Oftentimes, us as humans, forget that sleep can have a huge impact on our day to day lives. Every person is different when it comes to how much sleep but, we all know that having a good night of sleep can make a huge difference on your day tomorrow. There are plenty of different sleeping medications out there as well as different methods to help you fall and stay asleep. Some medications make you feel groggy when you wake up or help you fall asleep but staying asleep is a different story. When it comes to medications in general there seems to be much more negative effects than positive ones. Perhaps you are just diving into the holistic health world and have seen cannabidiol (CBD) pop up once in a while. So, can CBD help you sleep? Will it cause negative effects for sleep? Let us find out together.
First and foremost: what is CBD?
It is important to understand the basics before moving on to the potential benefits that CBD may have to offer. What is CBD? CBD is one of the 113 cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant. The Cannabis sativa plant comes in a few different variations. One of these variations is highly well known, the marijuana plant. The marijuana plant is well known because of the cannabinoid found in it called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This particular component gives users a ‘high’ or a feeling of euphoria when used. This is a huge misconception when it comes to CBD and THC, they are often lumped together.
The two cannabinoids are found together often but can be separated from one another. CBD does not have the ability to get one ‘high’ and that is the reason that CBD derived from another form of the Cannabis sativa plant, hemp is legal in all fifty states (with some restrictions). The 2018 Farm Bill allowed farmers across the country to grow and sell the hemp plant. Why is this so? This is because the hemp plant contains high amounts of CBD and less than 0.3% of THC. This small amount of THC cannot get users to the inebriated feeling commonly associated with cannabis use. The marijuana plant, however, contains higher amounts of THC and therefore has not been deemed legal in all states. Marijuana has been legalized in a handful of states for recreational and medical reasons. Our most common question is, will CBD get me high? The answer is a short, NO! Okay, so, what can CBD do for you?
CBD and your sleep
Can CBD help you fall asleep and stay asleep? In this study they looked at patients who had several different pain conditions including: “multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathic pain, intractable cancer pain, and rheumatoid arthritis.” This was an ongoing study that was testing a new cannabis medication called Sativex. They concluded that throughout the years 40-50% of subjects had good or great quality of sleep. So, how can we use this information when thinking about CBD for sleep for those who do not have medical conditions that are regarding discomfort? Can CBD help these folks sleep as well? Perhaps!
Another study we can look at is this one. CBD may promote a sense of calm! CBD has been described as promoting a sense of calm in those who have feelings of anxiousness. In this study they tested people who have SAD (Social Anxiety Disorder). The subjects were given either a placebo or CBD. They used neuroimaging (pictures of the brain) to see the results. To put it simply, those who were given CBD showed significantly lower SAD brain activity. Oftentimes when people struggle with sleep it is because they are unable to “shut their brain off” or calm down. Using CBD to calm down the brain may help with falling asleep.
Okay, what else can CBD do?
CBD may be helpful when it comes to sleep. But, what else can it do for you? Here is a list of ways that we have found CBD may be helpful for day-to-day life:
- Joint health: We here at Panacea Life Sciences have done our own research for this certain benefit. We had owners of pets who have joint issues administered their “man’s best friend” CBD. One of the hardships of joint issues is the inflammation that may be present. Pet owners described their pets gaining more joint mobility while using the CBD and therefore assisting their inflammation to decrease.
- FDA approved medication: There are several FDA approved medications that contain CBD. Epidiolex, among others. This medication helps those with two severe types of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. Then there are other medications that are used to help those going through anti-cancer treatments with the nausea it comes along with.
- Skin health: CBD topicals never reach the bloodstream; it does not mean that they cannot assist in healthy skin. This study shows that those with and without skin conditions had improved skin health after the use of CBD topicals. They used several different tests as well as photographic evidence to show their positive results.
- Antibacterial properties: There has been information coming to the forefront of the potential antibacterial properties of CBD. And this information may be something to note. In this study they concluded that CBD had the capability to kill certain types of bacteria.
Because CBD is just gaining popularity there still needs to be a lot of research done surrounding the subject. When purchasing CBD products ensure that the company you are using does not make claims as to what CBD will and will not do without proper information.
CBD Products for you
Now that you know some of the reasons that CBD is being used, what products are available?
- Edibles: After chewing and swallowing the edible (gummies, candy, cookies, etc.) it travels into the stomach where it is broken down and the CBD is released into the bloodstream from the lining there. Edibles and soft gels take a longer time to work but have been described to last longer.
- Softgels: Softgels are capsules full of CBD. These are taken orally and once it reaches the stomach, dissolves from there and is absorbed into the bloodstream by the lining in the stomach.
- Tablets: Tablets are administered in the mouth and dissolve there. Then from the lining in the mouth are directly absorbed into the bloodstream. Like tinctures, this is one of the fastest ways to get the CBD into your system.
- Tinctures: A tincture is an oil like substance that is infused with CBD. This is generally placed in the mouth and from there is absorbed into the bloodstream. This is a great way to get CBD into your daily routine a bit more quickly than others.
- Topicals: This type of CBD product comes in various forms. A topical can be found in a salve, cream or even hand sanitizer. Topicals work best when used liberally and frequently. We offer CBD hand sanitizer as well as CBD cleansing creme that cleans as much as it moisturizes. Topical never enter the bloodstream but are absorbed into the pore in the skin to reap potential benefits.
- Vapes: Panacea Life Sciences does not endorse the use of vapes, but it is a way to get CBD into your system. It is inhaled then travels to the bloodstream from the lungs.
When should I take CBD for sleep?
The answer to this question all depends on when you sleep and what type of product you choose. Like we have noted above, different products take different times to work. If you take a CBD edible as you are laying down to sleep, it may not help you fall asleep for quite some time. But, if you use a CBD tincture right before you lay down, it may help you fall asleep a bit quicker. When starting the use of CBD, in general, it is important to start with a small amount and slowly increase until you see the desired effects. CBD may be right for you; it may not be right for you. But it may be worth a try!
CBD for sleep? Maybe, just maybe!
Having a nice night of sleep can mean everything to your day following. If you struggle with sleep, you are not alone, and it seems like most people search for a way to help this. Yes, you should ask a healthcare professional before trying CBD for sleep to ensure they think it is the right thing for you. Asking a healthcare provider before using CBD for anything is important. Again, we suggest starting small and then slowly increasing it to see the desired results. Trying different types of products could be helpful as well to ensure that you are taking the right product for you and your needs. If you have any comments or questions please feel free to contact us at [email protected] And, happy snoozing!
