CBD and Sleep: Does CBD Work As a Sleep Aid?

Sleep is one of the most important aspects that determine your overall well-being and health. Most experts agree that an average adult should have seven to nine hours of sleep every night. This ensures you are well-rested and have ample energy for the day ahead. Additionally, people who have a good sleep also have better memory formation. It helps your muscles and tissues to revitalize and grow. This leads to the prevention of sickness.

However, sleep can be elusive for many people. Though the causes may vary, solutions to this problem are beneficial to your everyday life. You can improve the quality of your sleep and avoid sleep debt using various solutions. Some of them include prescription sleep aids, sleep hygiene, and natural sleep aids. One solution that is gaining popularity is the use of cannabidiol (CBD).

About CBD

Many users suggest that cannabidiol (CBD) is an effective method of decreasing anxiety and improving your sleep. However, CBD regulation in the U.S. is limited. Experts say that more research is needed to ascertain the exact impact that CBD has on your sleep. This also includes the effects on your mental and physical health. 

There are more than 100 cannabinoids in cannabis, but researchers mainly study two of them that seem to have greater effects on humans. They are CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). After extraction, CBD can be legally marketed and sold in the U.S. according to regulations.

As opposed to THC, CBD is not psychoactive. This means it does not give you a “high” as THC does. Additionally, it does not have addictive properties that may result in potential dependency.

Effects of Using CBD

It has been said that using CBD calms your nervous system and can also alter your mood. This is because it has an impact on your serotonin system. However, the effects of CBD vary from person to person. It also depends on the type of CBD product you are using and the dosage. Most importantly, you will not get psychoactive effects even if you use large doses. Other studies show that short-term use of CBD does not result in withdrawal issues and can even reduce the effects of THC.

Sleep Disorders and CBD

Most research concerning the effects of CBD on sleep is still preliminary. However, people who use this solution report having better sleep. It has not been conclusively substantiated if this is a direct result of CBD usage. This is because CBD is a huge factor in pain relief which contributes to better sleep.

In other studies, CBD has been shown to address sleep disorder issues. But this cannot be generalized to all CBD users. Different dosages and product types play a big role in the outcome. 

It has been reported that using some CBD products in low doses can have a stimulating effect. On the other hand, using high doses might lead to sedation. Also, the method of administering CBD can lead to variances in how every person reacts to it. In this scenario, experts agree that additional research is necessary.

CBD and Anxiety

Although anxiety is not a sleep disorder, it can be a huge contributing factor to the condition. If you are experiencing insufficient or poor-quality sleep, it could be because of anxiety. CBD has been known to have calming effects on your nervous system. Early research into the matter suggests that CBD can treat disorders that result from anxiety. By treating anxiety, this treatment improves the quality of your sleep and overall health. Patients have reported that CBD does just that.

CBD and REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior can manifest itself when you make aggressive movements or be verbal when sleeping. It is rampant in patients that are elderly and have neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease. In a study, CBD was able to manage the symptoms of REM sleep behavior disorder. The participants in the study used to have two to seven disorder symptoms every week. However, the symptoms disappeared or occurred just once a week after using CBD. Researchers indicated that further studies were necessary to determine if CBD is a viable treatment for sleep disorders.

CBD and Insomnia

Insomnia is a condition where you experience difficulty staying or falling asleep at night. It affects your ability to stay awake during the day, your mood, and your concentration. Due to this, you may experience anxiety about lacking sufficient sleep, leading to sleepless nights. Having ascertained that CBD has some potential in treating anxiety, it is thought that it might treat insomnia as well. Moreover, a new pilot study is underway probing the effects of THC and CBD for people experiencing insomnia. This will offer better insights regarding insomnia and CBD usage.

CBD and the Excessive Daytime Sleeping Condition

This is a condition where you have a hard time staying awake during the day. CBD users have reported that it is a viable option for the condition. According to researchers, CBD also functions as a wake-inducing solution. Yet, other studies categorize CBD as a sedating drug. Because of these discrepancies, further research is important to determine the methods and CBD dosages that can affect sleepiness or wakefulness.

CBD and Other Prescriptions

CBD is considered safe to use if you are on other prescription drugs. It has been known to slow your liver’s ability to break down certain medications. Also, using CBD with supplements or natural herbs can make your sleep come easier. However, it is important to consult your doctor about using CBD while on other medications. This reduces the risk of adverse reactions and complications.

In Conclusion

Sleep disorders such as insomnia, excessive daytime sleeping, and others are a menace. Specialists may recommend solutions such as behavioral changes in combination with prescription drugs. However, researchers agree that using CBD has fewer long-term effects compared to conventional drugs. There has not been a conclusive study that shows CBD directly improves the quality of your sleep. Yet, there is some evidence that it can achieve this by treating causes of the issue such as anxiety. It is a matter that will definitely require more studies.

To find out more about CBD usage as a sleeping aid, visit Purple Penthouse for more information.