Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice. All statements are merely the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to anxiety.
CalmiGo is a patented stress relief device. The manufacturer claims that it’s clinically proven to work, and that users can "Achieve Calm in 3 Minutes Without Side Effects."
But is CalmiGo proven to work in research studies? How does it work in the body? How do real users rate and describe its effects? And which retailer sells the device for the best price?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the clinical trials on CalmiGo to give our take on whether or not the device is likely to reduce stress levels, and whether or not it's safe.
We’ll also feature real CalmiGo customer reviews, and provide a price comparison to show what retailer sells it for the best price.
Is CalmiGo Proven to Work?
CalmiGo claims that their device has been tested in eight clinical trials, and to the credit of the brand, some of these trials are published in peer-reviewed journals, which is the gold standard of product research.
A clinical trial published in the Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback journal tested the effects of CalmiGo on test anxiety, and the device was found to be highly effective.
Stress levels decreased by 19% in the CalmiGo group.
Another clinical trial found that CalmiGo significantly reduced stress and PTSD levels in combat veterans.
However, this study does not appear to be published in any journals, so the standard of evidence is weaker than the previous study in our opinion.
Based on the available evidence, we consider CalmiGo likely to be effective for stress reduction, although the value of the device will be more convincing if the majority of the ongoing studies also report positive results.
How Does CalmiGo Work?
CalmiGo claims to work due to three components: personalized breathing recommendation, grounding, and calming scents.
Personalized breathing seems like an interesting technology, but we know from decades of clinical research that consciously slowing down breathing reduces stress levels.
The benefit of “personalization” beyond this would have to be proven in clinical trials.
A 2021 clinical trial found that a deep breathing program helped anxious participants reduce stress levels by 24%.
Grounding is described by CalmiGo as engaging the four senses. This is different from the grounding, also described as “earthing,” that we reviewed in a previous article, which involves making direct contact between the skin and the Earth’s soil.
Sensory stimulation is clinically shown to alter mood, but it seems like it would vary significantly based on the stimulus. We do not find this product benefit to be particularly convincing.
Calming scents have been used for thousands of years to induce relaxation, and are often referred to as aromatherapy.
CalmiGo uses “Scented Plates,” but it’s unclear to us what specific materials are used to create the scent. Is the lavender “Scented Plate” purely formulated from lavender essential oil, or does it have other ingredients added?
Without this information, we cannot ascertain the safety of this part of CalmiGo’s technology, and we urge the brand to more clearly document the materials used in their scented plates.
This video from the brand shows how the device is used:
Does CalmiGo Cause Side Effects?
Given that this is a hardware device rather than an ingestible product, its risk of side effects is likely minimal.
Neither CalmiGo clinical trial cited above references any side effects or patients having to discontinue use, which suggests that CalmiGo is unlikely to cause side effects in healthy adults.
That being said, we consider the risk of side effects to be slightly higher than the brand claims, given our concerns about the materials used to create the scents.
If there are artificial fragrance ingredients used, for example, those may cause irritation and negative health effects in some individuals.
It may be inadvisable to inhale anything with uncertain contents.
Real People Try CalmiGo
A YouTube channel called “Pätrick und Caleb K” has a comprehensive review of the CalmiGo that explains if the device was effective for their type of stress:
A TikTok user named "laurenjnicole" shows how she uses the device to relieve anxiety:
@laurenjnicole Just wanted to show you guys how I cope with my anxiety these days. I seriously love my @mycalmigo so much ♥️ #calmigopartner #mentalhealthtips #mentalhealthmatters #anxietyrelief ♬ Sad Scene BGM Piano Instrument(313618) - HomeMadeGarbage
Customers Rate CalmiGo
Amazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.
At the time of updating this article, CalmiGo has been reviewed over 80 times on Amazon, with an average review rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars.
A top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “sandra adkins” who gave the product a 5/5 rating:
“This product actually stops the spiraling, not sure if that makes sense to you.. But panicking goes from starting to panic and progress to oh my God I'm going to die and I can't get enough oxygen.. I've tried meditation, every daily drug you can think of and NOTHING helped. It's such a simple idea but it works. Today is the first day I didn't hate every hour of the day. Thank you. My job is very important to me and I actually have hope that there's a light at the end of the tunnel.”
A top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Dixie” who gave the product a 1/5 rating:
“I have panic attacks and asthma and this morning I was having trouble breathing I got my calmigo out and started to use it I have been using it regularly three times a day trying to feel better. it has not done anything for me. I cannot smell the scent also if I just meditate and learn how to breathe deep it works better and a lot cheaper. I really really wanted it to work. To pay that much money when you don't have it you really do want it to work.”
CalmiGo currently has a 72% recommendation rating on Facebook.
Our Clean Mood Support Picks
Pique Japanese Sencha Green Tea is our top relaxation tea pick.
Green tea was shown in a 2017 clinical trial to significantly reduce stress levels, and has been used to promote mental and physical wellness for centuries.
Cornbread CBD Lotion is our top pick for a topical stress-reliever.
CBD is clinically shown to be absorbed through the skin, and was shown in a 2020 medical review to be a "promising" natural treatment for anxiety disorders.
Performance Lab Magnesium is our top magnesium pick.
Magnesium is a mineral that 45% of Americans are deficient in according to a research review, and "existing evidence is suggestive of a beneficial effect of [magnesium] on subjective anxiety" according to a medical review published in the Nutrients journal.
All of the products recommended in this section are entirely free of additive ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
CalmiGo Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of CalmiGo in our opinion:
Pros:
- Physical device
- Clinically shown to work
- Multiple clinical trials ongoing
- Affordable when amortized over years
- Unlikely to cause side effects
- Three mechanisms of action
Cons:
- Expensive one-time payment
- Materials used to create scents unclear
- Mediocre Amazon reviews
- Mediocre Facebook recommendation rating
