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If you are desperate to say good night to insomnia, CBD is an excellent way to promote better sleep.
In a world that is always switched on and experiencing major changes, it’s no surprise that compromised sleep and insomnia are becoming more prevalent. A full 8 hours of sleep is seen as a luxury - and yet as something we spend a third of our lives doing it is thought to be the essence of our well-being.
Good sleep improves our productivity, mood, mental health, cognitive performance and also boosts our immune system – which is very important during this time where we need to be in good health and take care of ourselves. Allowing your body to have the right amount of rest is essential, but why is that so hard?
It can feel close to impossible when whirling thoughts are plaguing your brain, as one of the main causes of insomnia and sleep issues related to the stress and anxiety we experience in our day-to-day lives.
However, it can also be a result of chronic pain, the medications we take, caffeine and poor diet, external environmental factors such as the bright light from our mobile or laptop devices, loud noises like traffic and snoring partners... the list is endless.
So how can CBD oil help you have a good night’s rest so you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle life?
Let's take a look at the many benefits of CBD for sleep.
Common sleep problems
There are many sleep problems – all of which wreak havoc on your sleep patterns. Lack of sleep can be debilitating, hugely affecting your quality of life. It can affect your concentration, increase stress levels, decrease productivity, and affect your mood, too.
Although there are many different types of sleep issues, the most common causes of lack of sleep include insomnia and anxiety-related sleep problems.
CBD for insomnia
If you're wanting to use CBD for insomnia, you're not alone. A large number of people use CBD to sleep better.
Technically, insomnia is a broad term that applies to various issues that make it harder to fall (and stay) asleep. In some cases, it can be acute, lasting during a period of stress, illness or other factors. In other cases, it can be chronic and triggered by any number of factors.
CBD helps insomnia by making it easier for you to relax your mind and body. It promotes better sleep – falling asleep as well as staying asleep.
CBD and anxiety
Even if you do not have full-blown insomnia, you may find that anxiety and stress are making it harder to get proper rest. In most cases, anxiety makes it harder to fall asleep. Your mind may be racing and you may find it hard to relax at bedtime.
The link between CBD and anxiety is every bit as important as the link between CBD and sleep. When you feel less anxious, it will be much easier to relax. When you are more relaxed, you will find it easier to sleep.
CBD helps to reduce anxiety and improve sleep by calming the mind and body. This puts you in a better state to drift off each night.
The importance of good sleep
Why is good sleep so essential?
It's simple. Sleep plays an essential role in all bodily functions. There is a reason that sleep deprivation is considered a potentially life-threatening situation.
The body needs sleep to repair, restore and recharge all areas of your mind and body. This is when your body heals and replenishes.
Poor sleep can affect all areas of life. Without proper sleep, your body's immune system is greatly weakened. There is a greater risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and various other physical problems.
There is also a higher chance of mood-related disorders, including increased anxiety and stress. Studies show that depression can also be increased without sufficient sleep.
Your sleep cycle or circadian rhythm plays a vital role in the quality of your sleep.
Your circadian rhythm
We all have a hard-wired biological clock that determines when we sleep and when we wake, and it is calibrated by the presence and absence of light.
For most of us, this is what allows us to sleep at night and be wakeful during the day. In the brain, the hypothalamus is the command centre for your sleep/wake cycle - or what is otherwise known as our circadian rhythm.
Your circadian rhythm works by way of signals. When it's dark outside your eyes send a signal to your brain that it is nighttime, which in turn causes your brain to signal your body to produce melatonin.
This cycle is reversed when the sun comes up and it's time to wake up. And when it is exposed to light, your body prepares to raise its temperature, blood pressure and heart rate. Your brain signals your body to stop producing melatonin and to release hormones like cortisol instead.
How CBD affects sleep
CBD can improve sleep through its ability to decrease anxiety and stress, ease pain and improve overall well-being.
In short, it helps to treat the symptoms that so often cause poor sleep or affect the quality of sleep.
Can CBD put me to sleep?
In short, CBD can put you to sleep. Used daily before bed, CBD oil for sleep can help put your mind and body in a better state for rest.
Several studies show that CBD for insomnia and anxiety can have plenty of benefits. Keep reading to see what the science says about CBD and sleep.
