couple of pieces to help you relax and unwind (the maximum daily dose they recommend is 70mg per day). The chocolate is rich and creamy with caramel notes, and is made with hemp extract (including CBD), 42% cocoa mass, cocoa butter, soya lecithin, natural vanilla flavouring, sugar, and whole milk powder. All these ingredients have a health benefit. The hemp extract has antioxidants and healthy omega fatty acids, which makes it great for hair and skin or just stress relief. The cocoa mass not only gives it its flavour but in moderation, it can help keep the heart-healthy. Like the hemp extract, cocoa butter is high in fatty acids which can help hydrate and nourish the skin. Soya lecithin can raise good cholesterol (HDL) while lowering bad cholesterol (LDL). Natural vanilla flavouring brings a flavour, but it’s also rich in antioxidants. Sugar gives sweetness to the chocolate and also according to some scientists is can be beneficial for brain health. The whole milk powder found here is a good source of minerals such magnesium, calcium, zinc, potassium as well vitamins A, D, E and K. We have to be honest and say that we noticed a slight after-taste, which we didn’t mind too much and nibbled at it throughout the day, but it’s rich and we didn’t need much to get our chocolate fix and feel fully satiated. We’ve heard that it’s good to eat before bed to help with sleep, hah! Who needs that excuse? To enjoy this simple pleasure, you can purchase your Paso CBD Milk Chocolate 75mg for £8.00 here. We would like to thank CBD-Produce who kindly sent us this and several other CBD food products from the extensive range. Whether this is your first time trying CBD, or you are an experienced user, we think you’ll find something to tempt you at this great one-stop-shop for all things CBD. 

Rejuvenated - Immune Complex

Are you feeling tired? Or a little low on energy today? Well, we at The Amazing Blog can certainly relate to both of these! Although we’re normally pretty good on our nutrition we sometimes we fall down on taking our regularly vitamins or supplements. We’re also guilty of consuming one too many carbs – hence we don’t get enough of the micro and macronutrients that our bodies need to maintain a nutritional balance. A good immune system functions with good gut health and prebiotics and probiotics provide the healthy bacteria that support the digestive system. Our of our recent #amazingfinds is the Immune Complex by Rejuvenated which offers a blend of prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants and vitamins, all of which enhance the gut bacteria for optimal gut health. Rejuvenated is one of our favourite nutraceutical brands, and you can see our reviews on their H3O Hydration and Collagen Shots.

Rejuvenated was founded in 2003 by Kathryn Danzey, a health and wellness expert, who has over 20 years of experience and who believes that beauty comes from within. Here she’s brought together top scientists and nutritionists, to create her highly successful range of 100% active natural ingredients promoting inner health and outer beauty. Rejuvenated is a family run award-winning brand, where they select each one of the ingredients carefully to make sure that they work in perfect harmony and for a maximum benefit. Best of all the Rejuvenated products are gluten, sugar, and lactose-free, making them ideal even for diabetics. Their next goal is to be plastic-free by early 2021.

Today, we’re reviewing their Immune Complex capsules which have been formulated for overall support of immune health. And what could be more timely, than now with the current pandemic! Not only do they support physical wellbeing, energy levels but also cognitive mental health. We’re all aware of the importance of having a strong immune system and how it starts from the gut. The core of the ingredients here is probiotics, like acidophilus, are bacteria and prebiotics such as cordyceps mushrooms and beta-glucans which enable probiotics to work more effectively. This Immune Complex also has the added bonus of protecting against the harmful effects of stress and helps promotes healthy cell division. With other ingredients such as selenium, zinc, vitamin C and D; these all get the stamp of approval from the European Food Standards Authority as contributing to the normal immune system, protection of cells from oxidative stress and maintaining normal muscle function. By taking one capsule a day for the past 3 weeks, the first thing I noticed was a rise in energy levels. We think that this Immune Complex is a must-have supplement to give the body the extra protection it needs in these times of uncertainty. You can purchase your Immune Complex 30 (675mg) capsules here for £20. 

Budslife – CBD Patches

The girls at The Amazing Blog are big fans of all things CBD and have finally persuaded me to try some. What harm can there be, I thought, only good things can come from the wonderous hemp plant. I think I would be right in saying that many of us have been feeling a little stressed with the possibility of yet another lockdown and the current uncertainty – so something to potentially ‘take the edge off’ was most welcome. I didn’t want to take any of the sublingual CBD (I’m not good at ingesting things that taste a bit strange!) So they found me the perfect solution with some rather innovative skin patches – yes, patches! They’re the newly launched CBD patches by Budslife which are scent-free, flavourless and easy to use – just unpeel and stick it onto clean skin – et voila!

