A good night’s sleep is critical to your general health and well-being. That’s why specialists recommend getting at least eight hours of sleep per night, preferably on a steady schedule, before considering a sleep aid.
Unfortunately, more than 70 million Americans have difficulty falling or staying asleep owing to a range of sleep disorders and other sleep-related issues.
Many people with sleep problems and sleep issues are now turning to CBD oil as a more natural solution to alleviate the very things that keep them up at night. Of course, the key question is whether CBD makes you asleep/sleepy.
Finding a natural sleep aid that does not cause excessive drowsiness or sleepwalking might be challenging. There are numerous products on the market, but CBD appears to outperform all of them.
So, why are you here? Does CBD make you sleepy?
Let us find out.
CBD and Your Body Explained
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of more than 120 chemicals found in the Cannabis Sativa plant. More specifically, it is a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid found mostly in the hemp form of the plant.
One of the key reasons why so many people wonder if CBD makes you sleepy is that it is closely associated with its psychoactive counterpart, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is obviously well recognized for the high it provides to its users, which can range from tiredness to profound tranquility.
While CBD does not cause a high for its users, it does have some therapeutic effects, such as maintaining good sleep cycles and providing a sense of serenity or focus, among other things.
CBD’s interaction with the human body allows it to provide these non-psychoactive effects. Essentially, our Endocannabinoid System (ECS) synthesizes all cannabinoids, which then bind to numerous cell receptors throughout our bodies.
Think of the ECS as your body’s command center. It is in charge of controlling all of the other systems in your body, and it is always working to keep things in balance by releasing endocannabinoids (the body’s endogenous cannabinoids) to reduce physiological responses to external events.
These external causes include stress, worry, discomfort, cold, hunger, and almost any other naturally occurring condition that necessitates a biological function that you can think of.
CBD mimics the body’s endocannabinoids by connecting to cell receptors throughout our bodies, enhancing natural reactions to the aforementioned causes.
CBD and Sleep
CBD is more than capable of producing a sedative effect. However, it depends on who you question, as well as the less evident strain type. For example, it is well known that Sativa strains give consumers a more elevating impact, whereas indices are better for soothing effects—this applies to both THC and CBD.
However, the prevailing agreement is that CBD does not cause sleepiness. It can, nevertheless, help in the fight against sleeping disorders.
How is this possible, you ask?
When broken down, there are two ways CBD can help you sleep. The first method CBD works is by directly interacting with cell receptors in your brain, which control your body’s natural wake and sleep cycles.
The second way CBD works is by interacting with cell receptors in your brain and body to reduce pain and stress, both of which contribute to sleep disturbances.
When CBD is ingested and generated by the ECS, it begins to bind to and activate the receptors that send out assistance messages.
Here’s a breakdown of how that works in terms of the many forms of sleep assistance:
Neurochemical production
Neurochemicals like melatonin and serotonin are required for a healthy night’s sleep.
Melatonin helps to regulate your sleep cycle. Melatonin production begins after the sun goes down, functioning on specific receptors to help you fall asleep.
While serotonin is best known as a mood-stabilizing neurotransmitter, it also affects the entire body by allowing brain and nervous system cells to connect. In this situation, the body uses serotonin to produce melatonin.
CBD binds to the receptors that control the release of the two neurochemicals, stimulating their production.
Muscle Tension Relief
Believe it or not, tight or stiff muscles can impair your sleep quality and ability to fall asleep. This is especially true for specific muscle disorders like hypermotility and muscular dystrophy.
CBD, on the other hand, has been shown to reduce tension and promote relaxation by inhibiting the production of excitatory neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, which are known to cause muscular spasms and rigidity.
Cortisol Modulation
Cortisol, also known as the “stress hormone,” is created to aid your body’s response to stressful conditions by essentially providing an energy boost. Of fact, even little stressors can induce a surge in cortisol levels, which can impair sleep.
Because CBD has a soothing effect on both the body and the mind, it can help manage your body’s stress response and, as a result, cortisol production, allowing you to fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly throughout the night.
Nightmare and PTSD Reduction
Several recent investigations and clinical trials have yielded encouraging outcomes in treating PTSD and its associated nightmares and night terrors.
