CBD is the new buzzword for those interested in multipurpose health remedies.
CBD oil offers relief for a variety of ailments, but you might not have realized the benefits for a good night’s sleep.
Many people who have had chronic problems with insomnia have begun to use CBD oil with great results.
With over 60 million Americans battling the crippling effects of a lack of decent rest, CBD oil might be the obvious answer.
However, you might also be questioning what exactly CBD oil is and how it can influence the way you sleep.
Let’s learn about it…
What is CBD oil?
CBD (Cannibidiol) oil is one of the primary substances found in the cannabis plant. This substance interacts with systems in the human body and brain in ways that mitigate the effects of many health issues.
CBD oil, however, is not hemp oil. Hemp oil is produced through a different process that involves the seeds of the hemp plant rather than the leaves and stems.
Hemp oil also does not contain CBD, the substance that has been proven to offer relief for many health-related issues.
In fact, hemp oil sometimes contains trace amounts of CBD’s sister cannabinoid THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), although not enough of the substance for anyone to experience a high feeling from using lotion made with hemp oil.
CBD also differs from THC, because you won’t be getting high and feeling the munchies from your CBD oil remedy.
CBD oil is a multipurpose substance with new uses being uncovered every day.
CBD has been used to treat many different health issues, including pain, epilepsy, inflammation, acne, and depression.
Does CBD oil make your tired?
It would be a mistake to say that CBD makes you tired in the same way that a common sleeping pill does.
Sleeping pills are also associated with many negative side effects that CBD oil is not.
CBD oil
In layman’s terms, CBD helps calm your body systems at night to promote the production of the good chemicals that make you tired.
The extra benefit of CBD oil is that it won’t put you to sleep if you use it during the day.
Instead, if it’s night and you need sleep, the CBD works to produce more of the natural chemicals that will make that happen faster.
How does CBD help you sleep?
CBD is a substance that works in tandem with your endocannabinoid system to regulate important body functions, like appetite, sleep, etc.
By helping your body establish homeostasis, CBD promotes balance that makes it possible for your body to go to sleep when it needs rest.
But what does that all mean for your body and brain?
The endocannabinoid system has only been known to scientists since the 1990s.
Endocannabinoids are chemicals that work in the nervous system to send signals to the brain that regulate many processes that occur in your body, including some that affect your sleep.
Studies have shown that when this system doesn’t function as it should in your body, you are probably suffering from some type of issue of disease.
CBD is a plant-based cannabinoid that mimics the effect of natural endocannabinoids. Therefore, CBD works within the endocannabinoid system to create different reactions with different receptors that impact brain function.
CBD may influence the function of many different receptors. In addition to directly affecting receptors, CBD inhibits chemicals in the body that break down naturally occurring cannabinoids.
Those natural cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) then work to do regulate brain activity in the same way as the CBD oil that you take.
CBD also works in a roundabout way to diminish issues that might prevent better sleep.
Long-term use of CBD oil has been shown to reduce stress and lower cortisol levels in a study conducted at Washington State University.
Stress interferes with the body’s natural sleep cycle and may combine with other health concerns, such as high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression.
CBD oil dosage for sleep
The human body is made up of many delicate systems.
This makes it harder to find a one-size-fits-all dosage for CBD oil.
Many different factors influence how well CBD will work in your body. These factors should be considered before starting a daily regimen of CBD
Factors include:
- Body Size
- Sensitivity to Supplements
- How long you’ve been taking CBD oil
Larger individuals will need to take higher doses to experience the same effect as a small person taking a lower dose of CBD oil.
It’s also important to understand your own body’s sensitivity to supplements.
If you’re naturally less sensitive to other supplements, you may not experience the effect unless you take a higher dose.
In the beginning, you will need to practice trial and error. We recommend that you start with small doses of CBD oil and begin to use more gradually over time.
Start off by taking as little as 5 mg right before you go to bed.
From there you can increase your dose each night by a few milligrams until you feel that your sleep has improved.
It’s also incredibly important that you continue to take the CBD oil daily without breaks.
The CBD will eventually build up in your system over about 2 to 4 weeks. At that point, the CBD will have reached peak effectiveness in your system.
Ways to take CBD oil for sleep
There are several methods you can use to take CBD oil to help your sleep.
Carefully weigh the options before deciding which one will fit best into your nighttime routine.
Vape: This method involves using a vape pen to inhale CBD.
You can vape 5-10 minutes before going to bed before you feel an effect. The downside of vaping is that you don’t get as much CBD into your system at one time and the effect lasts for only a short period.
Capsules and Edibles: This method is a solid form that is ingested and absorbed directly into the bloodstream.
The effect of a capsule or edible generally takes an hour to be felt.
This means that it is important to take it an hour before you plan to go to bed.
Gummies are incredibly popular edibles, plus they come in small 20 mg to 50 mg doses and can be eaten just like candy.
Tinctures: Tinctures are liquid extractions that you apply under your tongue.
You hold the tincture under your tongue and wait about 60 to 90 seconds before swallowing.
Tinctures, in general, are less concentrated than other varieties. The effects begin to kick in after about 20 minutes, but the full effect takes an hour.
Plan to take a tincture at least an hour before you plan to be in bed.
Best CBD oil for sleep
Do proper research beforehand to get the best value from you CBD oil. You should consider several factors prior to picking a CBD product to ensure the best possible results.
First, look for a full spectrum CBD oil with at least 1,500 mg per bottle. Full spectrum means that a CBD oil includes other important compounds (such as CBN, CBC, and THCA).
The combination of substances alongside CBD creates the Entourage Effect, which amplifies any therapeutic benefits to the body and brain.
Second, make sure the product has been third-party tested. This means that the product receives a quality and safety verification from an accredited laboratory.
Accredited laboratories must test CBD for the following contaminants: pesticides, bacteria and fungus, foreign matter, and heavy metals.
Finally, check that the product comes with a money back guarantee. If you don’t like it or you don’t see any difference in your sleep, you can return it with no questions asked.
Summary
Researchers still need more time to look into the wide-ranging effects of CBD on the body and brain.
Anecdotal evidence, however, appears to point towards the powerful changes that people can experience from taking a regular dose of CBD oil.
From the early research conducted on CBD oil and insomnia, scientists concluded that taking CBD before bed improved sleep time.
We do know that CBD is a substance that helps regulate important body systems.
It reduces stress by inhibiting the production of certain brain chemicals and diminishing their negative effects on the body’s systems.
Despite what we don’t know, CBD oil continues to help many Americans struggling to get a better night’s sleep.
