Not getting enough sleep or just not getting the quality of sleep you need can make going through the day difficult. It can be hard to focus at work, interfere with your mood, digestion, and even negatively affect your relationships. Many sleep aids can come with a host of unwanted side effects that are sometimes equally as unpleasant as the sleepless nights themselves. However, there are alternatives!
Keep reading if you want to learn more about some of the benefits of CBD for sleep and how it can help support you if you’re someone who struggles to get those solid 8 hours of rest each night.
Does CBD help with sleep?
People use CBD for a variety of reasons, such as for anxiety, pain relief, and even just as a tool to enhance well-being. It also has been shown in some studies that CBD can be supportive for sleep too. In one study, the dosage of 160 milligrams of CBD compared to a placebo increased sleep duration.
Although more studies need to be done, in combination with the existing studies and anecdotal evidence that people have shared about their experience, CBD as a compound for sleep is quite promising.
Can CBD help with insomnia?
It’s one thing to have a restless night here and there. Suffering from insomnia on the other hand can be debilitating.
Insomnia can be a frustrating and difficult condition to deal with. In people who have insomnia, it is common for the stress hormone cortisol to peak at night instead of in the morning, which can lead to an increased number of nighttime awakenings. There are many other factors that can also influence insomnia.
However, there is some promising research on how CBD can help promote better sleep. In one study looking at the effects of CBD, researchers found that cortisol levels decreased significantly when the participants took between 300 and 600 mg of CBD oil. This is great to see. In the case of people whose insomnia is caused by high evening cortisol levels, CBD could potentially be helpful in these cases.
As always it’s important to note that this is not a substitute for medical advice and help from your doctor. Speak with your doctor if you are having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or if you are experiencing poor quality sleep. Then you can see whether CBD could be the right solution for you.
CBD and REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
Another sleep disorder that can make it difficult to get good quality sleep at night is REM Sleep Behavior Disorder. REM sleep behavior disorder is characterized by patients verbalizing and making aggressive movements during their rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep. It’s common in older people with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
There have been limited studies done on REM sleep behavior disorder and CBD but in one study of four patients with Parkinson’s disease, CBD helped in managing the REM sleep behavior disorder symptoms. After taking CBD their symptoms occurred with much less frequency. More studies are needed but the existing results are encouraging.
How to use CBD for Sleep?
So after reading all about CBD and how it can help with sleep let’s explore some CBD products that help support a good night’s rest. If you are looking to feel the effects of the CBD fairly quickly then taking a CBD tincture sublingually is one of the quickest routes. This allows for a fairly quick delivery method, taking just about 2 minutes to feel the effects. The effects of the tincture last about 4-6 hours depending on which one you take.
If you think you need a bit of a boost or find you are still waking up during the night then you could add the CBD soft gel capsules into your nighttime regimen. The CBD soft gels take a bit longer to feel the effects but last longer than the tinctures, for about 6 to 8 hours.
The tincture and CBD soft gels can be a great combination to support your sleep and bring balance into your body before going to bed.
