Sleeping is a crucial factor if you want to maintain your physical and mental health. Yet, a lot of people out there have trouble sleeping or even sleeping soundly. According to science, CBD oil, a Phyto cannabinoid from cannabis Sativa (hemp plant), has the capacity to induce sleep. That’s why many people use CBD for sleep.
There are some researches that indicate CBD may interact with specific receptors, potentially affecting the cycle of sleep. Additionally, CBD can also decrease anxiety and pain, which can both interfere with the quality of sleep. By reducing certain conditions like these, CBD can reduce sleeplessness and help you maintain a better and healthier sleep routine. In this article, we will focus on what CBD generally is & how it can help you with regular sleep problems.
Table of Contents
What is CBD, and Does It Work for Sleep?
CBD stands for “Cannabidiol.” It is one of the chemical compounds found in the Hemp plant. CBD is known to have health benefits that can support the fighting of some chronic illnesses. Relief from pain, anxiety, and depression, alleviation of cancer-related symptoms, etc., are some of the health benefit claims of CBD.
CBD in the human body interacts with the endocannabinoid system, which is your body’s way of producing cannabinoids that helps the transmission of signals from the brain through the nervous system and the immune system. Research has it that the endocannabinoid system in the human body plays a role in maintaining some body functions. Such functions include; appetite, mood, sleep, etc.
CBD works with the body system to reduce stress hormones, allowing relaxation, which can help you to sleep better. People believe that since CBD helps with stress, it can keep your mind from external influences and make you rest into sleep.
On the other hand, the cannabinoid has a network of receptors in the brain. Some researchers claim that the attachment of cannabinoids to these cells has various effects. For example, some research has that it is possible for the cannabinoid CBD to interact with some specific receptors that can affect the sleep/wake cycle.
How Does CBD Really Improve Your Sleep?
A completely relaxed body system will definitely boost healthy sleep cycles. It is possible for physical pains and some negative things loaded in the subconscious mind to prevent sound sleep.
As stated above, the body has an endocannabinoid system, which consists of cannabinoid receptors. The job of this system is to create something called homeostasis in the body. This is what enables the body system to improve inner balance and wellness. For the system to do this, it requires cannabinoids, but most people are deficient in it. It all means that if your body system is not deficient in cannabinoids, then the needed restful relaxation is imminent. This will affect tremendous improvement in your sleep through:
- The sedative effects
- Reduction of anxiety
- Reduction of Nightmares
- Improvement of sleeping Patterns, and
- Alleviate Pains
What Experts Say About CBD & Sleep
Gill explains that analysis and anecdotal proofs reveal that CBD might influence all kinds of illnesses and signs of illness. This is because CBD impacts the endocannabinoid system.
Brent A. Bauer writing for the Mayo Clinic online, says, “A prescription of CBD oil taken is seen as an efficient anti-seizure remedy. However, additional analysis is required to find out CBD’s different advantages and security.
At the moment, the one CBD product authorized by the Meals and Drug Administration is a prescription oil referred to as Epidiolex for epilepsy.
Best Suitable CBD products for Sleep
There are many variants of CBD sleep products on the market. You have the CBD gummies for sleep, oil tinctures, etc. What may influence users to demand a particular variant is solely on personal preference of convenience and potency.
CBD Oil
CBD oil is certainly one of the most popular type of CBD products for sleep. The oil takes lesser time to produce the desired effects. It comes in many flavors and potencies. You can find a great deal of quality CBD oils for sleep available in the market, but a lot of lesser quality products are flooding the market as well. Sometimes it can be very difficult to tell the difference until you give it a try. So, how do you find a reputable CBD oil supplier? you can do your own research on choosing the right oil for sleep or take the easy route by following online guides about buying CBD oil for sleep and start experimenting until you find your desired CBD oil.
CBD Edible Gummies
Another popular type of CBD products for sleep are CBD gummies. These gummies can come in all shapes and sizes with many different flavors. You can find these chewable in 25mg, 30mg, etc. These gummies are very easy to carry, as they are not liquid that can spill. Many CBD brands formulates the edibles with melatonin to enhance the effectiveness of promoting better sleep. However, only a few manufacturers dedicate themselves to producing quality CBD gummies for sleep with such formulations. As previously mentioned, the market also has scammers looking to make quick money with low-quality products. They couldn’t care less about the wellness of their customers. So, make sure to do proper research before making any purchase decision.
How Much CBD Should You Take for a Proper Sleep
As it stands, CBD is not yet regulated by the Food and Drug Administration agency. So, there is no official dose prescription. The right amount of CBD as a dose should naturally be influenced by body weight and type of symptoms. Moreover, the same dose of CBD for those suffering from chronic insomnia may not be fair for those milder cases.
Research has shown that a dose of 160mg of CBD taken orally before bedtime can relieve insomnia symptoms. Most CBD products have prescriptions of the recommended dosage for best results. To be on the safe side, it is generally better go through a general guide about CBD dosage before starting. In order to get the best result, you should always start with a low dosage and gradually increase it according to your needs. Thus, you can start with 20mg – 40mg each day. After taking this dosage for 1 week, you can increase it by 5mg. then you go ahead with this dosage until you feel that CBD is curing your symptoms effectively
However, if you want to know the right quantity of CBD oil or gummies you can take, it revolves around certain factors, which are;
- Your personal body chemistry
- The particular condition you want to treat
- The weight of your body
- CBD concentration in each gummy, oil, capsule, or pill
This means that many different variables are considered before you can decide on the amount of CBD to ingest. However, there is the need to consult with your doctor before starting CBD therapy. Your doctor can help you confirm the accurate dosage you can take as well as the potential risks.
Known Side Effects
We should remember that CBD, especially the oil solution, is considered to be on track of experiment. Scientific researchers are still working on it. On the other hand, the side effects of CBD oil may be different from the side effects of CBD gummies.
Side Effects of CBD
From experience shared over time, and some research findings, the following side effects of using CBD products have been reported:
Digestive Problems
There have been reports that the use of CBD oils can cause digestive problems. Some of the problems reported includes:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Increased or reduced appetite
- Weight loss or gain
Dry Mouth
A small amount of user of CBD products said to have experienced dry mouth.
Drowsiness and Fatigue
One of the major use of CBD is to improve sleep. So, if CDB causes tiredness, then one may consider it good for sleep improvement. Well, drowsiness and fatigue are considered side effects because it’s not everybody that takes it for sleep improvement.
Dizziness
One of the side effects of CBD is the show of dizziness and lightheadedness. In addition, CBD caused low blood pressure in 9 person’s trials of CBD use. Since a drastic drop in blood pressure might make one faint, it is advisable to check in with your doctor before using CBD. The use of CBD is definitely unpleasant to people with low blood pressure.
Possible Liver Damage
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) is a type of enzyme found in liver cells. The liver cells remain in the liver when it’s functioning normally. When there is damage in the liver, you find the cells in the blood. Some trial tests of CBD for seizures found possible liver damage because liver cells were found present in the blood. The risk is high with a high dosage of CBD and for those with existing liver issues.
Final Opinion
It is possible for CBD to make your world of sleep a comfortable one. You should base your choice of variant on potency, while the dose should be according to your symptoms. It is best to start with a low dose and increase it according to your needs. Because there are side effects in CBD, you may need to take some precautionary measures before you use it. People with some underlining health challenges like liver problems and low blood pressure are at risk with CBD intake.