In one recent study, 11 individuals suffering from PTSD and concomitant nightmares were given CBD orally for eight weeks while also receiving psychiatric treatment. The CBD treatment had a 91% success rate, with most patients reporting a decrease in the severity of their PTSD and nightmares.
The study also found that CBD was generally well accepted by those with PTSD, and each patient continued their CBD prescription after the study ended.
Sleep/Wake Cycle Correction
If you’ve ever experienced daytime drowsiness, you may be dealing with somnolence. Somnolence can occur for several reasons that have nothing to do with an underlying disease.
For example, it can be caused by too much caffeine or even caffeine withdrawal, excessive drug or alcohol use, high stress levels, large meals, and certain medications. Either way, somnolence can interfere with your body’s natural sleep/wake cycle, causing you to nod off during the day while making it difficult to fall asleep at night.
Since CBD aids in melatonin and serotonin communication and synthesis, taking CBD at the right time can help reset your internal clock.
Pain Relief
Pain, like muscle tension, can interfere with your sleep quality and ability to fall asleep.
CBD is frequently used to treat pain and inflammation because, when it interacts with the body’s receptors, it works to reduce the intensity of “pain signals” sent to the brain.
Can CBD Help With Sleep Disorders?
So far, we can conclude that CBD improves sleep in general. But what about the genuine sleep disorders?
While certain sleep disorders are inherited, they often develop gradually, with anxiety and sadness being the most common causes. Of course, the underlying cause can be a variety of factors, both psychological and physiological, making it difficult to determine CBD’s efficacy in treating sleep disorders.
Let’s look at the two most frequent sleeping disorders:
Snoring
Yes, you read that correctly. Snoring is considered a sleeping condition, particularly when it is persistent and severe. Snoring substantially decreases your sleep quality since it interferes with your breathing, thereby cutting off your brain’s oxygen supply.
Snoring can be caused by a variety of factors, including allergies and a soft palate that narrows the airways. As a result, whether CBD can help a person snore less or stop completely is debatable, depending on the cause.
CBD may be able to protect the brain by decreasing the symptoms of sleep apnea (OSA), which causes snoring.
Insomnia
Insomnia is another type of sleep disturbance that develops gradually and can be caused by a variety of factors such as an irregular sleep schedule, stress, anxiety, depression, trauma-related PTSD, and others.
Depending on the severity of an individual’s sleeplessness, CBD may be able to treat one or more of the previously mentioned causes.
What Science Says About CBD and Sleep Disorders
While CBD research is still in its early stages, the last decade has seen a surge in interest in its pharmacokinetic and psychological effects, prompting almost the whole scientific community to investigate how CBD impacts the body and brain.
So far, multiple studies have suggested that CBD, in large doses, can help with both better quality sleep and sleep correction.
For example, a research of 72 participants found that taking 25 mg of CBD for one month resulted in significant improvements in both sleep difficulties and anxiety.
At the end of the trial, 79.2% of the participants said CBD helped them feel less anxious, and 66.7% said it made it easier to fall asleep and had a better overall sleep experience.
A second trial with two control groups, one given a placebo (5 mg of nitrazepam) and the other given 160 mg of CBD, assessed the increase in sleep duration. Similar to the last study, participants who began a CBD regimen reported an improvement in their overall sleep quality after one month.
In a third trial on CBD and sleep, 103 people with poor sleep and anxiety were recruited. This study, in particular, sought to evaluate the effects of CBD when taken with prescription drugs.
CBD dosages ranged from 25 to 175 mg, with 25 mg being the best for anxiety and larger dosages required for better sleep quality.
Does CBD Make You Sleepy?
So, does CBD make you sleepy?
The quick answer is no, not in the same manner that an OTC or prescription drug would. Of fact, depending on the type of CBD you take and how your body responds to different levels, it may have mild calming effects.
However, based on current studies on CBD and sleep disorders, as well as how CBD works in the body, it’s safe to conclude that CBD has a high potential for providing a natural solution to help you adjust to not only a better sleep schedule but also better quality sleep over time.
If you’re thinking about adding CBD products to your daily routine to assist improve your sleep quality, consult your doctor first, especially if you’re already on other prescriptions.
Stay tuned for more insightful and up-to-date CBD articles.
Thank you for choosing CBD BLOGGING.
Also, read: Can CBD Make Your Eyes Red?
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