Does CBD help with sleep disorders?

How effective is CBD as a sleep aid? As more people integrate CBD into their nightly routine, if you have yet to try you may be wondering if it can help with your insomnia or sleep issues, and if it’s suitable for long term use. So you may wonder what is the best CBD solution for sleep? Before finding out the best remedy for sleep, it’s important to understand the fundamentals of falling and staying asleep.

Why we can’t fall asleep

Going to sleep isn’t always a simple process. The mandate of 8 hours for optimal health is something we strive for but constant distractions block us from drifting off to dreamland. These distractions are mainly stress, anxiety, depression, and pain; other times it’s alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine. While all these substances can simply be avoided before bedtime, addressing our mind and mental health is something that requires constant practice. Has there been a recent change or event in your life? Are you constantly stressed out about work? Perhaps these are some of the questions you should ask yourself and from there, you can plan out how to liberate yourself from these stressors.

Here are some suggestions to overcome your challenges and maintaining our overall health:

Exercising & Healthy diet

Exercising and eating healthy is a no brainer, but it’s very often overlooked. It certainly is the best practice for optimal health, as well as getting a good night’s rest. Both are the cornerstone of healthy living and is beneficial for nearly every system in our body. From reduced anxiety, lowered blood pressure and to better sleep – these benefits are crucial to a healthy human body. A substantial amount of research has shown that regular exercise and a healthy diet have a direct relationship to improved sleep quality – but don’t stress out about it. Stress is worse for you, so baby steps are encouraged! Such as avoiding food consumption right before bedtime, moving your body more, and just steeping outside.

“All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision” -James Clear

Relaxation Technique

SleepFoundation.org suggests that you can reliably fall asleep within a matter of minutes by using the relaxation technique. First, there are four key elements to cultivating relaxation: a quiet environment, a focus of attention, a passive attitude, and a comfortable position. After achieving these four pillars of calmness and relaxation, you can practice some of the suggested techniques. For us, controlled breathing has certainly been an easy implementation to our bedtime routine and the result was quite remarkable. For more information on these techniques, visit their site here.

CBD for sleep

Finally, let’s talk about cannabidiol, aka CBD. A trending supplement for a balanced life, but let’s be real, it’s not a magic sleeping potion. Instead, it works differently in a way that it targets the cause behind your sleep disorder such as pain, stress, and anxiety. Studies show that CBD consumption stimulates serotonin and serotonin receptors. Serotonin is a naturally-occurring compound that regulates a multitude of biological functions. From stress relief to boosting the circadian rhythm, serotonin is a useful compound that collaborates with CBD. Serotonin has long been touted by research for its therapeutic effects, such as:

• Decrease in stress
• Regulating anxiety
• Increase in mood/happiness
• Promoting a restful night

As you consume CBD, the cannabinoids can interact with the 5-HT1A receptor group. Once stimulated, the 5-HT1A receptor is believed to promote a cascade of effects associated with an increase in serotonin.

When CBD is combined with melatonin, that’s when CBD is directly targeting our night’s sleep. Melatonin is another naturally-occurring hormone that is associated with the sleep-wake cycle. Our melatonin level normally starts to work its way up about two hours before bedtime. As we age or other conditions start affecting our natural melatonin level it may cause a night of interrupted sleep. Hence, supplementing melatonin may help balance our body’s melatonin level and help promote sleep.

Effectiveness of CBD for sleep

Project CBD, a California-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and publicizing research into the medical use of CBD has done a survey on this matter. A total of 1521 survey participants reported using CBD for their sleep distress. The organization highlighted the fact that most participants were having problems staying asleep rather than falling asleep. In addition, 1110 participants reported having pain issue along with their sleep distress, 958 with mood issues, 304 with hormonal conditions, 273 with PTSD, and 228 with gastrointestinal disease.

Measure the success from your bed

Countless products are on the market to help us measure the success of our restful nights. If you own a wearable device, such as an Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, or Fitbit, you can access the pre-installed sleep tester. Don’t worry if you don’t own any of those devices. Thanks to the evolution of technology, on your mobile device, you can go to your App Store or Play Store to download “SleepScore” to measure your sleep. Not only do SleepScore Labs provide a feature of measuring the success of your night, but it also provides a personalized product recommendation and science-backed advice. This app works by simply placing your smartphone near your head no more than arm’s length away from you. Then the microphone sends and receives silent signals, sensing your breathing and body movement so that your overall sleep can be reliably assessed. In case you are worried, they say they don’t record anything, ever.

Bottom Line

CBD is not a magic sleeping potion. In fact, there is no magic sleeping potion, at least without any side effects and that are suitable for long term use. However, CBD is a great alternative for those who are interested in holistic approaches to sleep challenges. A holistic approach to health takes the long-term effects of your body, mind, and spirit into account. If you are considering CBD for sleep but you’re still unsure, send us a message at [email protected] or talk to us via Live Chat! We’re always here to help you along your wellness journey.