Budslife founder Shaun Williams came up with the CBD patches concept at the time when his daughter was going to university. She was about to face new challenges all alone, and that’s when her stress and anxiety kicked in. Instead of taking pills and medications, Shaun came up with the idea to create these CBD patches, which helped her cope to feel more relaxed and focused; which is when he realised that many others could also benefit from these CBD patches. 

These CBD patches come in a box with two silver foil sachets (eight patches to the sachet). Budslife sources their Full-Spectrum and 0% THC CBD from Holland, which is then impregnated into the patches which are made up of pressure-sensitive medical glue and penetration enhancers (antioxidant, hydrocarbon C5 / C9 and copolymer). The patches have a slow release of over 8-10 hours with each patch being infused with 16g of CBD. They are designed to release safe and measured levels of CBD throughout the time of wearing. Conveniently this could be night or day (I preferred to stick my patch on at night) where they are absorbed trans-dermally. This is thought to be quicker to get than into the bloodstream than through sublingual application. I have to be honest and say the 16mg patch was not enough for me and so I was advised to double up with 2 x patches = 32mg. Which BTW is perfectly safe. I believe that Budslife is about to launch the next range with 32mg and a 64mg range of patches. Upping the CBD dose did make a difference to me, I would say not immediately but accumulatively; by night 3, I was feeling more relaxed despite having had a rather stressful day. So if like me, you dislike the taste of hemp, but are curious to try CBD, then these are definitely for you, a box of 16 patches is £14.99 here.

Vedic Essentials: GoodNight Food Supplement

Here is a question for you; how are you sleeping at the moment? With the global pandemic 2020 has been a year of uncertainly and we’re all feeling very sleep-challenged! Because we value our beauty sleep, here at The Amazing Blog, we’ve been searching for calm amongst the chaos and trying out a new remedy, meet Vedic Essential with their GoodNight Food Supplement.

Vedic Essentials is a new brand established in 2019 here in the UK, with their main focus around the ancient practice of Ayurvedic medicine, which has been used for over 3000 years in India. Vedic Essentials continue this Ayurvedic legacy but with a bit of a twist, as they infuse it with modern science too. They believe that ‘without health, nothing else matters’ and instead of letting someone else take control of your well-being, it metaphorically speaking puts you behind the wheel with their supplements. They specialise in producing high-quality supplements and remedies, and unlike modern medicine, they focus on the body’s power to heal itself using natural ingredients and herbs. In the practice of this Ayurveda, there is order and disorder in nature and the body. Therefore, good health is considered as order, and a disease is a disorder. Thus, to help maintain this balance in the body, Ayurveda focuses on the mind, body and consciousness to get them to work in harmony to maintain a balance. 

We were excited to receive their GoodNight Food Supplement that we are going to be talking about today, which we subsequently learned have been flying off the shelves! These capsules have a blend of six key natural ingredients. First, we have chamomile known for its ability to reduce anxiety and stress, therefore promoting better sleep. Chamomile has long been recognised for its calming properties. Then there is soothing blend in the ashwagandha one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda, apart from helping the body manage stress and anxiety, it is probably best known for fighting insomnia and stimulating the brain against depression. The reishi mushroom here is to boost the immune function and help with fatigue. Schisandra berry is proven to reduce cortisol levels in the body (the stress hormone) and is effective in controlling changes in serotonin and adrenaline providing you with a goodnight's sleep. The fifth element in this blend is the Maca which will improve your mental well-being and mood, and finally, there is Hops extract, which promotes a better sleep cycle. Besides these six key ingredients, this GoodNight supplement is rich in 5-HTP derived from griffonia, which has been proven to increase the feel-good hormone serotonin and is a naturally occurring amino acid that induces a calming effect on the brain. There’s magnesium, known for its ability to relax the mind and contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Last but not least, it contains vitamin B6, which helps in maintaining a positive and relaxed mood. 

We took one capsule in between supper and bedtime, the effect was gradual where it took about three or four days to kick in and have an optimum effect, quietening the mind and offering a better quality of sleep. We’d recommend these as an excellent aid to help the body and mind regulate and rebalancing itself, this GoodNight Food Supplement is suitable for vegans are gluten-free and non-GMO, and you can find them here for £17.99.