What if there was a natural supplement proven to help promote the quality and quantity of sleep? Now more than ever, people are turning to Cannabidiol (CBD) –– a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in hemp, and studied for its anti-inflammatory and calming properties. 

Unfortunately, in our modern world sleep is often neglected. In fact, over a third of adults in America suffer from not getting enough sleep. With constant exposure to blue light from mobile devices, computers, and televisions, it's easy to disrupt our circadian rhythms. Not to mention the anxiety, pain, and other stressors we face in our daily lives. Sadly, however, not many people realize just how important sleep is for their bodies. 

Sleep affects almost every tissue in our bodies. In fact, sleep affects many important systems and behaviors that help our body function on a healthy level:

• Appetite
• Stress 
• Hormones 
• Breathing 
• Blood pressure 
• Immune system 
• Cardiovascular function 
• Etc…

What’s more, studies show that CBD promotes sleep by interacting with our Endocannabinoid System in a completely unique way. We’ll get into that below, but let’s first discuss exactly what CBD oil is. 

What is CBD?

First things first: what is CBD? There are over 400 various chemical compounds found in the cannabis Sativa plant. Of those 400, more than 100 are phytocannabinoids. Scientists are still identifying and discovering new phytocannabinoids, but of the ones they have discovered, there are two that appear to be the most prominent: Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). It’s no doubt that THC is infamously known for its mind-altering effects, but CBD on the other hand is better known for offering similar therapeutic effects as THC, but without any of the unwanted psychoactive effects.

So how exactly does CBD promote sleep?

How CBD promotes sleep

In order to understand how CBD promotes sleep, we first need to know what causes poor sleep in the first place. For the most part, we know if we consume caffeine late in the afternoon, it’s more than likely going to be the reason why we can't fall asleep. Thus we stick to consuming caffeine only early in the day. The same goes for loud noises and uncomfortable sleeping arrangements. If we find that our bed is too soft or too firm and is causing unwanted back and neck problems, a simple change in the mattress could be the key. We can easily change those things to improve our sleep. 

But other, harder-to-diagnose health issues can cause poor sleep. In fact, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, stress, and other mentally taxing health issues can cause a disruption in our sleep patterns. Most people often try to relieve these issues by using over-the-counter or pharmaceutical grade sleep aids. Unfortunately, these sleep drugs rarely address the root cause of our sleep problems and instead cause unwanted side effects more often than not. 

On the other hand, CBD addresses poor sleep in a different, non-invasive way, by focusing on the root cause and addressing these issues from within our Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Interestingly, this physiological communication system was discovered when Israeli scientist, Dr. Ralph Mechoulam, started exploring how THC affects the brain. What’s even more surprising is that this complex system was just recently discovered. 

To date, Dr. Mechoulam and his team have discovered endogenous cannabinoid receptors, endogenous cannabinoids (also known as endocannabinoids), and enzymes that help break down endocannabinoids. Scientists have learned from the ECS that it internally signals and communicates balance, regulation, and overall homeostasis to receptor cells found throughout the body.

This means that the ECS is responsible for regulating a variety of processes: 

• Memory
• Appetite
• Reproduction
• Mood
• Immunity
• Cognitive function
• Perception of pain
• Stress
• Metabolism and digestion 
• Organ and brain function 
• And yes, even our sleep

While the ECS is still not fully understood by doctors or scientists, one thing is for sure: the ECS is considered “one of the most important physiological systems involved in establishing and maintaining human health.” 

So how does CBD promote sleep? It addresses possible reasons that could be contributing to poor sleep. In fact, multiple studies show that CBD can help manage anxiety and pain, two reasons why some people struggle with getting quality sleep. 

In one particular case study, researchers found that CBD helped manage the unwanted symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This case study involved a 10 year-old girl who suffered from PTSD, insomnia, severe anxiety, suicidal thoughts (depression), aggression, and self-destructive behaviors. While various treatments and therapy sessions improved some of the young girl’s issues, results only lasted for a short term.

Amazingly, however, in just 5 months of taking CBD, doctors observed better sleep and less anxiety from the young girl. Even her grandmother (her guardian) noticed a huge difference as she said, “My granddaughter’s behaviors are definitely better being on CBD. Her anxiety is not gone, but it is not as intense and she is much easier to be around. She now sleeps in her own room most of the time, which has never happened before.”  While more studies are desperately needed regarding CBD and sleep, researchers have noticed that when CBD addresses other unwanted health-related issues like anxiety, pain, depression, and stress, it ends up improving the users’ sleep as well. 

So how do you determine which is the best CBD for a restful night’s sleep? 

What is the best CBD for sleep? 

As more scientific studies are done and more anecdotal evidence surfaces, people everywhere are discovering more CBD products on the market today. These products include:

• CBD oils
• CBD edibles (gummies, cookies, snacks, etc.) 
• CBD sprays
• CBD vaporizers 
• CBD dabs 
• CBD topicals (rubs, salves, creams, lotions, balms, etc.)
• CBD capsules and pills

CBD oils and tinctures are perhaps the most popular forms of CBD consumption. They are equipped with an easy-to-dose dropper and are most effective when the oil is held under the tongue. This method of consumption allows the CBD oil to enter into the bloodstream directly by the tissues under the tongue. Many consumers choose this form of CBD because it bypasses the digestive system and liver altogether, allowing most, if not all, of the CBD to remain in your system. This is not to say that other forms of CBD, such as CBD gummies and CBD topicals, are ineffective. They just don’t have the fastest absorption rate as CBD oil and tinctures do. 

