A good night’s sleep is necessary for your overall health and well-being. Scientists suggest that adults should get a minimum of 7-9 hours of sleep every night. Proper sleep leaves you rested and provides you with enough energy to begin the next day’s activities. In addition, a good night’s rest helps with memory formation, grows and repairs muscle and tissue, and, most importantly, prevents sickness.
CBD
CBD is a hemp extract and, unlike its THC counterpart, is void of the psychoactive component responsible for the high feeling you get from consuming cannabis. As a result, CBD is blessed and possesses many medicinal benefits, as it serves as a panacea for acne, pain, sleep, and sleep-related disorders.
Research Carried out by the National Library of Medicine
According to the National Library of Medicine, As many as 70% of Americans report not getting enough sleep for the recommended hours. Furthermore, almost a third of American workers sleep less than six hours per night. One increasingly popular approach for achieving better sleep is taking cannabidiol or CBD.
CBD has for years been used as an ideal medication to increase sleep and reduce anxiety. However, research is still in its infancy when it comes to the exact effects of CBD as well as CBD on other physical and mental health concerns.
CBD and Sleep
Research on CBD and its effects on sleep disorders is still in their infancy, but there is some hope. For example, many patients using CBD for sleep and chronic pain report better sleep and less pain after consuming CBD. However, it is still unclear whether the patients had better sleep due to the pain relief from the CBD or because CBD directly affects their sleep. Whatever the case, more research is still required to widen our understanding of CBD as an intervention for sleep disorders.
- Anxiety and CBD
Although this is not a sleep-related disorder, anxiety contributes to inadequate sleep and sleep-related disorders. Since CBD is known to calm the nervous system, the finding indicates CBD can be used to treat anxiety-related conditions. For example, a study of over 75% of participants who used CBD as a panacea for anxiety reported lower anxiety levels within a month, sandwiched with an improvement in sleep by more than 65% of the participants.
ü Insomnia and CBD
Persons with insomnia often find it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep at night. This disorder affects daytime wakefulness, the ability to concentrate, and mood. Furthermore and due to their history of poor or inadequate sleep, people suffering from sleep-related disorders like insomnia are prone to having and suffering from anxiety, which generally emanates from sleep deprivation or insufficient sleep, leading to sleepless nights. With that in mind and considering the positive news from CBD as a panacea for anxiety, there is some hope that CBD can also come in handy for people suffering from insomnia-related stress.
ü Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Disorder and CBD
Those with extreme daytime sleepiness disorder often find it impossible to stay awake during the day. Preliminary research conducted on animals suggests that CBD serves as an ideal medication for wake-inducing medication. Other studies indicate CBD comes with and functions as a sedative medication. However, more research is still required to determine what doses and methods of CBD affect wakefulness and sleepiness.
Should You Use Cbd As A Sleep Aid
Finally, opting to use CBD for sleep is between you and your healthcare provider. According to Dr. Strachan, there are many reasons to consider CBD for adequate sleep. Some include trying a plant-based option or opting for an alternative to conventional treatments that haven’t been effective. In addition, CBD is a safe substitute for prescription sleep medications, as suggested by Dr. Whitelocke.
Web sources
- https://www.forbes.com/health/body/cbd-for-sleep/
- https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-aids/cbd-for-sleep
- https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/cannabis-cbd-sleep
