CBD and Sleep
Have you ever found yourself tossing and turning at night? Do you wonder if there is anything to help you fall asleep faster and achieve a better night’s rest? I know I have. In fact, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) states that 1 in 3 adults do not get enough sleep.
For this very reason, many individuals turn to CBD for its therapeutic properties, wondering if it could potentially serve as a natural sleep aid remedy. In today’s blog post, we will explore the cause of sleep related issues, studies conducted the best forms of CBD for sleep.
If you are interested in learning more on if you should add CBD to your nighttime routine keep reading!
What causes sleep related issues?
Many individuals turn to CBD as a more natural treatment option for certain ailments, including sleep related issues. This is because many prescription and over-the-counter drugs can be risky and have side effects.
Before diving into the research on whether or not CBD can be a viable treatment option for those with insomnia, or individuals looking to improve their sleep, let’s look below at what are some of the root causes of insomnia.
They include:
- Medical conditions including allergies, asthma, chronic pain, low back pain, hyperthyroidism
- Environmental factors such as an uncomfortable bed, too much light and noise
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Lifestyle choices
How CBD might be able to help
CBD has been shown to help reduce symptoms of anxiety and promote relaxation. These coupled together can promote a better night’s rest.
Additionally, CBD has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties which helps mitigate mild or chronic pain- another root cause of insomnia.
CBD vs. Melatonin
CBD and melatonin are two very different products, but individuals turn to each to tackle one issue- a better nights rest. CBD is a natural compound that promotes sleep and relaxation by reducing anxiety and inflammation.
Conversely, melatonin is a hormone that is naturally produced in your body making you sleepy. Thus, many people take it in supplement form if they are experiencing a disruption in their sleep-wake cycle. However, melatonin may not be the most viable option if you are experiencing occasional difficulties with sleep because it is not recommended for long-term use.
Furthermore, melatonin can cause morning grogginess if taken too late at night, an issue CBD does not present. CBD can be taken at any time- day or night- without experiencing morning grogginess.
Studies on CBD and Sleep
Because the benefits of CBD are still being discovered, new studies continue to be conducted and published. However, below are a few studies that have shown promising results pointing towards the benefits of CBD and sleep.
A 2013 study looked at the sleep-wake cycle in rats and found that the percentage of sleep was greatly increased in the groups treated with 10 and 40 mg/kg of CBD in comparison to the placebo. It was also concluded that administration of CBD helped increase sleep latency during the light period of the day.
A 2016 study found that CBD can be an effective compound in reducing anxiety and insomnia secondary to PTSD. It is suggested that CBD holds anxiolytic effects and helps to induce sleep.
A 2019 study found that although more research needs to be conducted, CBD has shown promising results for those with anxiety-related disorders, leading to the improvement of sleep. The results showed that within the first month, anxiety scores decreased in 79.2% of patients and sleep scores improved in 66.7% of patients.