In this article, we will discuss the problem of sleep and some reasons to consider CBD Oil (cannabidiol) as a possible treatment.
CBD is getting a lot of attention lately for it’s potential to help people with a variety of health issues, including anxiety, stress, chronic pain, inflammation, and even epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. CBD oil is also becoming popular as a sleep aid with many CBD sleep products sold online and over-the-counter.
A Good Night’s Sleep?
Around 70% of adults in the U.S. report that they’re not getting enough sleep at least one night per month. 25% of Americans are getting less sleep than they need at least 50% of the time. Sleeplessness is one of the most severe and prevalent health issues in the world, and only a minority of people seek out treatment.
Sleeplessness is so widespread that the U.S.’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) considers the issue to be a “public health epidemic.”
Sleeplessness has millions of sleepy people searching for nighttime help.
The most commonly available options include prescription pharmaceuticals for sleep, and over the counter sleep aids. Both of these treatment options have limited effectiveness and lots of side unpleasant effects. So balancing the need for a good night’s sleep with the desire to avoid creating other problems like daytime drowsiness, dizziness, and diarrhea is driving people toward CBD and other cannabinoids such as CBN for help.
Can CBD Really Help With Sleep Problems?
Cannabidiol (CBD), a cannabinoid found in cannabis plants, has shown promise in tackling sleep disorders and is increasingly being recommended to support sleep needs, especially in the United States.
CBD oil and other CBD products impact our bodies’ function by interacting with the endocannabinoid system – the system which regulates parts of the body’s physiological functioning and responses.
Cannabinol (CBN), another cannabinoid, is also used by some to treat sleeplessness, and research has suggested that cannabinol’s sleep-promoting properties can be made more potent by administering CBN oil along with THC.
CBD is more widely researched and more commonly used as a sleep supplement, with some doctors in the U.S. formally recommending CBD oil as medication to tackle sleep disorders and sleep-related issues, including sleep apnea.
4 Reasons CBD Should be Considered as a Sleep Supplement
1) CBD is Known to Reduce Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety can make it very difficult to get a good night’s sleep. When you’re anxious, it can be nearly impossible to fall asleep, let alone stay asleep. Anxiety is a grave and widespread issue globally.
A double-blind study in 2019 suggested that CBD oil and other CBD products can be used to tackle and alleviate anxiety. The study, which consisted of a few dozen Japanese teenagers with social anxiety disorder (SAD) being given CBD oil (300mg) or a placebo every day for a month, is one of many sleep studies to show promising results and highlights CBD’s potential in the treatment of anxiety disorders.
And, as anxiety is one of the main reasons many struggle to get enough sleep each night, CBD is, therefore, an excellent option to consider to combat sleep troubles and improve one’s quality of sleep.
2) CBD May Reduce Physical Pain
Physical pain prevents many people from getting any kind of quality sleep. If pain can be reduced, sleep quality will improve. CBD is being researched by scientists in clinical trials for its potential applications in pain management and pain relief.
Studies have shown CBD oil – and other cannabis-based products – to be effective in pain management for patients suffering from various diseases, such as arthritis.
According to medical nutritionist Dr. Sarah Brewer, “CBD oil is one of the most helpful supplements to become available in a long time.”
Outlining how CBD works to reduce pain once administered, Dr. Brewer explained that this particular cannabinoid is “highly antioxidant” and therefore has “anti-inflammatory effects on joints, to improve pain and stiffness.”
Furthermore, Dr. Brewer pointed out that cannabidiol relieves pain by interacting with the endocannabinoid system in the brain.
As persistent pain can hinder one’s ability to fall and remain asleep, cannabidiol’s pain relief properties can help effectively tackle sleeplessness.
3) CBD Relaxes Muscles
CBD’s efficacy as a muscle relaxant is well documented. CBD, which is sourced from industrial hemp plants, relaxes muscles and reduces spasticity by affecting the supply of endocannabinoids in the body.
Cannabidiol’s properties as a muscle relaxant can help you fall asleep at bedtime and maintain a proper sleep cycle, as relaxing your body’s muscles is a crucial step to fall asleep.
Although other prescription medications, such as Valium, can reduce muscle pain, tension, and soreness, they come with a long list of potential side effects. They can lead to addiction, so it’s easy to see why CBD is considered an excellent alternative.
4) CBD Can Help Prevent Nightmares
Nightmares and sleep terrors are a common cause of sleeplessness, with many people, including adults, struggling to fall asleep again.
Furthermore, regular nightmares can lead to nighttime anxiety, making it difficult to fall asleep in the first place. As previously mentioned, CBD oil helps reduce stress and anxiety and promotes a general feeling of wellbeing, reducing the potential for negative thoughts and bad dreams.
CBD oil is emerging as an increasingly popular form of treatment for nightmares, both for patients suffering from conditions such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and people with no such mental health issues.
CBD treatment reduces the number and intensity of nightmares by alleviating anxiety and easing tension before bedtime. CBD can, therefore, help prevent sleepless nights and contribute to better sleep.
Quick CBD For Sleep Summary
- Insufficient sleep is a widespread issue, with a quarter of Americans reportedly struggling to get enough sleep on 50% of nights.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers the issue to be a “public health epidemic”.
- Humans are asleep for around a third of their lives, so getting enough quality sleep each night is unsurprisingly essential to our wellbeing, health, and quality of life.
- CBD is becoming a popular alternative sleep supplement, and CBD oil products are legally available to buy across the United States (their level of THC cannot exceed 0.3%.)
- CBN and THC can also be taken as a sleep supplement, although CBD remains the most popular for now since THC is still illegal in most places.
- CBD oil can promote good sleep by tackling nighttime anxiety and stress.
- Cannabidiol can be used to ease and alleviate pain. This is significant, as pain can prevent patients from falling asleep.
- CBD oil helps relax muscles and reduce spasticity by affecting the supply of endocannabinoids in the body. This is important, as relaxing your muscles is an essential step in the falling asleep process.
- CBD treatment also improves the quality and length of one’s sleep by combating and easing nightmares.