To truly get the most out of life, everybody needs to get a good night's sleep. Lack of sleep due to stress or insomnia has led many to seek out natural sleep remedies, including CBD, to help them fall asleep and stay asleep.
Experts believe that long-term use of over-the-counter sleep aids can actually promote the opposite effect. Furthermore, some prescriptions can become habit-forming. These are all side effects you will likely not experience with CBD products.
This article will explore the role that CBD for sleep and insomnia can play in a healthy sleep cycle.
Why Is Sleep Important?
According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, an estimated 50 to 70 million people in the United States spanning all ages and socioeconomic classes suffer from sleeplessness. Adults aged 18-60 years old need at least seven hours of sleep each night to achieve optimal health and well-being.
Sleep plays a vital role in your mental and physical health. When you have a healthy sleep cycle, your body and mind are able to engage in many restorative processes, including healing and repairing cognitive and cardiac functions. During sleep, your body is actively working by boosting your immune system, fighting inflammation, regulating digestive processes, and so much more.
When a person does not get the sleep they need, they run the risk of developing many chronic health conditions, including:
High blood pressure
Stroke
Heart disease
Obesity
Diabetes
Mental health issues
Insomnia is a severe sleep disorder that can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). Right now, one in four Americans develops insomnia annually, according to Science Daily. Insomnia can cause a person to have problems falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking far too early. This can drastically impact your energy level, work performance, and quality of life and can cause negative physical and mental health outcomes.
According to the Mayo Clinic, chronic insomnia can result in many of the health conditions we have referenced and cause depression and anxiety. CBD for sleep and insomnia not only has the potential to help as a sleep aid to improve sleep quality, but it can also help to mitigate and manage anxiety and assist with chronic pain relief to help you achieve a calm and restful night's sleep.
What Are Cannabinoids and CBD?
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that bind to specific receptors in the central nervous system and act as chemical messengers.
The most well-known and probably most researched cannabinoids include cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). We know that THC is the cannabinoid that leads to the "buzz or high" from cannabis use.
CBD differs from THC and does not cause psychoactive effects or a "high" and might help certain conditions, such as pain, anxiety, and insomnia. To learn more about CBD, click here.
What is the science of CBD for sleep? How CBD works to improve sleep?
Many things can cause you to sleep poorly. According to the Mayo Clinic, insomnia can be caused by:
mental health disorders, such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression
medication, which can disturb your sleep-wake cycle
physical conditions, such as chronic pain and restless leg syndrome
caffeine, especially when consumed late in the day
environmental factors, such as loud noises or an uncomfortable bed
If external factors or related conditions cause your insomnia, CBD may help treat sleeplessness causes.
Research shows CBD's efficacy in treating chronic pain, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and insomnia and may help users fall asleep and stay asleep.
A 2019 study published in The Permanente Journal on behalf of the National Institutes of Health displayed that patients treated through the use of CBD over the course of three months saw an improvement in their sleep cycles and a lessening of their anxiety and other mental anguish.
Other research tells us that CBD affects the sleep cycle. Research from 2014 looked at four patients with Parkinson's disease. It found that CBD improved REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) symptoms, a disorder in which a person acts out their dreams. RBD is associated with poor sleep and nightmares.
A 2017 review also noted that CBD might help treat RBD and show potential for treating excessive daytime sleepiness.
Grogginess, another symptom of insomnia, might also be affected by CBD. A 2014 review found that CBD could have the potential to promote wakefulness, based on both human and animal research.
Pain, which may also cause sleep problems, can be helped by CBD as well. A 2018 review in Frontiers in Pharmacology noted a fair amount of evidence to support the claim that CBD soothes pain. The authors note that by reducing chronic pain, CBD can improve sleep.
The most important research is that CBD can improve sleep processes because it triggers the body's endocannabinoid system.
