How CBD Products Can Help Improve Your Sleep
When you ask someone with insomnia how they’re feeling, the answer is always the same: “exhausted.” They’re tired from insomnia, tired of insomnia, and tired of trying insomnia treatments that never work.
If this sounds like you, CBD may be the answer. Then again, this “answer” also brings up another question. Can CBD products really help you sleep better or is it just a sales pitch?
If we simply tell you the answer (“Yes, by the way, it helps.”), it’s unlikely that you’ll take us at our word. We do, after all, sell CBD products on our website.
Thus, we’d rather share with you the legitimate, clinical research we’ve collected on the topic. Then, you can decide for yourself whether to use CBD for sleep. Read on to learn more.
What the Research Says About CBD and Sleep
Several studies confirm that using CBD results in better sleep. Although, it’s not entirely clear why it helps.
In one study, researchers tested the effects of CBD on sleep patterns against a placebo. The placebo actually contained a full dose (5mg) of the sleep aid, nitrazepam.
Meanwhile, the CBD capsules had either 40, 80, or 160 milligrams of CBD. Participants who took 160 mg of CBD reported the greatest increase in sleep duration.
A different study measured how CBD affects the body’s levels of cortisol. Cortisol is a chemical your body produces when you’re stressed. High levels of cortisol can cause insomnia/nighttime awakenings when you’re trying to sleep.
In high doses (300mg-600mg), CBD is proven to reduce cortisol levels. This dosage also provides a sedative effect.
Other Ways CBD Products Help Improve Your Sleep
There are also several indirect ways that CBD can improve sleep health. That is, CBD treats many issues that cause sleep problems, most notably anxiety.
The most well-known effects of CBD are mood improvement and stress reduction. And numerous studies confirm CBD’s effectiveness as a treatment for anxiety disorders.
Likewise, it’s also well-documented that anxiety disorders often lead to insomnia and other sleep problems. Thus, treating your anxiety with CBD could help your sleep health.
Other studies suggest that CBD can be used to treat chronic pain. If pain keeps you awake every night, CBD might be the effective, natural solution you need.
Possible CBD Side Effects
For the most part, CBD side effects are both rare and mild. Plus, you cannot “overdose” on CBD. However, a high dosage of CBD increases the risk of side effects.
First, it’s believed that CBD acts as a sedative in high doses. Those who experience drowsiness from their CBD dosage shouldn’t drive while under the influence. Fatigue can also be attributed to the sedative properties of CBD.
Other possible side effects include:
- Diarrhea
- Changes in appetite/weight
- Changes in cellular viability
- Decreased fertility
- Decreased ability to process drugs in the liver
We also know that CBD interferes with certain drugs and mental illnesses. For example, it exacerbates certain symptoms of schizophrenia.
What We Don’t Know
Furthermore, there’s a lot we still don’t know about CBD, like specific drug interactions. And the effects of CBD have not been on many health conditions, either.
Aside from this, it’s possible that there are long-term effects we don’t yet realize. Though, this is unlikely given the decades of research.
What CBD Doesn’t Do
Now, consider the possible side effects of other sleep treatments:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Irregular heartbeat
- Lasting drowsiness
- Problems with memory and cognitive performance
By comparison, CBD is far less problematic. Furthermore, CBD is neither intoxicating nor habit-forming. THC, on the other hand, is both.
Also, CBD only acts as a sedative in very high doses. In some cases, therefore, CBD can help you sleep without impairing your ability to drive.
As an example, it may be that an anxiety disorder is causing your sleep problems. In small doses, CBD could reduce your anxiety (thereby helping you sleep) without causing drowsiness.
How to Use CBD For Better Sleep
Honestly, any type of internally-taken CBD is equally effective at improving sleep. And they’re all easy to dose.
So, choosing the right product depends mostly on your personal preferences. Below, we describe many types of CBD products and how you can use them to improve your sleep.
Oral/Sublingual CBD Oil and Tinctures
Sublingual CBD absorbs quickly under your tongue before you swallow it. You should begin feeling the effects almost immediately. Oral/sublingual CBD products are available as flavored tinctures or pure CBD oil.
Make sure you read the label before you consume it, though. Do not ingest CBD oil that’s meant for vaping.
Vaping CBD
Vaping is very easy to incorporate into your nighttime routine. Keep a vape pen by your toothbrush and take a quick puff before bed. These inhalants come in a large variety of flavors by many different brands.
CBD Gummies/Edibles
If you don’t like the taste of CBD, certain edibles help to mask the flavor. Keep in mind, though, that edibles have calories. So, you might gain weight if you consume a lot of these products right before bed.
CBD Capsules
All of the options above might still have too much CBD flavor for your liking. In that case, try CBD capsules. This way, you can take the dose you need with no flavor and no calories.
Topical CBD
Topical CBD is unlikely to help with issues like anxiety and stress. But it may help with any chronic pain that keeps you awake at night.
Using CBD For Better Sleep
Incorporate your preferred product into your nighttime routine, about 30 minutes to an hour before bed. Additionally, try to determine the cause of your sleep problems. If you believe that stress/anxiety is to blame, it might help to take CBD throughout the day.
Combining CBD With Other Sleep Aids
Be very careful about combining CBD with other sleep treatments. Remember, CBD may interact with other drugs in unexpected ways. Talk to your doctor about trying CBD if you’re already using other treatments.
Try CBD Sleep Products Now
Could CBD help you sleep better? There’s only one way to find out. Try it for yourself!
Go here to browse our collection of CBD products for sleep. Note that some of these products contain actual sleep aids, like melatonin. Be sure to read the product description to choose the right product for your needs.
