The Link Between CBD and Sleep

The Link Between CBD and Sleep

Insomnia is a common condition that many people face, and CBD is one generally safe option that some use when having trouble with sleep.

We did some research and got a little nerdy, but bear with us. If you’re interested in getting a better night’s sleep, then understanding how CBD affects certain hormones is important to get the most out of this amazing resource.

Cannabis has been known to have both recreational and medicinal use among users. The two main active ingredients in cannabis are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)  have different effects on the brain with each having different effects.

Unlike THC, CBD does not cause the user to feel high. There has been more research into CBD in the last couple of years because of its recent rise in popularity. Some research indicated that CBD has the potential to act as a sleeping aid.

The Research

With the growth of CBD and THC  in the past couple of years, there has been a demand for further research into its side effects.

Earlier research demonstrated that when CBD is taken in high dosages, there is a possibility that it can help regulate sleep.

A study found that, compared with a placebo, a CBD dosage of 160 milligrams  (mg) increased sleep duration. The researchers also concluded that the placebo, 5 mg of the insomnia drug nitrazepam, and 40, 80, and 160 mg of CBD helped the participants fall asleep.

Cortisol is the stress hormone, and while the average person’s cortisol levels peak in the morning, a person with insomnia can have high cortisol levels at night which may contribute to the difficulty in falling asleep.

One study researching the effects of CBD found that cortisol levels decreased more significantly when participants took 300 or 600 mg of CBD oil. These results suggest that CBD affects the release of cortisol, possibly acting as a sedative.

A later analysis of CBD and sleep recruited 103 participants who had anxiety or poor sleep. The researchers studied the effects of CBD combined with those of other prescribed medications.

The CBD dosages ranged from 25–175 mg. The researchers found that 25 mg was the most effective dosage for anxiety and that addressing troubled sleep required higher dosages.

During the 3-month study, the investigators followed up with the participants monthly. At the first follow-up, 66.7% reported an improvement in sleep, but 25% had worsened sleep. At the second, 56.1% of the participants reported improved sleep, but 26.8% had worsened sleep.

Research showed that CBD could help users sleep in the short term, but these effects might not last when it comes to longer periods of time.

Potential side effects

In general, the available evidence gathered from research indicates that CBD is well-tolerated among its users.

Some have reported feelings of fatigue and mental sedation upon taking CBD, but there is evidence to believe that this could be because of the dosage these users were taking.

Taking 10–400 mg of CBD per day for a long period and by different routes did not have a toxic effect on participants in a large retrospective study. Even doses of up to 1,500 mg per day were well-tolerated, other researchers report.

Because CBD is so new, there needs to be more research in order to determine some of the long-term effects.

CBD’s other functions

Here at PureRoots, we believe that CBD is multifunctional and has the potential to offer different benefits for each individual user. We offer products that contribute to better sleep, but we also have products that could help reduce anxiety, stress, inflammation, pain or other conditions depending on the product. With our wide range of products, we have CBD that could benefit everyone, including your pets!

Summary

Some doctors are unsure about whether or not CBD can truly help with sleep-related conditions, but there is evidence that suggests that CBD might help to improve sleep. There needs to be more evidence delving into long-term effects and what the proper dosage should be when it comes to the user, but using CBD could be a possible solution if you are struggling with regulating your sleep at night!