Can CBD help you sleep better is one of the most frequently asked questions? More and more people are concerned about leading a healthy life, and this is achieved, in large part, by resting well. For this reason, in this post, we will tell you how CBD can help you achieve it.
Why is it important to sleep well?
Sleep is essential to ensure the proper functioning of the body and has many benefits, apart from recovering the energy spent throughout the day. Sleeping well helps with weight loss, stimulates the immune system, prevents diabetes or heart disease, increases sexual desire and keeps mental health under control.
Lack of sleep can lead to intense problems that directly affect your life, so it is very important to sleep at least 7 to 9 hours a day. Only a small group of people can sleep less than 6 hours a day without suffering harmful effects, but they represent only 8% of the population. Also, keep in mind that quantity is as important as quality.
Various factors cause poor sleep, but the most common are stress, anxiety, emotional problems, long trips with time changes, night work and hormonal changes.
Sleep cycles
So that we understand a little better how sleep works, we are going to explain how sleep cycles work quickly:
The sleep/wake cycle is divided into 5 stages, and the group of phases 1-4 are known as NREM, without rapid eye movement.
- In Stage I, it is very common to wake up and have those “falling” sensations. In it, the eyes move very slowly.
- In Stage II, sleep becomes deeper, slower brain waves, and eye movement stops.
- Stage III is where you rest. Usually, in this phase of sleep, disorders such as sleepwalking may occur, and if we wake up in this stage, we will feel confused and disoriented.
- In Stage IV, we are fast asleep and recovering physical and psychological energy. Here we usually dream, but not as a story, loose images that we normally won’t remember.
- Stage V is the REM phase, rapid eye movement. Heart rate increases, and so does eye movement. In this phase, we dream of creating a story; brain waves return to a state, let’s say, normal (the usual in an awake person), and muscle tone does not exist, so the feeling of wanting to scream without power is common.
This cycle lasts approximately 90-110 minutes, and it is normal to have between 4 and 6 cycles during one night.
Can CBD help you sleep better?
Insomnia or sleep disturbances are usually caused by stress, anxiety and health problems, such as post-traumatic stress, depression or chronic pain, making falling asleep a complex task. CBD reduces anxiety and helps fight stress, sleep behaviour disorder, nightmares, and restless leg syndrome.
Cannabidiol is one of the many cannabinoids in the Cannabis plant, used since time immemorial for its therapeutic and beneficial properties for health and the body; now, when its use is spreading, there are more and more studies that ratify these qualities.
Contrary to what many people believe or what many companies “try to sell you”, CBD is not a sedative and does not give you that tired feeling that traditional insomnia drugs cause. Cannabidiol has been shown to regulate the sleep cycle and prevent the breakdown of neurons that contribute to memory loss.
In the last stage, CBD can act to offer a deeper and more pleasant sleep in the REM phase. In this phase of sleep, there is high brain activity, and it is more affected by situations of stress or anxiety that the person suffers. Also, REM sleep latency (the time it takes a person from falling asleep to entering REM sleep) seems to help.
All of the above happens thanks to its direct interaction with the receptors of the endocannabinoid system (CB1 and CB2), which help reduce brain activity and control the release of neurotransmitters, thus facilitating the management of pain, anxiety, appetite and sleep quality.
CBD and the endocannabinoid system
The first endocannabinoid was discovered by Raphael Mechoulam, William Devane, and Dr Lumir Hanus in 1992. Although much remains to be studied and analysed, researchers have confirmed its presence throughout the human body and its action in various bodily functions. Therefore, it is a relatively modern discovery.
Well, the endocannabinoid system (ECS or SEC) comprises three components: the endocannabinoids, the receptors to which these cannabinoids (CB) bind, and the enzymes that break them down for a bodily response.
The two most studied receptors are CB1 and CB2. Although both are found throughout the body, CB1 receptors are directly linked to the central nervous system and regulate brain activity. CB2 receptors are most visible on immune cells in the bloodstream and other organs throughout the body.
The ECS allows CBD to help alleviate many problems and ailments by interacting with the CB1 and CB2 receptors. An ECS in good condition is synonymous with more happiness, less stress and more health. Stress and anxiety greatly influence worsening sleep disorders, so having a balanced mood can help improve them. In addition, the correct operation of the ESC can help you to be more rested. That is why cannabidiol, in the absence of further studies and thanks to its perfect fit in the system, helps keep it in balance and, consequently, fall asleep.
Studies on CBD and sleep
It is true that, due to the lack of study on the subject, there is no scientific evidence to support cannabidiol as a perfect component against insomnia. Still, they do suggest promising evidence in this regard. Several studies published in Sciencedirect, Sage journals or PubMed Central predict an optimistic advance in this direction.
On the other hand, about circadian rhythms, CBD cannabis can help combat daytime sleepiness due to the relationship between breathing and the consumption of cannabidiol.
What CBD product should I buy to try to sleep better?
We especially recommend two: CBD gummies and CBD oil. Of course, if your sleeping problems are caused by muscle or joint ailments, we also recommend using an anti-inflammatory cream to relax the affected area and recover faster. You can see all the available ones in our CBD cosmetics section if you are interested.
Side effects
Unlike other cannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is neither psychotropic nor addictive, and to date, no severe side effects have been found in the intake of cannabidiol.
However, although it mainly causes therapeutic effects that alleviate the pain caused by different diseases, It also has mild side effects if its consumption is excessive. We can find tiredness, drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness and decreased appetite, but they are usually very remote and occur at very low-intensity levels. In case of suffering from them, the most appropriate thing is to reduce the dose of CBD.
Where can I buy CBD?
Fortunately, more and more companies are dedicated to this sector. That is proof that CBD has enormous potential for the benefit of all. Due to its origin, the road here has not been easy, but it seems that, finally, it is beginning to enter our lives on the right foot.
We hope that this post has managed to resolve all your doubts. Due to the above, there are already many companies that are dedicated to the commercialisation of products with CBD, and there are mainly two ways to acquire them:
- Physical stores are generally located in large cities.
- In online stores like ours, Hempthy CBD.
Conclusion
There is no clear criterion for the effects of ‘legal light marijuana’ against problems such as insomnia, but its efficacy for relaxation, stress or anxiety reduction, and its effect on the endocannabinoid system, which regulates, among others, hormonal production, heart rate, body metabolism and the sleep-wake cycle. All of the above go hand in hand with sleeping and resting.
