Do you have trouble sleeping? You’re not alone. Sleep regularity is one of the most common uses of CBD and Cannabis products. If you’re new to the game, all the options can be a bit overwhelming. And if you’re used to the traditional route of medicine you may not know where to start!

Good sleep is crucial to good health.  According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, “Sleep deficiency can lead to physical and mental health problems, injuries, loss of productivity, and even a greater risk of [early] death.” There are documented physical and mental health side effects from not sleeping enough or not sleeping well. If you’re reading this, you may be one of those looking for a solution!

Sleep is good for your health. Essential, even. A good night’s rest is crucial to our overall well-being. Our immune response is heightened making us less susceptible to getting sick. The hormones that control appetite are released, helping us eat when we are actually hungry, not just bored or tired. Additionally, during a good night of sleep our muscles repair faster, our blood sugar levels are more consistent, our bodies become less inflamed, and heart health is increased.

All of these physical changes that happen during our sleep impact our mood throughout the next day. We can regulate our emotions and our thoughts better after a good night’s rest. Mental health is greatly impacted by sleep. It is much easier to maintain a level head if you are not sleep-deprived. CBD helps target a lot of these areas all at once.

What helps?

We know we need to sleep, we want to sleep, but sadly, many of us can’t fall asleep. Spending hours with our heads on our pillows, unable to fall asleep, is pretty terrible. Because of the psychical and mental toll of not sleeping, people have come up with many solutions for the poor sleep problem.

According to the CDC, “nearly 9 million Americans use prescription sleep aids.” Per the Mayo Clinic, 80% of those prescription medications can lead to dependency. Of the ten most common prescription sleep aids on the market, only half help you both fall asleep and stay asleep. There has to be a better way!

Other prescription sleep aids include low-dose antidepressants with sedative side effects. These aim to treat sleeplessness by reducing anxiety while also inducing drowsiness, similar to CBD. Still, they come with a load of side effects.

Additionally, people have also turned to alcohol to help them sleep. While alcohol has been known to cause sleep, it actually leads to fewer hours slept and poorer sleep quality. Alcohol addiction is a disease and it is not recommended to use Alcohol as a frequent sleep aid.

CBD can offer a natural and safe alternative to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. The World Health Organization has noted that CBD is generally well tolerated and has not found evidence of abuse or dependence. CBD is a non-intoxicating compound found in hemp and is legal in Canada and the United States.

How does CBD work for sleep?

Instead of inducing artificial drowsiness, CBD invites you to sleep using your own circadian rhythm. It has also been found to offer relief from grogginess, and the persistent fatigue left by other sleep medications during the day.

CBD works with your endocannabinoid system (ECS), and it regulates our body’s systems and cycles, like appetite and mood. The ECS appears to promote “homeostasis” –the optimal state of your body where all needs like hunger, sleep, and mood, are satisfied. When your body is well regulated and well-rested, you are more efficient and feel better. Adding to the sleep benefits of CBD, it helps to regulate circadian rhythms, to assist you with feeling tired at night and awake during the day.

What does the research say?

Perhaps the most comprehensive study to date collected two years of data from over 400 people. Published in the 2018 journal of Medicines, the study asked participants to rate the severity of their insomnia each night on a scale of 1-10. The study found that using CBD over time, the average self-report of severity dropped from 6.6 to 2.2. People’s insomnia improved.

In a more recent study, published in The Permanente Journal in 2019, over 100 people were treated with CBD for sleep and anxiety. They concluded that “Sleep scores improved within the first month in 48 patients (66.7%). The same data also found, “anxiety scores decreased within the first month in 57 patients (79.2%),” adding, CBD was “well-tolerated in all but 3 patients.” Overall sleep was improved, and anxiety decreased. Additionally, CBD did not negatively interfere with the sleep cycles of healthy volunteers.

CBD for sleep wrap up

CBD is a natural sleep aid that will not become habit-forming. It appears to be helpful with falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking up well-rested. To top it off, it has zero to minimum side effects. It is proving to be a great sleep aid and one we hope will work for you too.

One recommendation before you go, CBD reduces blood pressure, it may interact with blood pressure and blood thinner medications, so consult your doctor if this presents a risk. Please speak with a doctor about persistent restlessness or excessive grogginess to rule out underlying conditions such as sleep apnea, which CBD cannot treat.

Here’s where you can purchase some CBD products for you, your family, and your pets.