Chronic insomnia can be very debilitating. It takes away from your quality of life and makes it harder to stay on top of work and family obligations. Many people turn to sleep supplements in order to help with their insomnia. If you’ve tried supplements, but haven’t been satisfied with the results, you might be curious about using CBD as a sleep aid.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of many compounds found in the cannabis plant and is used for many different purposes. People are even starting to see the benefits of using it to support good sleep. Find out the basics of why you should try CBD as a sleep aid!
How Does CBD Make You Sleepy?
To understand how CBD makes you sleep, you first must understand why you might have trouble sleeping. People with insomnia often have higher levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, at night. It’s more common to see cortisol levels increase in the morning after waking up, but someone with insomnia often has the opposite experience. CBD can make you sleepy because it has been shown to decrease cortisol levels. Likewise, CBD is also used by many to help decrease anxiety and pain – both of which are ailments that can also keep you from enjoying a full night’s rest.
CBD and Melatonin for Sleep
There are some sleep aids on the market that may be familiar to you, such as melatonin. You might be wondering how CBD compares to this common sleep supplement. First, it’s important to understand that melatonin and CBD take effect differently.
Melatonin is a hormone that’s produced by the pineal gland to help regulate your sleep cycle, so when you take melatonin, you’re basically telling your brain it’s time for bed, but it may not necessarily make you sleepy. On the other hand, CBD attaches to receptors which cause a reduction in stress-causing hormones such as cortisol. Therefore, CBD impacts the symptoms of your insomnia while melatonin simply instructs your body that it’s time for bed. However, if both are not in sync, you may be unable to sleep well after all.
CBD and CBN for Sleep
Like CBD, CBN is a cannabinol derived from the cannabis plant. As it turns out, CBN may have even greater potency as a sleep aid than CBD because it binds so effectively to the CB2 receptors. In fact, some studies show that CBN has a much higher success rate at helping people get rest than CBD. You are likely to find many products that combine both CBD and CBN for this reason.
When Should I Take CBD Oil for Sleep?
There are two ways you can approach using CBD as a sleep aid. One solution is to take a measured dosage of CBD throughout the day. That way, you’ll be ready for your last dosage when you get to bedtime. The accumulation of CBD in your body should make it easier for the CBD to take its effect. Otherwise, you can take a dosage that suits your needs about 20 minutes before you go to bed. Consider using a sublingual oil if you’d like to see more immediate effects.
Does CBD Work?
Studies suggest that CBD lowers anxiety and lessens pain and inflammation. These factors often contribute to loss of sleep, which is how CBD can help. All of these could be reasons why your body is having trouble relaxing. Trying it out for yourself could be a great way to find out how helpful it could be.
Works Cited
1. ASA Authors & ReviewersSleep Physician at American Sleep Association Reviewers and WritersBoard-certified sleep M.D. physicians. “CBD for Sleep & Insomnia Symptoms.” American Sleep Association, www.sleepassociation.org/sleep-treatments/cbd/.
2. “CBD and Sleep: Does CBD Work as a Sleep Aid?” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/cbd-and-sleep#research.
