Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is one of the main cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Although cannabis has been known to produce a high for its users, different cannabinoids interact with your endocannabinoid system and some help your body maintain a state of homeostasis.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (more popularly known as THC), is the active ingredient in marijuana. It produces a high and is one of the reasons that cannabis is federally illegal in the United States. Unlike THC, CBD isn’t psychoactive. This means you will not get high from using it and, instead, it is being used to alternatively treat health conditions.
Now that hemp-derived CBD products (with less than 0.3 percent THC) are legal on the federal level, many people enjoy using CBD to help control their seizures, while others use CBD in hopes it will cure their pain. Because of its new legality, there is research that shows that CBD may be able to aid you in getting a better night’s sleep.
In this article, you will learn
Reasons You Are Getting a Poor Sleep
Too Much Caffeine
Most people know that caffeine after five o’clock might be a bad idea, but everyone is different. Some people can drink caffeine all day and sleep fine while others are still feeling the affects of a cup of coffee they had around noon. Although caffeine is a very common drug to use in our society, it can stimulate the mind to the point of anxiety, leading to issues falling asleep.
Anxiety and Depression
Although anxiety and depression are known for making individuals want to sleep, it can actually be a reason for being unable to sleep as well. Even if you do sleep, your sleep may be restless. Additionally, side effects of taking antidepressants meant to counteract depression, can often interfere with sleep.
PTSD
Because post-traumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD) often brings up old memories or painful feelings. PTSD is known for increasing the amount of light sleep you achieve. It can also affect the duration of your sleep, how much restorative sleep you are able to obtain, and if you are able to get deep REM sleep. This often leads to trouble with insomnia, as well as simply staying asleep. In turn, this leads to daytime fatigue. It can be a horrible condition to deal with and often affects sleep patterns.
Physical Conditions
If you are struggling with falling asleep it might include pre-existing conditions that you already have such as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea essentially means that you are not getting enough oxygen to reach your lungs. This can be caused by being overweight, or simply a narrow jaw and a change in muscle tone. Other physical conditions might include restless leg syndrome (RLS), which makes you feel as though you can never get comfortable, or stop moving your legs when attempting to fall asleep.
Pain
If you suffer from arthritis or other chronic pain it might be disturbing your sleep. Lack of sleep actually might make your pain worse because it can activate inflammatory pathways. If you solve your pain, then you most likely will no longer be rolling around in bed at night, unable to sleep.
Can CBD Improve Sleep?
Although CBD research is still very new, there have been some studies that lead to believe that CBD is able to aid in some of the underlying causes of poor sleep. Some research does suggest that CBD can help with anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health disorders.
CBD is known to relax the body and calm your nerves. When your body is calm and your mind is at ease it will be a lot easier for you to get some rest. CBD may help you get more quality sleep because of its natural healing properties.
Not only is CBD for insomnia, but it is also known to possibly help with pain as well. By reducing chronic pain, you will more easily reduce your chances of poor sleep. In another study of four patients with Parkinson’s disease, it was found that CBD decreased the negative symptoms of REM sleep behavior disorder.
If you are taking sleep medications, CBD can be a great alternative. Sleep medications often come with costly side effects while CBD is a natural product with minimal side effects. This means a reduction in grogginess, and the ability to promote wakefulness.
Side Effects of CBD
Side effects are mostly uncommon with CBD, although you may feel some minor side effects based on the amount of your dose. Possible side effects include:
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Changes in appetite
- Changes in weight
Benefits of CBD
CBD has many different properties that may make it helpful as a therapeutic agent. Research has found that it may help with:
Different CBD Products For Better Sleep
There are many different types of CBD, the most popular forms include:
- CBD Oils and Tinctures
- Vape Concentrates
- Capsules
- Edibles (such as gummies, cookies, etc)
- Lotions and Salves
Vaping CBD is known as the fastest method of getting CBD into your system. Despite this, vaping itself does pose risks to your respiratory system.
How Much CBD Should You Take to Improve Sleep?
Choosing your dose of CBD is based on your personal preference. We recommend starting with a low dose and slowly increasing until you find what works best for you. We typically use 100mg of CBD before going to sleep but that is just our preference.
A good rule of thumb is to remember that 25mg is the minimal dose that you should take, so start with that if you are a beginner. Those with extreme pain or other medical issues may take up to 1500mg of CBD per day, but that should not be done without consulting a doctor. Remember, you can always begin at a low dosage, and increase until you find a dose that works for you.
How Does CBD Compare to Alternative Sleep Aids?
There has not been conclusive research but most of the research on CBD for sleep and treating anxiety does not show immediate effects. This means you may need to continue taking CBD oil before bed to allow it to build up in your body for up to a month before feeling the difference.
Because standard sleep medications offer quicker results, you will need to be patient with CBD. Some alternatives might include melatonin, Benadryl, or Aleve PM. Although melatonin is natural, it can cause night terrors or vivid dreams. Benadryl and Aleve PM, on the other hand, are not natural and can cause serious drowsiness.
CBD is a much more natural way of allowing your body to naturally reduce its inflammation, relax, and naturally offer relief to your sleeping woes. As of now, there is no research to show that CBD is dangerous. This means it is healthy to use. Simply don’t expect quick results.
Should You Try CBD to Improve Your Sleep?
CBD is an incredible choice if you are looking for a natural solution to your sleeping troubles. It is good to note that since the FDA does not regulate CBD products as they regulate drugs or dietary supplements, products can be mislabeled or misrepresented. This only means that you need to do your own research to find a quality product. Always look for CBD that has been tested by a third party, this ensures quality and reliability.
Most doctors do not recommend using sleep medication for longer than one to two weeks. Despite this, CBD is a natural product that can be used daily with other benefits outside of a sleep aid.
If you are suffering from lack of sleep CBD is a great way to treat it without the toxic side effects of pills or medications.
Where to Get the Best CBD – Puure Therapeutics
Puure Therapeutics is a pharmacist founded and formulated CBD company. We specialize in high quality products to ensure you get the most out of every use. All of our CBD products are third party tested, 100% organic, non-GMO, US farm raised CBD.
We make sure that whoever uses our product gets the most health benefits out of it as possible. If you want to learn more about CBD and the benefits check out our blog. For high quality CBD to help you sleep checkout our selection of CBD oils and lotions.
Contact us today!