5 WAYS PEOPLE USE CBD FOR SLEEP

Experts recommend that a good night’s sleep is essential for overall health and well-being. Moreover, quality sleep is key for next-day energy levels and optimum productiveness. Evidence suggests that CBD may help improve sleep quality by reducing factors that interfere with sleep, such as anxiety and stress.

In recent years, the use of the cannabis plant for medicinal and recreational reasons has risen significantly. CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is a chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. Kaul et al. (2021) showed that CBD is significantly popular as a sleep aid of its potent benefits. Are you having trouble falling asleep or even staying asleep? Or are you just looking for a natural way to relax and fall asleep? CBD is a naturally occurring compound that has been proven by anecdotal evidence to help improve the quality and duration of sleep. This article will help the user understand more about CBD for sleep and CBD itself.

What is CBD?

CBD (cannabidiol) is a chemical compound found in the cannabis sativa plant, hemp, or marijuana. Marijuana is mainly associated with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the famous cannabinoid with several health effects but can also trigger psychoactive effects and cause people to feel intoxicated. CBD has no intoxicating effects and can't get you high. Rather, research and anecdotal evidence show that CBD has potential health benefits and may be used to treat various diseases and symptoms. CBD's health benefits are associated with its direct interaction with your body's endocannabinoid system.

How Does CBD Work?

According to Rodríguez de Fonseca & Navarro (2005), the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a widespread system comprising endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes throughout the body.The research further stated that ECS is like a regulatory system responsible for maintaining homeostasis in your body. It's responsible for regulating body functions such as mood, appetite, insomnia, immune system, etc.

CBD interacts with receptors in the ECS to influence changes in the activity of neurotransmitters, hormones, and nerve cells throughout the brain and body. Through these interactions, CBD appears to be able to affect the various body functions. Note that the body produces its cannabinoids known as endocannabinoids. A network of cannabinoid receptors in the brain and the central nervous system within the ECS

Moreno &McCormick (2012)showed that the two main receptors are CB1 and CB2. Outside cannabinoids imitate the endocannabinoids in your system to influence major body functions. Cannabinoids attach to cell receptors to have various effects, such as affecting the sleep and wake cycle. More research is needed to determine other CBD benefits and safety.Anderson & McGregor (2020) clarified that the only CBD product approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a prescription oil called Epidiolex to treat epilepsy.

CBD Oil for Sleep

According to Shannon &Opila-Lehman (2016), CBD can lower anxiety, which might help reduce sleep difficulties and improve sleep quality. The research suggested that CBD may increase overall sleep quantity and improve insomnia. However, the ideal amount depends on the individual's reaction to CBD dosing. Too much or too little may not produce results. The user is advised to start with a lower dose and work their way up.

Pain can be extremely uncomfortable a times to the point of causing a lack of sleep. Vučković et al. (2018)showedevidence supporting that CBD soothes pain. The research indicates that CBD can greatly improve sleep by reducing chronic pain.

Individuals with excessive daytime sleepiness disorder struggle to keep awake during the daytime. CBD may be a solution for waking up on time and staying awake. Initial research on animals shows that CBD in smaller doses may stimulate alertness and reduces daytime sleepiness. As a result, an individual remains active throughout the day and has strength and consistency in the sleep-wake cycle.

McCarter &Boswell (2013) showed that CBD might help reduce REM behavior disorder in people with Parkinson's disease. Rapid Eye Movement (REM) is a behavior disorder that causes people to act out physically during dreaming and REM sleep. The behavior is most common in older patients. In REM condition, the patient is free to move, which can cause disruptive sleep and injury to themselves or their sleeping partner. More research is needed, but initial results show that CBD may be a possible treatment for REM sleep behavior disorder.

Grogginess, a symptom of insomnia, might also be affected by CBD. It's characterized by a temporary period of sleepiness and poor cognitive performance from the moment you wake up. Both animal and human research show that CBD could help promote wakefulness. However, experts aren't exactly sure how or why CBD promotes wakefulness in some instances.

Conclusion

It's important to talk to your doctor before taking any medication or supplement, including CBD. A doctor will give you the best advice on how to improve your sleep based on your specific circumstances. Using CBD to enhance sleep has become very common, and many patients report that CBD helps them fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer and wake up more rested in the morning. Consequently, CBD may be stimulating instead of sedating for some people. Such reactions may be related to the specific CBD product the patient is using. It could be dose-dependent or just how the individual reacts to CBD. Purchasing a high-quality CBD product is essential for optimum results. Lastly, it's not clear whether CBD helps with sleep, but anecdotal evidence suggests so. As a result, determining the most effective way to take CBD and the right amount to support sleep will need more research.

References

Anderson, L. L., Low, I. K., Mcgregor, I. S., &Arnold, J. C. (2020). Interactions Between Cannabidiol And Δ9‐Tetrahydrocannabinol In Modulating Seizure Susceptibility And Survival In A Mouse Model Of DravetSyndrome. British Journal Of Pharmacology, 177(18), 4261-4274.

Callén, L., Moreno, E., Barroso-Chinea, P., Moreno-Delgado, D., Cortés, A., Mallol, J., ...&Mccormick, P. J. (2012). Cannabinoid Receptors CB1 AndCB2 Form Functional Heteromers In The Brain. Journal OfBiological Chemistry, 287(25), 20851-20865.

Kaul, M., Zee, P. C., &Sahni, A. S. (2021). Effects Of Cannabinoids On Sleep And Their Therapeutic Potential For Sleep Disorders. Neurotherapeutics, 18(1), 217-227.

Mccarter, S. J., Boswell, C. L., Louis, E. K. S., Dueffert, L. G., Slocumb, N., Boeve, B. F., ... &Tippmann-Peikert, M. (2013). Treatment Outcomes InREM Sleep Behavior Disorder. Sleep Medicine, 14(3), 237-242.

Rodríguez De Fonseca, F., Del Arco, I., Bermudez-Silva, F. J., Bilbao, A., Cippitelli, A., &Navarro, M. (2005). The Endocannabinoid System: Physiology And Pharmacology. Alcohol AndAlcoholism, 40(1), 2-14.

Shannon, S., &Opila-Lehman, J. (2016). Effectiveness Of Cannabidiol Oil For Pediatric Anxiety And Insomnia As Part Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Report. The Permanente Journal, 20(4).

Vučković, S., Srebro, D., Vujović, K. S., Vučetić, Č., &Prostran, M. (2018). Cannabinoids And Pain: New Insights From Old Molecules. Frontiers In Pharmacology, 1259.