Did you know that CBD may help you get better sleep?
Sleep directly impacts our health and wellbeing, making it one of the most important aspects of everyday life.
However, many people struggle with getting enough quality sleep.
A 2018 poll found that people rarely prioritize sleep over other life areas like work, hobbies, and fitness. We all know all too well that life often gets in the way of sleep. But the consequences of not getting a good night’s sleep may be worse than we think.
If you find yourself unable to fall asleep, waking up often during the night, and then feeling tired and groggy during the day, then it’s important you make it a priority to get on a better sleep schedule. In the short term, sleep disruptions may result in behavioral and cognitive functioning problems. Long-term consequences are even more dire - from hypertension, weight gain, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even colorectal cancer.
Lately, many people have turned to CBD as a natural sleep aid. But how can this cannabis compound help improve your sleep quality? Below you’ll find all you need to know on how to get on a better sleep schedule with the help of CBD.
The endocannabinoid system and sleep disorders
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a network of biochemical receptors that help maintain homeostasis. The ECS is a vital part of the human body's natural balance of reactivity. It helps us cope with day-to-day stress and anxiety, while also providing protection against chronic mental health issues. Simply put, this system is involved in regulating mood, sleep, pain, stress, immune function, memory retention, and appetite to name just a few.
The disruption of the endocannabinoid system can lead to a variety of problems including disturbance in the circadian rhythm and sleep patterns. The circadian rhythm, also known as the body's natural clock, is a biological cycle that governs the sleep-wake patterns in all living organisms. Nowadays, a large part of the population is affected by environmental and lifestyle factors that disrupt the circadian system and consequently, lead to sleep problems. While on the other hand, some people are simply more genetically predisposed to sleep disorders. If not addressed, the disruption of your sleep patterns will continue to cause other, more severe, health problems.
One way to help balance your ECS and improve sleep is by focusing on the environmental and lifestyle factors; such as eating a healthy diet, exercising, getting plenty of natural light, and avoiding stressors. Nevertheless, if the problem persists it’s always best to consult with your physician.
However, you’ve probably heard someone swear about how CBD has helped them with their sleep problems. Is there any truth to this? CBD is a cannabinoid extracted from the hemp plant and has been getting a lot of attention recently. That’s because CBD does not have psychoactive effects like THC, and it interacts with our ECS to bring it to balance and provide therapeutic benefits - among them, promoting better sleep.
The science of CBD for sleep
A lot of evidence that CBD can help you sleep better is anecdotal. Given that until recently the research on the cannabis plant has been limited, there’s no surprise that a lot of research is still needed in this area. Nevertheless, many preliminary scientific and medical studies have found evidence that CBD may be helpful in regulating your sleep schedule.
Stress, anxiety and CBD
While not a sleep disorder, stress and anxiety are often two main causes of poor sleep quality. And the evidence that CBD can help you sleep better is mainly attributed to its calming effect on the nervous system.
CBD has been found to decrease the level of cortisone - our main stress hormone - in the body, providing a sedative effect that alleviates stress and anxiety. In turn, the patients who received the treatment with CBD exhibited an increase in sleep quality. This study also highlights the fact that CBD has demonstrated to be safe to use. In addition, a clinical case study demonstrated how CBD oil helped a girl suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder by reducing her anxiety symptoms and improving her sleep.
Insomnia and CBD
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that makes it hard to fall and stay asleep. People who suffer from insomnia experience drowsiness and disruptions in their ability to concentrate among other symptoms.
Stress and mental health issues are among the primary causes of chronic insomnia. Given that CBD has been promising in easing anxiety, as a result, people also slept better. Moreover, an early study also found that CBD may help people suffering from insomnia to sleep more.
Pain and CBD
It’s common for people who experience pain to have difficulty falling asleep. Moreover, it’s also common for older adults to wake up during the night due to physical pain. And pain management is one of the most common reasons that people use CBD. Research suggests that CBD may provide some relief for people who experience chronic pain, and goes as far as to monitor and specify that the patients also experience an increase in sleep quality.
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and CBD
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder is a sleep disorder that causes bouts of physical acting out dreams and is caused by the brain's inability to regulate sleep stages. A 2014 study focused on patients with Parkinson’s disease found that the use of CBD may reduce the number of symptoms of REM Sleep Behavior Disorder by calming down the brain.
Hypersomnia and CBD
People with hypersomnia, also known as excessive daytime sleepiness, have difficulty staying awake during the daytime and are excessively sleepy. A 2017 review study highlighted how CBD may hold promise for people suffering from this sleep disorder.
How to use CBD for better sleep
When it comes to using CBD products, one thing matters most: consistency. To best feel its effects, we recommend you make it part of your daily routine. You can start small and slow and go from there, see how your body and mind react to it. And when it comes to choosing the right CBD products for you, it’s best to start by understanding how each product may fit into your routine.
Before we dive into how you can add some of the most common CBD products into your routine, it’s good to keep in mind: while CBD may soothe some of the symptoms that lead to poor sleep, it does not fix the causes. If you’re experiencing major pain, stress, anxiety, or other symptoms it’s always best to talk to your physician.
CBD tinctures/oils for sleep
CBD tinctures, which are also referred to as CBD oil, are a great way to easily add this cannabinoid to your daily routine.
Tinctures can be taken sublingually or by putting a few drops in your favorite drinks. When taken sublingually, CBD has a higher bioavailability, which means that it’s absorbed quicker into the bloodstream when compared to ingesting it. Simply put, if you take a few drops of CBD under your tongue you will feel its effects faster than if you were to put CBD in your drink or apply it topically.
If you’re new to CBD, we would recommend you start with a 300mg tincture. Our oils also contain natural flavors like lemon or mint, and will add a touch of extra flavor to your day. You can take 1ml (½) dropper twice a day. Taking a dose in the morning will keep you more relaxed throughout the day and reduce the daily stress you experience, which is a primary cause of poor-quality sleep. And half a dropper at night will have you relaxed and ready for bed. If you wish to feel a stronger effect, you can upgrade to our 600mg or 1200mg CBD tincture.
CBD salves for sleep
Salves are a combination of CBD with other natural extracts that provide topical relief. The Wellness Garden Calming & Anxiety Relief Salve is formulated with a soothing blend that helps relax your nervous system, promoting restful sleep. You can massage a pea sized amount of this salve to your temples and chest, allowing the product to get absorbed.
And if pain is what’s causing you to lose sleep, then our Muscle & Joint Relief Salve (which is boosted with 12 essential oils and herbal extracts) will help soothe your aches, enabling you to fall into a deep sleep.
You can also use these products in combination with one another. For example, you can take half a dropper of CBD tincture in the morning and apply one of our salves at night. If you’re just starting out with CBD, it’s good to try and see which product works best for you. We also recommend discussing your CBD usage with your physician. Nevertheless, all Wellness Garden CBD products are third-party quality tested and contain only natural ingredients.
