CBD has been hard to miss as a subject of conversation in recent years, and it seems everyone has an opinion on it, though the opinions do differ. There’s no doubt that there have been some breakthroughs in scientific research that favor CBD. However, scientists have a lot more to explore here.
In this article, we’ll focus on the facts and claims on whether you can use CBD to improve sleep pattern, quality and maybe even treat insomnia. We’ll also touch upon how it’s supposed to soothe and relax the user and the general facts about CBD you should probably know if you intend to take it.
Having a good night’s sleep is one of the primary things you need to have a good, productive day. If you cannot sleep, you cannot function well. And, as we know, a chronic lack of sleep can lead to more severe problems.
Let’s see if CBD can help.
What Is CBD?
Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, is a cannabinoid derived from the hemp plant that supposedly has many properties from which humans can benefit. Some of those benefits include pain relief, stress reduction, anxiety reduction, and help with conditions like PTSD. Not all these claims are scientifically proven. Still, given the population’s general response since the government legalized it in the US, it helps with at least some of those conditions.
Depending on your previous experience with CBD and whether you have a particular condition, there are different doses that you should go for. It is an excellent option to consult a dosage chart to determine CBD’s right amount for you. There are also different modes of intake.
Generally speaking, you can go for edibles, and the other two options are smoking and vaping. If you are having trouble sleeping, CBD vape pens for sleep could make that a bit easy for you. However, as with any substance, make sure to inform yourself well and consult your physician.
How It Works to Help You Fall Asleep
How CBD works is a bit complicated to explain. In essence, it interacts with your body’s endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is an intricate network of cannabinoid receptors in your body, interwoven with the central nervous system, and is closely related to the sleep-wake cycle.
When ingested (by any method), CBD uses the complex endocannabinoid network to send signals to your brain. These signals are closely tied to the brain’s parts in charge of sleep, stress, and anxiety. According to a study, CBD can reduce anxiety and help subjects with poor sleeping quality and habits.
Can CBD Enhance the Quality of Your Sleep?
How do you improve the quality of your sleep? The answer is by getting more hours of sleep in the NREM phase, which is considered deep sleep. The way CBD is supposed to help with this is simply speeding up the process in which you go from the REM phase and into NREM faster, which should provide longer times spent in actually restful sleep.
You can also read up on this in this study, which seemingly improved both the sleep patterns and anxiety levels in a pediatric PTSD patient. There is yet more to be uncovered about how CBD can help, but the research is well on its way, and hopefully, we’ll have more positive results like this one soon.
Can You Treat Insomnia With CBD?
Now, insomnia is a condition that’s way more than just having trouble falling asleep. It can significantly affect the brain chemistry, and sleep deprivation is a hazardous condition it can lead to. Certain studies show that CBD can have light sedative effects with the right dosage, which can help insomnia patients fall asleep faster and awaken fewer times during the night.
Is It Safe?
The only issue with current CBD safety is that the products are not FDA regulated and may not contain everything on the label or contain something that isn’t. Hopefully, this will change soon, as the FDA has already certified one product containing CBD and may have opened the gate for more of them.
Other than that, there aren’t any notable side effects, except for drowsiness – but we’re talking about improving sleep and falling asleep faster, so that’s not a factor. We should also mention that it is still unknown how CBD may interact with prescription drugs. If you are taking any, you should consult your doctor before even thinking about getting a CBD product from your local dispensary.
In Conclusion
That about sums it up and is pretty much everything you need to know on the theme of where CBD and sleep overlap. Scientists are conducting new research every day, and we are getting more results, so you should keep your eyes open for any possible developments in this field.
Inform yourself, only buy products from brands you trust, and don’t forget to always consult your physician or pharmacist before getting a CBD product, especially if you are taking any other medication at the moment.
