Can CBD Help With Sleep? Does it work?

With so many restrictions and new rules being put into place in Spain and Europe due to COVID-19, many of us are spending a bit more time at home. Naturally, it makes sense to try and get some rest before life returns to normal. But, with all of the worries of what life is going to look like going forward, many people have found it hard to get the rest their bodies need. So we ask, does taking CBD for sleep work? Let’s take a close look.

Most adults need between 6 and 9 hours of sleep every night according to the NHS. It is also worth noting that getting enough sleep not only feels better, but it also helps prevent longer-term health problems like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Given the anxious times, we’re all going through, it can be tempting to turn to prescription or other sleep aids. But not all sleep aids can give you a quality night’s sleep.

That’s why many people in Spain and Europe are interested in using CBD for sleep. In this blog, we will look at the ups and downs of using CBD for sleep and how it is different from other sleeping aids. We will also look at how to use CBD with melatonin and other natural products.

First off, what is “Better” Sleep?

Although when you are asleep, you can’t notice just how much your body does to maintain itself.

To begin, about an hour or two before you go to sleep, your body starts producing a hormone, melatonin. This hormone sends signals to your body’s systems that the time for rest is coming. For most people, the setting of the sun and darkness, a drop in temperature and the start of nighttime signals the body to release melatonin. Having a regular 14 hour day also helps.

After you fall asleep, things really start happening. With a healthy sleep pattern, your mental state travels from very light sleep, towards a deep state of sleep in roughly an hour and a half. Deep sleep is achieved when your body does the most intensive repair work on itself. This repair work includes repairing tissues and maintaining your body’s systems.

After you fall into a deep sleep, you may start to dream. This phase is known as REM sleep. While it’s still not clear, dreaming is important to maintaining mental health, even if you don’t remember it.

Your first dream may only last about 10 minutes, but it gets longer as the night progresses. Your last dream might last an hour.

What Can Disturb With Good Sleep?

There are a ton of things that can disrupt a good nights rest. There could be noises or changes in lighting, bringing you back to a lighter stage of sleep at the wrong time. You could even have a sleep disorder like sleep apnea. Or maybe you have a partner that snores and that keeps you awake. There is also anxiety and worries that will also stop you from a deep sleep.

Substances that you take before going to bed can also interfere with your sleep cycle – including, ironically, those that can help you get to sleep.

Alcohol is a common example. Alcohol can help you feel relaxed, but the rebound effect kicks in within hours. You may find yourself abruptly waking up after just a few hours.

Other popular ways to help get sleep are medications such as benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines work similarly to alcohol by depressing your central nervous system. Their effects usually last longer, but as a result, users often have trouble waking up in the morning, feeling groggy rather than refreshed.

CBD for Sleep

So how does CBD play into this?

CBD works in a completely different way from sedatives like alcohol and benzodiazepines. CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network of neurotransmitters and receptors found throughout the body.

Scientists are still discovering just what the ECS does, but one thing that’s clear from years of cannabis use is that it can mellow people out. Many users swear it helps them get to sleep.

But it doesn’t depress the central nervous system in the same way, which is fortunate because doing so is dangerous.

Our formula at Pure Organic CBD comprises most of the beneficial components of cannabis including THC. But, we do offer THC free options. Our CBD for sleep has everything from the cannabis plant that may help you sleep better and wake up more rested.

More About THC and CBD for Sleep

CBD and THC both act on the ECS, yet they do so in different ways by binding to different receptors in the system.

THC on its own is a powerful psychoactive ingredient. Most users who smoke cannabis to get “high” are only concerned with the amount of THC a type of cannabis may have. Some types of cannabis can have over 30% THC which is extremely high. Although some of our products contain THC, it is only in a very small and unnoticeable amount. All of our Full Spectrum CBD oils contain less than 0.2% of THC. This very small amount of THC is just enough to usher in what is known as an entourage effect. This effect assists the CBD in our products to work in concert with all of the cannabis plant’s compounds.

CBD has its own effects on calming people. Research in human subjects put in stressful situations found that those on CBD showed fewer signs of nervousness. CBD also interacts with the CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are responsible for a wide range of bodily functions including mood and stress.

Research has shown that CBD can also be calming without disrupting a normal sleep cycle. One study gave normal, healthy people 300mg of CBD before bed and it did not disturb their normal sleep patterns.

When to Take CBD Oil for Sleep

While many people find taking CBD can be relaxing; it’s whether or not it makes people feel sleepy depends on the user.

If you do feel like CBD oil makes you drowsy, then you don’t want to take it earlier than an hour or two before bed. However, many people find it most effective when taken CBD for sleep in the morning and evening to promote an overall sense of calm.

There is evidence that CBD builds up in the system over time, so you may find that two or three weeks of daily use increases the effects and helps you get to sleep even more.

However, if you need a bit more help to get to sleep, you may want to incorporate CBD into a more extensive sleep regimen. Try taking CBD after a meal. Also, it is important that you hold the CBD under your tongue for at least a minute. This way it absorbs into your bloodstream. You can read more tips on usage by clicking here.

Using CBD For Sleep Safely

Firstly, before using CBD for sleep or starting any CBD treatment, you should talk to your doctor. If you already have persistent sleep problems, it is advisable that you see your doctor quickly. Poor sleep patterns can be a sign of an underlying medical condition so do not hesitate.

Also, if you do take CBD in combination with another natural sleep aid like melatonin, be sure to do it strictly before bedtime or before a long flight, and not before attempting to drive or work. Combinations of CBD and other sleep aids should be used in caution in the beginning so that you can learn what the effects are.

If you feel like you need more than a single serving of CBD a night, you could gradually increase the amount you take. Definitely start by increasing the amount slowly and monitor how you feel. It is important to find the amount you need without wasting any CBD.

With proper use, you might just find that CBD for sleep is just the thing for these stressful times. Check out our full range of UK CBD oil products to find out what works best for you!