Cannabidiol, which is otherwise referred to as CBD, is one of the primary cannabinoids found within the sacred cannabis plant. Cannabinoids are one of the fundamental cells found within the body because they’re used to cooperate with the endocannabinoid system. The system is used to help promote a healthier, more complete balance within the human body and aids in keeping it stable.
Another cell found in the cannabis plant, called tetrahydrocannabinol, or otherwise known as THC, should not be confused with CBD. Unlike THC, CBD isn’t a psychoactive substance, so the ‘’high’’ aura you get after consumption is negated. Rather, CBD provides a vast quantity of health applications, especially mentally. Such examples include a reduction in fits and seizures, particularly for those who suffer from epilepsy, as well as pain relief from various other illnesses.
Previous anecdotal evidence, as a result of research, has helped to provide stern proof that CBD can contribute to a better night’s kip. Following up are several points that prove the two are interlinked.
How has research proved CBD and sleep coincide?
Before we delve into the matter, it’s crucial to gain an understanding of the dynamics that cause sleep disturbances. Insomnia, a sleep disorder in which you have trouble falling and/or staying asleep, can be attributed to:
- Mental health disorders, ranging from depression, to anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among others.
- Ecological factors, such as a poor sleeping arrangement and awkward bed, or even loud sounds.
- Prescriptions that you may be taking, which can contribute to unsettling your daily sleep-wake routine.
- Consumption of a lot of caffeine, especially a staggered usage throughout the day, including late on in the day.
- Visceral conditions that make it uncomfortable to sleep, such as chronic pain and restless leg syndrome.
If you do suffer from insomnia and the cause has been determined as peripheral factors, or other such related conditions, CBD can help to negate the problematic condition by helping to ease pain in the body and relax muscles. Naturally, this will promote a better night’s sleep.
Research published in 2019 looked at whether CBD could improve sleep and/or reduce anxiety. The study involved 72 subjects, with 47 experiencing anxiety and 25 experiencing poor sleep. The subjects were each given 25 milligrams (mg) of CBD in capsule form each day. In the first month, 79.2 percent of the patients reported lower anxiety levels and 66.7 percent reported better sleep.
Pain, which may also cause sleep problems, can be helped by CBD as well. A review in 2018 in Frontiers in Pharmacology noted that there’s a fair amount of evidence to support the claim that CBD soothes pain. The authors note that by reducing chronic pain, CBD can improve sleep.
Other research tells us that CBD affects the sleep cycle. Research from NCBI in 2014 looked at four patients with Parkinson’s disease. It found that CBD improved the symptoms of REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD), a disorder in which a person acts out their dreams. RBD is associated with poor sleep and nightmares.A review in 2017 also noted that CBD may be helpful in treating RBD, and that it shows potential for treating excessive daytime sleepiness.
Grogginess, another symptom of insomnia, might also be affected by CBD. A study in 2014 found that CBD could have the potential to promote wakefulness, based on both human and animal research. The authors noted they weren’t sure exactly how or why CBD promoted wakefulness in some instances.
How CBD can help to improve sleep:
Remember, studies into CBD are still at a very premature stage, and that is why most studies can say for sure that the substance DOES improve sleep, they just can’t say why for sure. The case studies shown above place a strong emphasis on the need to further research into CBD and its qualities before we can determine what allows it to provide a better night’s sleep.
Given the rate of progression by human-kind and the fact that, in the year 2020, we can learn more about the world in a single day than we could in an entire year in, lets say, 1990, we probably won’t have to wait long before some kind of breakthrough’s occur in the topic.
How to consume CBD to enable a better night’s sleep:
CBD comes in a plethora of forms, some of which include:
– Vape follicles and concentrates (the most common form)
– Oils and extracts
– Pills and capsules
– Edibles, such as gummies or baked goods
It is commonly said that vaping CBD is the most common means of consumption because it is the quickest way for the substance to get into your body. The amount of CBD you should use, in tandem with the amount of time you take to consume it, will depend on a number of bodily aspects.
Things such as weight, height, individual body chemistry, as well as the reasons for your inability to sleep will all play a part in how effectively the CBD will work for you. Most medical trials on CBD and sleep have involved giving the subjects anywhere between 25 mg to 1,500 mg of CBD per day. It’s best to start with a small quantity and progressively raise it until you find the amount that works for you.
A lot of the research on CBD, anxiety, and sleep has stated that most subjects don’t notice an abrupt change. The 2019 study cited above claims that it took several weeks for the subjects to see a difference. It is a trial and error process, it will work, you just need to figure out how much and how long to use it for.