The science behind CBD and sleep
Although there is a lot more research to be done around CBD and sleep, there are a few studies available that have been conducted which seemingly affirm that it does work - as does endless anecdotal evidence from soundly sleeping cannabis users.
There is not very much known or understood about how exactly CBD works to improve sleep, but it is generally thought to be that it helps by treating the root causes of insomnia and sleep disruption.
Stress very often goes hand in hand with sleep deprivation, and so the anti-anxiety properties of CBD are thought to be behind its apparent potential to promote a greater sense of calm. Helping to relax tension in the body and mind will in turn provide a better night’s rest.
A 2019 study set out to explore the effect of administering CBD to a group of 72 patients with primary concerns of anxiety or poor sleep. Their sleep and anxiety were tracked every month with results that speak for themselves. 78% of the patients indicating significantly decreased anxiety scores and 67% experiencing vastly improved sleep.
There has also been a lot of research conducted on how CBD can be used to relieve chronic pain, due to its strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. This is helpful when trying to get some solid shut-eye, as understandably discomfort can be the cause of a severely disrupted sleep cycle.
A 2014 study on patients with Parkinson’s disease showed that CBD improved the symptoms of REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD), which is associated with poor sleep and nightmares.
CBD can also reduce grogginess, which is often a side-effect of insomnia and sleep issues. A 2014 study showed that CBD could promote wakefulness, leaving patients feeling more refreshed during the day.
Do natural sleep aids work?
Do natural sleep aids work or is it better to use medication?
Natural sleep treatments are often a safer option, considering the effects of popular pharmaceutical pain and sleep medications, which can have numerous negative side effects on your body. These include constipation, diarrhoea, dizziness, headaches, daytime drowsiness, heartburn and more.
CBD, on the other hand, is a natural remedy and thus has limited to no side effects. It can be taken daily, using drops, beverages and CBD topicals.
How to sleep better with CBD
You can sleep better with CBD simply by incorporating CBD into your daily routine. There are many ways to get the benefit of CBD oil.
For best results, it helps to get the ideal dosage and establish a routine on top of your CBD use. This will help get your mind and body into a state that is conducive to better rest.
Dosage when using CBD for sleep
Something important to keep in mind generally, but particularly when it comes to using CBD for sleep troubles, is that everybody's biochemistry is different.
So in the same way that some people drink coffee and then can't sleep, some people can take CBD drops right before bed and immediately head to the Land of Nod, others may find their endocannabinoid system becomes overstimulated and that taking CBD drops that late at night keeps them wide awake.
In the latter case, it is best to try administering your dose at once or in intervals throughout the day, up until about 6pm. This is thought to then ease the anxiety and tension that might later cause sleep problems so that the body and mind are relaxed by the time you put your head to pillow.
With CBD and sleep, you will just need to experiment and find a dosage time and amount that is right for you as an individual.
CBD sleep products for a good rest
You will find a range of CBD sleep products in the goodleaf store, all of which made to promote better sleep. Our CBD Oil Drops and CBD Oil Drops Isolate can be taken directly under the tongue or added to food. These give you all the goodness of broad-spectrum CBD in coconut-derived MCT oil.
If drops are not your thing, you can try our Water-Soluble CBD Powder Sachets instead. These can be added to water, tea, coffee, smoothies or other liquid. Try adding CBD powder to calming chamomile tea for a soothing bedtime drink.
You can also get the benefit of CBD by vaping. This delivers CBD quickly and easily in every puff. Our Calm CBD Vape Pen contains cinnamon flavours that calm and relax.
Before bed, use the Dr Kerklaan Natural CBD Sleep Cream. This cream contains melatonin and citrus and lavender essential oils that help you feel ready for bed.
Pain can also stand in your way of a decent night's rest. The goodleaf CBD Roller For Pain Relief will gently ease pain, with soothing ingredients and pure hemp-derived CBD oil.
CBD and sleep
Of course, many other things can and should be done in conjunction with CBD consumption to help you get a solid night’s sleep, such as regular exercise, a healthy diet and an established bedtime routine.
Perhaps just before closing your eyes, you might have a warm bath, light some candles, meditate, or even listen to some soothing tunes. Together with the help of CBD, these things should help you relax for a night of quality sleep - the best and most essential form of self-care.
Find out what works for you – whatever that may be - and go forth into a peaceful rest.
Make sure you have a good night with the goodleaf CBD for sleep collection.