Exploring the Relationship Between CBD and Sleepiness
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid that has been experiencing a surge in popularity for the possible health benefits that it brings to the table. One of the most popular reasons why people use CBD is to help them get to sleep faster and stay asleep.
If you are one of the millions of people around the world who have trouble sleeping and want to learn more about how CBD can affect sleep, you are in the right place. Let’s talk about CBD and sleep and the relationship between them.
What is CBD?
CBD is a cannabinoid compound that can be found in cannabis plants. While many associate cannabis with THC, the psychoactive substance in cannabis that can get a user “high," CBD is not a psychoactive substance, so it will not get you high. This makes CBD a great choice for those that need to keep a clear head but need to feel relief from their symptoms.
CBD can be made from cannabis or hemp, a cannabis plant that contains less than 0.3% THC content. An extraction method separates the CBD from the plant and turns it into a liquid that can be added to a carrier oil such as coconut oil to make a CBD tincture or even used in edibles such as gummies.
The most common reasons why people use CBD are anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and pain. The reason why CBD can be useful for such a wide variety of symptoms may be due to the fact that it works upon the endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for regulating important bodily functions, including how happy you feel, how resilient you are to disease, and of course, how well you sleep.
How Does CBD Affect Sleep?
While more research has to be conducted in order to fully understand how CBD can affect the way that you sleep, there have been some promising studies that suggest that CBD can have a significant impact on not only the length of sleep that you get but also how restorative of a rest that you get.
The CBD research that has been conducted has shown that CBD can get you to sleep faster while increasing the quality of your rest. This can be incredibly helpful for CBD users that struggle with insomnia.
CBD also helps you enter rapid eye movement or REM sleep, which is the fourth stage of sleep and the restorative phase of rest. This is the stage of sleep that has the largest impact on physical restoration, including the repair of daily wear and tear on your body.
REM sleep is important for the body for a few reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is that your body releases growth hormones during this time to repair tissues and muscles that have been damaged during the day. This is crucial for your body’s recovery since toxins are eliminated while cellular damage is repaired. CBD also reduces the time it takes to enter REM phase sleep and reduces the time the body has to re-enter REM sleep.
Another way CBD can help someone improve their sleep is by reducing the stress and anxiety that can keep someone awake late into the night. This is due to CBD’s potential to lower cortisol, which is the stress hormone that can activate your fight-or-flight response. When cortisol levels are high, you can experience symptoms including anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and irritability, which can hinder your beauty sleep.
Related: Guide to Better Sleep: Is Full Spectrum CBD an Answer to Insomnia
How to Use CBD to Get a Better Night of Sleep
Now that you know a little more about CBD’s relationship with sleep, here is how to use CBD to get a better night of sleep.
Develop a Nighttime Routine
Developing a nighttime routine that you can do every night while getting ready for bed can be a great way to improve your sleep. It is important that your bedtime routine helps wind you down, relax you, and gets you ready for bed. Avoid activities that will stimulate you and keep your mind awake such as watching television or playing on your phone, since these activities can make sleeping difficult.
Instead of answering emails on the phone or watching the latest show on television, try shutting your electronics down for the night about an hour before your bedtime. Try reading instead of staring at a screen to improve your sleep.
Are you looking for a way to start your nighttime routine? Try starting your wind down by taking our CBD Capsules for Sleep.
Set a Bedtime and Stick to It
Try to get to bed at a consistent time every day and wake up at the same time every day, including during the weekend. While it may be tempting to take the opportunity to hit the snooze button and sleep in, maintaining a regular sleep schedule can keep your body on a regular routine, getting you to sleep faster and waking up more refreshed than if you make sleeping in a habit.
Properly Time Your CBD Dose
Make sure to take your bedtime CBD dose about an hour before you want to get to bed. If your bedtime routine takes about an hour to complete, it is a great idea to start it by taking your CBD dose so that by the time you get into bed, it is working to put you into a restful sleep.
Have more questions about how CBD can help you sleep? Contact us, and we will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
Final Thoughts
Although research on the relationship between CBD and sleep is ongoing, the studies have shown promising results. The next time you’re having trouble sleeping, consider reaching for some CBD to help you get some rest so you can take on the next day.