Since the 2018 Farm Bill, the commercial and medicinal use of CBD has increased as research continues to find more benefits for it. It’s no surprise that research has also suggested uses for CBD for insomnia and other sleep disorders.
What is CBD?
Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is one of the hundreds of cannabinoids found in hemp. Cannabinoids are a compound that binds and attaches to cannabinoid receptors scattered throughout the central nervous system, where they are chemical messengers. Each cannabinoid has varied effects on the body.
Why it Won’t Get You High
Despite the fact that CBD has been around for a long time, there is still a lot of misinformation about the cannabinoid, especially concerning its legal status. CBD is legal as long as it contains less than 0.3% of Delta THC.
THC is the short form for tetrahydrocannabinol, and it is the cannabinoid responsible for the high in cannabis. Along with CBD, it is one of the most well-known cannabinoids on the market. The 0.3% THC in CBD is not enough to provide the same high that other cannabinoids might provide. Instead, CBD provides a calming effect on your body; you still experience the calming side effect of the high associated with THC without actually being high.
How CBD Can Help You Sleep
The endocannabinoid system has a role in maintaining specific bodily functions, like mood, circadian rhythms, appetite, and sleep. Within the system are cannabinoid receptors, the two primaries being the CB1 and CB2 receptors. The CB1 receptor regulates neurotransmitters like serotonin, glutamate, and dopamine. CB2 receptors are involved in immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory responses.
CBD works to help you sleep by tackling the factors that make it difficult to sleep.
Anxiety
Anxiety can lead to poor quality and insufficient sleep and, eventually, sleep disorders. CBD has a calming effect on the nervous system, and there is research that suggests CBD can be used to treat anxiety Related Disorders. In one study, sleep improved in more than 65% of those participating.
Insomnia
Those who have insomnia have difficulty falling and staying asleep at night. This can affect daytime wakefulness, mood, and the ability to concentrate; the same individuals can also suffer from anxiety about not getting enough sleep, which in turn decreases their ability to sleep at night.
Not only is CBD suggested to treat anxiety, but it may also be beneficial to those whose insomnia is associated with their anxiety.
Circadian Rhythm Disorders
Also referred to in the medical world as sleep-wake cycle disorders, circadian rhythm disorders exist in people when the body’s internal clock comma, which enforces when you sleep and wake, is not aligned with your environment. These disorders can occur when there are changes to sleep habits, which can be caused by travel or work; in some professions, circadian rhythm disorders can occur because of work when an individual’s sleep times change based on their work schedules. These disorders can also occur as a byproduct of a medical condition or genetics.
CBD can help with this disorder by helping the body progress through the normal stages of sleep without interruption.
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
During the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep, those with REM sleep behavior disorder make aggressive movements. This happens more commonly with older patients who are suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. In studies, CBD helped to manage these REM sleep behavior disorder symptoms and lessened their occurrences. Because of this, CBD is thought to be a possible treatment for this disorder.
Forms of CBD
For those who are interested in CBD and the possible benefits it can have for sleep, CBD is available in several different forms.
- Oils and Tinctures
- Vapes and juices
- Edibles
- Pills and supplements
- Topical Solutions
- Bath bombs
CBD has proven to be beneficial to those suffering from insomnia and other sleep disorders. The best CBD products have a certificate of analysis so that you know what is truly in the product. Be careful when purchasing CBD products.