The Endocannabinoid System and Sleep
Researchers discovered that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a role in maintaining certain body functions, such as mood, appetite, sleep, and regulating circadian rhythms. Within the ECS is a network of cannabinoid receptors in the brain and central nervous system. Cannabinoids attach to these cells and have various effects. As far as how they may affect sleep, some research indicates that CBD may interact with specific receptors, potentially affecting the sleep/wake cycle.
Additionally, CBD may also decrease anxiety and pain, which can both interfere with restful sleep. By reducing certain symptoms, it's also possible that sleep may improve. To learn more about the circadian rhythms, click here.
How to use CBD for Sleep
There are many ways to take CBD. It comes in a few different forms, including:
CBD vape concentrates
CBD pills and capsules
CBD edibles, like CBD gummies
Depending on the CBD product you choose, you will use it differently to help you sleep. Most CBD for sleep products recommends using an hour or so before bed to allow it to take effect.
Generally, vaping CBD gets it into your system faster than other forms. However, there's not much research on vaping CBD, and vaping, in general, may pose respiratory risks.
CBD is mainly found in the tincture format, and this form is our favorite.
If you are using a CBD oil tincture for sleep, this is taken with an included dropper to place a small amount under your tongue. Keep the CBD under your tongue for 30 seconds or so, for better absorption, before swallowing. In terms of dosage amounts, the oil comes with a dropper with mL measurements. To start, take a single mL drop for a single serving of CBD. Again, it's important to start low and go slow when adding CBD to your routine.
For CBD capsules and gummies, take the recommended serving (typically 1 or 2) about an hour before bedtime. Some work better when taken with food, so be sure to check the directions on the packaging.
For CBD bath bombs, you add one of these to a hot bath as part of your evening routine before bed.
Note that CBD typically works best by building up in your system over time, so it may take up to a month for you to experience the full effects.
The dosage of CBD you use, and the time you take it, will depend on many factors. Your weight, personal body chemistry, and the nature of your sleeping troubles will affect how the CBD works. What works for some people might not work for others.
Most clinical trials on CBD and sleep have involved giving the subjects anywhere between 25 mg to 1,500 mg of CBD per day. It's best to start with a low dosage and gradually increase it until you find something that works for you.
To see Legalizing CBD's, CBD Dosage Guide, click here.
Much of the research on CBD, anxiety, and sleep has noted that many patients don't notice an immediate difference. The 2019 study mentioned that it took about a month for the subjects to notice a difference. Be patient, and remember that you're unlikely to get immediate results.
Here at Legalizing CBD, our favorite CBD oil for sleep is our very own Sleep Time + Melatonin 1000mg Full Spectrum CBD oil. This CBD Sleep Time formula combines powerful ingredients to maximize CBD's rest-promoting benefits. We use full-spectrum hemp extract, which promotes the entourage effect—mixed with MCT oil, natural Lavender oil, and Melatonin, known to have sleep support agents that work together, assisting you in reaching flawless rest.
Full-spectrum CBD means that there is a wide range of phytocannabinoids in the formula. The entourage effect happens when there is a spectrum of phytocannabinoids in the formula. They work together to achieve synergy. This beneficial process makes the overall formula more potent, which should result in better sleep.
The Sleep Time + Melatonin tincture is also combined with MCT Oil ( Natural Medium Chain Triglyceride), being the most efficient way to consume CBD for quick and easy absorption of the essential fatty acids that MCT offers.
MCT, CBD, and Melatonin work together in perfect balance to help you wind down while feeling recovered and relaxed.
Try CBD SLEEP Time tonight and sleep like a baby or a teenager on summer break.
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Always remember: Having the right attitude and mindset can literally change your life.
You should still consult an attorney for the best legal advice regarding CBD oil in your state, as the material shared here is for informational purposes only.
Disclaimer: The Legalizing CBD page contains general information about health, diet, lifestyle, and nutrition. Any information provided should not be considered or treated as medical advice, and always consult a medical professional before making any lifestyle changes. Products and information mentioned on the Legalizing CBD blog are not intended to be used as a substitute for medical diagnosis, advice, or treatment. Any links to third-party websites are provided conveniently, and Legalizing CBD is not responsible for their content.
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