CBD stands for cannabidiol, one of over 110 chemical components discovered in the cannabis plant known as cannabinoids – and it’s everywhere right now.
CBD is most widely used for anxiety, sports rehabilitation, neurological disorders including epilepsy, chronic pain, and, of course, sleep. The CBD market has grown tremendously in recent years, and is predicted to be worth $ 17 billion by 2025.
Cannabis has been used by humans for thousands of years and is one of the most popular drugs today. In certain countries, it is also legal to prescribe or consume.
But what effect does the substance have on sleep our sleep?
Although human studies on CBD and sleep are small in scale (involving 70 to 80 people), many show that people’s sleep improved within the first month of taking CBD, according to clinical neuroscientist Dr. Elisabeth Philipps. She is a leading expert on the endocannabinoid system and phytocannabinoids, including CBD,
“Not only that,” she says, “but they felt better in the morning as well. I think it’s quite important with sleep to look at both how much sleep we’re getting and also, the quality of it.”
There are several theories as to why CBD appears to succeed, according to Elisabeth.
The first is that it just makes us feel better:
“There are studies that show CBD can reduce anxiety and help us feel more relaxed,” adds Elisabeth, which is what helps some individuals deal with the buzzing mind as mentioned earlier.
Another notion is that it helps with chronic pain, and that because pain is worse at night, the pain reduction may also help with sleeplessness.
These are both “indirect effects,” according to Elisabeth, that help us sleep better.
However, a third possibility – one that hasn’t yet been supported by adequate evidence – is that CBD alters our sleep architecture.
This is due to CBD’s interaction with the endocannabinoid system, a biological network of receptors and proteins found throughout the body, including the brain, spine, gut, kidneys, and lungs.
“Our body already has cannabinoids,” according to the expert. “CBD helps to activate and raise the level of these cannabinoids and helps activate the endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate most bodily functions.”
According to Elisabeth, research is likely to establish in only a few years that CBD is actually operating in the brain’s endocannabinoid system to improve and support sleep architecture, therefore enhancing sleep quality.
How you can use CBD for sleep
According to Elisabeth, the ideal way to absorb CBD is under the tongue, rather than inhaling (or vaping).
Drop the oil beneath your tongue (you can also use spray bottles) and hold it there for one to two minutes before swallowing.
To avoid washing it away, Elisabeth recommends doing this 20 minutes before or after eating and drinking.
If you’re primarily using CBD to help you sleep, it’s typically best to take a few drops 20 minutes before bed.
If your sleeplessness is a symptom of anxiety, Elisabeth suggests that taking CBD throughout the day to relax your anxieties can help you sleep better.
You can also take a few drops if you wake up in the middle of the night to either help you get back to sleep or to make you feel less disturbed about the fact that you’ve woken up in the middle of the night.
Starting with one drop at a time and gradually increasing over the days or week is a smart option, since Elisabeth lives by the phrase “start low and go slow.”
“I tried taking CBD every night before bed for a month,” says Ella Glover from Metro
According to studies, people who use CBD see sleep advantages within a month, so she figured it would be the best time to try a product.
She used “the Mindful Extracts 1000mg CBD oil” and this is what happened.
The verdict: Does CBD product help improve sleep?
“I was pretty sceptical when I decided to give this a go, given that most wellness products are gimmicks, but my sleep improved pretty much instantly and I haven’t looked back,” says Glover.
While research is still lagging, “I truly believe CBD has changed my sleep – and my life — for the better,” she adds.
Originally written by: Ella Glover
Image Credit: Pixabay
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