The amount of CBD oil you consume will determine how quickly you feel its effects. For the most part, CBD oil takes anywhere from 15-45 minutes to take effect in the body, and could last up to 3 or 4 hours at a time. 

However, the question still remains: how do we get CBD oil? And how is it different from THC?

CBD oil and THC

CBD oil is basically the extract of hemp that contains a potent amount of CBD. 

There are three forms of CBD: 

• Full spectrum – also known as “whole plant, full plant, or PCR (phyto-cannabinoid rich) hemp” extracts, this contains everything the hemp plant has to offer: terpenes, flavonoids, cannabinoids, and many other therapeutic phytonutrients. 
• Broad spectrum – this contains everything the hemp plant has to offer, minus any THC.
• CBD isolate powder – this is the purest form of CBD. 

For the most part, “whole plant” or “full spectrum” CBD oil will contain an array of therapeutic cannabinoids, including 0.3% THC. Amazingly, CBD oil is fully legal in the USA, regardless if it contains up to 0.3% THC, because that amount is not enough to cause a psychoactive effect (the feeling of being “high”). This fact alone makes consuming CBD oil much more appealing and acceptable to those who are not too keen on trying cannabis related products. After all, the hemp plant is a part of the cannabis Sativa family. 

It’s also important to note that CBD is actually known to counteract the psychoactive effects of THC. However, if you’re interested in CBD products that are free of THC, broad spectrum CBD contains all parts of the hemp plant without any trace amounts of THC. This makes consuming CBD oils easier for those whose careers do not allow for the consumption of THC. 

Thankfully, however, the entourage effect can still be achieved regardless of full or broad spectrum CBD. This means that the different cannabinoids and terpenes found in the hemp plant work synergistically within the body, making both broad and full spectrum CBD oil more effective. However, according to experts, 0.3% THC is thought to really boost the entourage effect within our endocannabinoid system. So if you’re considering broad spectrum CBD (which is free of all THC), you may want to find a broad spectrum CBD oil that offers higher volumes of specific terpenes to help target certain ailments.

For example, combining CBD and THC has been shown to improve sleep and reduce pain and inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis patients. But for those wanting absolutely no THC, finding a broad spectrum CBD oil that improves sleep and reduces pain may be a bit difficult. This is why it’s important to purchase a broad spectrum CBD oil that contains an abundant amount of terpenes like Myrcene, Pinene, or B-caryophyllene. These terpenes are studied for their potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain relief) properties. 

So, does this mean that CBD oil can help promote sleep and reduce insomnia? 

Can CBD oil be the answer for insomnia?

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that causes problems in falling and staying asleep. Unfortunately, insomnia or poor sleep affects anywhere from 50 to 70 million Americans. While we know that CBD oil has been studied for its therapeutic effects, according to Harvard Health, some studies suggest that CBD oil could help those who suffer from poor sleep, by helping them fall and stay asleep throughout the night. Still, it’s important to understand that CBD oil is in no way a “cure-all” for all health ailments and unwanted symptoms, including  insomnia. 

Nevertheless, there are several reasons to try CBD oil if you struggle with insomnia and/or poor sleep:

1. Studies show that CBD oil is well tolerated among its users and is relatively safe.
2. Compared to prescription drugs that cause a number of unwanted side effects, the only side effects that have been reported from CBD are fatigue, irritability, and nausea. These side effects often fade quickly if felt at all. 
3. When CBD is combined with trace amounts of THC, it helps to reduce pain and inflammation, which can improve overall sleep.
4. Multiple studies have shown CBD to stimulate and regulate our endogenous cannabinoids, which may address the root cause of our sleep issues.

This leads to the question: How do you find the best CBD oil for insomnia and sleep problems?

Finding the best CBD oil for sleep and insomnia

Unfortunately, finding a high quality, safe CBD oil can be incredibly overwhelming. This is partly due to the fact that no two bottles of CBD oil are created equal. This is because some hemp plants may contain higher amounts of CBD than others and vice versa. That’s not to say that the amount of THC will be higher in reputable CBD products. Remember, in order for hemp-derived CBD to be legal, it must contain no more than 0.3% THC. Rather, some CBD companies may try to cut corners when marketing a poorly formulated product. That said, it’s imperative to seek out only the best CBD products from highly accredited CBD companies. When searching for safe and effective CBD products, check to see the following:

• Does the company provide up-to-date lab test results of their CBD products on their website?
• Are their CBD products tested by an independent third party?
• Are their CBD products free from harmful toxins like pesticides, herbicides, GMOs, and harmful additives?
• Is their hemp grown in the USA?
• Is their hemp safely extracted using clean extraction methods? 

Nobody wants to consume a CBD product that is poorly formulated. In the end, researching the company before you purchase CBD oil is the first step to improving your sleep.