When it comes to homeopathic sleep remedies, CBD, or cannabidiol, has quickly become one of the most popular topics.
While the cannabis-derived compound is quickly gaining merit amongst consumers and health professionals alike, some are still skeptical about its effectiveness as a natural sleep aid and many others are simply unsure of how it actually works.
Can CBD actually help you sleep better? If so, how does it work, and is it safe?
These are just a few of the many questions you might be wondering when it comes to using CBD for sleep.
As a trusted source of high-quality CBD products, the team at fabuleaf felt that it was our duty to provide our customers with some much-needed answers, so in today’s article, we’re going to shed some light on this important topic. Let’s dive in.
The Negative Impacts of Getting Inadequate Sleep
Do you have a hard time falling asleep and/or staying asleep? Unfortunately, you aren’t alone.
While the typical adult sleeps 6 to 7 hours per day, which is the necessary amount of sleep needed for the body to properly function, many others experience difficulty sleeping regularly.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), around 35 percent of American adults suffer from sleep issues. To put that in perspective–that’s over 142 million people.
In the short term, poor sleep quality can negatively impact a one’s quality of life increasing irritability and stress while decreasing focus and attention. Over a prolonged period of time; however, poor sleep quality can lead to serious health conditions.
To address the problem, many often turn to the strong sedative properties of prescription medication, OTC medications, and/or alcohol.
As science and medical research reveal further insights about the medicinal properties of Cannabis, a growing number of people are reporting a natural source of relief–CBD.
CBD and Sleep: How It Works to Help Improve Restfulness
CBD is a naturally occurring compound that is primarily found in varieties of the Cannabis plant.
Unlike its close relative, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is not a sedative and will not induce the user to fall asleep by making them feel drowsy or tired.
Instead, CBD interacts with the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) to help improve sleep quality by combating the wide range of external factors that can affect sleep quality and effectively bring balance to the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.
While there are a variety of factors that can impact one’s ability to sleep, here are the most common factors:
Stress
Stress is one of the most common factors that can cause or worsen sleep disorders. Stress may not only make it difficult to fall asleep, but it can also make it difficult to stay asleep.
With over 75% of adults in the United States being affected by stress, according to the American Institute of Stress, many believe that increased stress levels are directly correlated to the increasing number of adults affected by sleep disorders.
While researchers are still discovering how exactly CBD works with the body, studies have found that CBD can help to alleviate and manage stress by regulating the body’s cortisol levels.
Cortisol, also known as “the stress hormone” is a hormone that the body releases in response to stress. While cortisol is a natural and helpful hormone that is important to the body, unbalanced levels of cortisol can lead to a variety of problems.
By regulating how the body releases cortisol, researchers believe that CBD helps to maintain balanced cortisol levels in the body. This has a direct impact on stress levels, which is one of the most common factors of poor sleep quality.
Anxiety
Anxiety is another major factor that can lead to difficulty both falling and staying asleep.
While stress is the reaction your body has to an experience, anxiety is a sustained mental condition that can be caused by a variety of factors, including stress. Both can equally make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
At the time, researchers are not clear how CBD helps anxiety; however, current studies indicate that CBD may help alleviate anxiety by interacting with the brain’s serotonin receptors.
Serotonin is a chemical produced throughout the body that is responsible for sending signals between the nerve cells. As a crucial component of the body, serotonin has a major impact on nearly every function of the body, including motor skills, mood regulation, sleep, and digestion.
Pain
When the body is in pain or discomfort, it can become difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. The more intense the level of pain, the more difficult it can be to fall asleep.
As a powerful anti-inflammatory agent that is rich in antioxidant properties, CBD can help to alleviate pain by reducing inflammation and improving recovery. In addition, studies have found that, by interacting with the vanilloid receptor, CBD can also improve the discomfort of pain by regulating the body’s perception of pain and temperature.
How to Use CBD for Sleep
Now that you understand how CBD works with the body to help naturally support better sleep quality, let’s talk about how to integrate CBD into your daily sleep routine.
As a highly diverse compound, CBD is available in a wide variety of consumption methods or products (many of which are available right here at fabuleaf!). Here are a few of the most popular ways to use CBD for sleep:
When Should I Take CBD for Sleep?
When it comes to using CBD for sleep, this is one of the most common questions we hear.
While the answer to this question will vary based on the lifestyle of each individual, we generally recommend taking a dose of CBD one hour before winding down to go to sleep. This way, there will be an adequate amount of time for the effects of CBD to kick in.
An Important Clarification: Will CBD Make You Feel High?
Now we’ve already discussed that CBD does not induce the user to fall asleep by making them feel drowsy; however, you might be wondering, “does CBD make you feel high?”
The short and quick answer to this question is no, CBD will not get you high.
As we discussed earlier, CBD works by interacting with the body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS); however, CBD is not the only phytocannabinoid the interacts with the ECS. In fact, there are over a hundred other phytocannabinoids that are found naturally occurring in the cannabis plant, one of which is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Now when it comes to how CBD and THC work with the ECS, there are some similarities; however, there are also some major differences. One of these differences is how the cannabinoids interact with a signaling receptor known as the CB1 receptor.
When THC comes into contact with the CB1 receptor, it binds directly to the CB1 receptor, which is actually what induces the euphoric effects associated with being “high.” CBD, on the other hand, interacts allosterically with the CB1 receptor, and rather than activating its intoxicating features, CBD actually weakens its ability to bind with THC.
In layman’s terms, CBD does not get you high. In fact, CBD can actually weaken THC’s ability to bind with CB1 receptor and effectively decrease its intoxicating effects on the body.
Catch Some Zzz’s with fabuleaf CBD
There is still so much to learn about CBD and how it works with the body, but the insights revealed by studies thus far is very exciting.
Sleep is a crucial component of a healthy body and a balanced mind. When you’re able to get a good night’s rest on a regular basis, life is manageable; but when you don’t… life can become very difficult.
For those who suffer from sleep problems, we understand the strain this can put on your life and would love to help in any way we can. Whether you have questions about CBD or need a product recommendation, our team is standing by to help serve you.
Here at fabuleaf, we are strong believers in the wonders of the hemp plant and are dedicated to providing you with not only high-quality full spectrum CBD products but helpful, well-supported informational content as well.
Thanks for joining us today for our latest guide! If you have any questions or comments, please feel to share your thoughts in the comments section below!
The information contained in this article is not intended to serve as a substitute for advice or guidance from a certified doctor or health professional. Before trying Cannabidiol (CBD) or purchasing any CBD product, you should always conduct your own research and consult with your doctor. While Cannabidiol (CBD) is classified as “generally well tolerated with a good safely profile” by the World Health Organization (WHO), more research is needed in order to fully evaluate the safety and effectiveness of CBD on a personalized basis.
fabuleaf™ products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.