Sleep is an essential function that allows your mind and body to recover, leaving you feeling alert and refreshed when you wake up. Without enough sleep each night, the lack of sleep may impair your body from functioning properly and can lead to poor health.
Your body needs rest to help it remain healthy and stave off diseases. Most adults need at least seven to nine hours of sleep each night. However, according to the National Institutes of Health, 7% to 19% of adults do not get enough sleep each night.
Those who struggle with sleep each night often turn to medication or natural remedies to act as a sleep aid. But what natural solution offers the most promise for assisting with a good night's rest? Could CBD be the answer?
Let's dive into the details!
What Is CBD?
Before understanding how CBD might assist with sleep, we need to know what CBD is. Cannabidiol, or CBD oil, is derived from the cannabis plant. One of the main cannabinoids from this plant.
Another main cannabinoid that many are aware of because of its tie with Marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. The main difference between CBD and THC is that THC has a psychoactive effect that makes the user feel "high", while CBD does not have the same side effect.
What Is The Cause Of Sleep Problems?
Many different factors play into problems with sleep. Many believe people who struggle with sleeping at night may have underlying issues. Some general issues that may cause sleeplessness.
Mood
Constant worrying about different aspects of your everyday life could cause the brain to be overstimulated, which makes it harder to sleep. This overstimulation causes your mind to fight against your body's natural melatonin production. Melatonin is naturally released by the body to help you fall asleep.
Further, unhealthy stress levels may impair sleep. Sleep loss triggers our body's stress response, which may lead to elevated cortisol levels and further disrupt sleep.
Discomfort
Whether you suffer from a throbbing tooth or a sore lower back, discomfort is hard enough to deal with during the day. Having such discomfort may also rob you of much-needed rest at night. That constant thrum or twinge may cause you to be restless at night or disrupt sleep when left untreated.
Some Medications
Some medications can cause people to feel more awake than normal. Over-the-counter and prescription medications may have side effects that result in restless or sleepless nights.
Poor Sleep Habits
Not having a regular bed schedule, naps, too many stimulating activities before bedtime, screens, poor sleep environment, etc., can cause problems falling asleep and staying asleep.
The question we now hope to answer is what can be done about all these possible side effects brought on by life. Is CBD the answer to helping with resting peacefully at night?
The Connection Between CBD and Sleep
Many people utilize the benefits CBD offers, both during the day and at night. The best way for CBD to positively affect sleep is by having the perfect amount of CBD in your system before bed.
When CBD is taken internally, our body's endocannabinoid system delivers that CBD to areas of our body where CBD is needed. CBD attaches to our CB1 and CB2 receptors.
Both of these receptors can be found throughout the body. CB1 receptors are more concentrated in the central nervous system and brain. In contrast, CB2 receptors are more abundant in the tissues, organs, and immune system.
When discomfort occurs, CBD is sent to CB1 receptors along our nervous system to block those signals. You'll notice the effects when the discomfort slowly disappears, generally within 15 min to an hour.
When elevated vitals occur, our body will use CBD to assist in reducing them by sending CBD to the CB2 receptors in the brain where those elevated vitals are present. You'll recognize CBD assistance as you feel your body relax and your racing thoughts slow down.
CBD may not be able to directly counteract the effects some medications may cause, but if a doctor prescribed CBD in place of that medication that was causing sleep loss, then it would technically help with that.
CBD can't help with our own physical choices that cause us to have unhealthy sleep habits. We have to choose to go to bed at a respectable time and reduce the other factors around us that cause sleeplessness.
Now that we know using CBD for sleep is possible, we need to ask some other important questions. How long will that CBD last, and what CBD products are best for sleep?
How Long Will CBD Last?
Many factors play into how long the effects of CBD last and how long it stays in your system. This can affect your use of CBD for sleep. These factors include how much CBD you should take, how often you should use CBD, and how you should take CBD.
CBD Dosage For Sleep
CBD is not a one-size-fits-all, and the dosage amount that you should take depends on your body weight, age, and gender. A woman who weighs 120 pounds only needs around 10 to 40 milligrams of CBD, compared to a man who weighs 230 pounds and may need anywhere from 50 to 100 milligrams of CBD. However, the more CBD in your system, the more resources your body has to aid itself.
If you use CBD more often, CBD will build up in your system and take longer to clear out. This is why it is recommended to use CBD for at least a week to see if it works for you. This gives the body enough time to build up the CBD to increase its effectiveness.
There are many ways to take CBD; each will have various absorption rates and last in the body for differing times. For example, CBD oil placed under your tongue is absorbed faster.
Gummies, or edibles, take longer for the body to absorb because they have to wait to be digested before being effective. They do, however, take longer to leave the body. Creams and lotions are similar to gummies. They take longer to get into the system but linger.
Vaping CBD will cause the CBD to go directly into the lungs, and you may feel the effects very quickly, but it also leaves the body quickly. This means the effects last only a short time.
CBD commonly lasts between 2 to 6 hours, depending on the factors mentioned above. It is different for everyone, and finding what is best for you is important.
What CBD Products Are Best For Sleep?
Regarding using CBD for sleep, two other compounds are mentioned: THC and CBN. CBN, or cannabinol, is another compound found in the cannabis plant. CBN is still new, and there is not much research out there on the specific benefits and side effects of CBN.
Traces of CBN in full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD, but CBD products with added CBN may assist with improving sleep. In a study done in 2021, researchers found that the people who used CBN may have improved their sleep problems.
THC is a compound that most people have already heard about and know a little bit about. THC is also derived from the cannabis plant. THC has a psychoactive effect that makes the user feel "high". THC may also be used to assist with sleep problems.
In a 2020 study done by the Canadian Pharmacists Journal, they found a majority of the patients saw an improvement in their sleep problems when using THC.
THC is not legal in every state, so it is important to check your local and state laws before using THC and CBD to assist with sleep. More research needs to be done on CBD and its other compounds to know the full effects it can have on sleep.
How to Incorporate CBD Into Your Sleep Routine
Incorporating CBD into your sleep routine can be a simple and effective way to promote a more restful night. Begin by choosing the right CBD product for your needs. Whether it's CBD oil, capsules, gummies, or another form, opt for a product that aligns with your preferences.
Start with a lower dosage and gradually increase it until you find the amount that works best for you. Consistency is key, so consider integrating CBD into your nightly routine. Take your chosen CBD product approximately 30 minutes before bedtime to allow your body to absorb and respond to its calming properties.
Creating a conducive sleep environment is another crucial aspect of incorporating CBD into your routine. Pairing CBD use with healthy sleep habits can enhance its effectiveness. Dim the lights, minimize screen time, and engage in calming activities before bedtime.
Consider practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or gentle stretching to further support a tranquil sleep environment. Keep in mind that individual responses to CBD may vary, so pay attention to how your body reacts and adjust your routine accordingly.
By seamlessly integrating CBD into your sleep ritual and fostering a serene bedtime atmosphere, you pave the way for a more soothing and rejuvenating sleep experience.
Sum It Up!
Some so many people struggle with sleep problems. When exploring your options to improve your sleep issues, it may be good to consider using CBD. CBD is convenient because it can be used in so many different ways.
You can also find CBD with added compounds like CBN and THC, which may provide added benefits specific to sleep. Even though it is new, there are more and more studies being performed to look at the correlation between sleep and CBD, and it may be a good option for you.
