Can CBD Help You Sleep?

Amanda Russell

Let’s face it, we all have spent nights tossing and turning unable to fall asleep. However, when it turns into a constant battle to fall asleep then you could be suffering from insomnia. According to the National Institutes of Health, “roughly 30% of the general population complains of sleep disruption and about 10% have symptoms of daytime impairment that’s consistent with the diagnosis of insomnia.” With a multitude of proclaimed hacks for a better night’s sleep, one to emerge is the use of CBD to sleep. Some research suggests that CBD can help to get some shut-eye. Don’t fall asleep, because we’ll be talking more about it in this blog!

If you are looking to purchase any of our top quality CBD products to help you sleep, please feel free to use code SLEEP20 for 20% off your order! We are here to help with those sleep challenges!

What is Insomnia?

According to Mayo Clinic, insomnia is a “common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or cause you to wake up too early and not be able to go back to sleep.” Some people may struggle to sleep every night, while others may only experience this sporadically. There are two types of insomnia that people face. The first is short-term (acute) insomnia which lasts for a shorter time and may be caused by a life event such as stress or a traumatic event. If you struggle sleeping long-term, then you may have chronic insomnia that lasts more than a month or more and maybe the primary problem or part of a larger health issue. 

Some causes of chronic insomnia include medications, mental health disorders, stress, or even an off-balanced travel or work schedule. Some experience insomnia as they get older and their sleep patterns, activity, and health changes. It’s important to put some thought into why you aren’t sleeping to see how you can change that with treatments such as CBD or other adjustments to your daily life. For those that struggle sleeping on a chronic level, insomnia can lead to feeling irritable, stressed, and at times even depressed. 

Getting Back To Sleep

There is not one silver bullet to getting a good night’s sleep and it may be a trial and error with different adjustments to your lifestyle as you combat insomnia. For example, many people have tried many different sleep aids such as over-the-counter prescription medications. However, since this can lead to a dependency, some may prefer to seek natural treatment such as CBD for sleep. For other extreme chronic insomnia cases, some may seek out a sleep specialist for different types of therapy that can help the body to relax or help with behavioral changes with Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Some others may seek out alternative medicine methods. Melatonin is a common supplement for use as an effective treatment for insomnia.

There are even physical activities to promote better sleeping. Some suggest acupuncture as a good way to relax the body and get a better night's sleep. If you are not taking the time to be physically active, it can have an impact on your sleep schedule. Many recommend yoga and meditation during the day as well. If you struggle with anxiety and that is what’s preventing you from shut-eye, this may be a great way to take the time to focus on your thoughts and relaxation.  Visit our CBD Education page for more details.

woman asleep in bed

CBD For Sleep

 If you’ve tried some of these methods and are still looking for new solutions, CBD may be a promising alternative. The first reason why CBD may be able to help improve sleep habits is due to its effect on the body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Every human body has an ECS that helps the body to function smoothly, and this includes regulating circadian rhythms. The circadian rhythm is the internal process that regulates your sleep-wake cycle. If this is off-balance, it can throw sleeping schedules out of whack. This is where CBD comes in. Every ECS system is composed of natural cannabinoids that attach to your cells and have various effects. If your ECS is off-balance, then you may need more cannabinoids in your body. Enter CBD! Research has suggested that adding CBD to your body can help to regulate the ECS system therefore improving your sleep-wake cycle. 

CBD for sleep is also suggested because it may help to treat the other problems that are causing your insomnia. For example, in 2019, a study was conducted on whether CBD could improve sleep and reduce anxiety. In the conclusion of the study, patients reported that their anxiety levels were lowered and they had a better night's sleep. CBD was not treating insomnia, rather it was helping those that struggle with anxiety leading to less tossing and turning and more ZZZ’s.  

This example also compares to CBD for pain relief. CBD is an anti-inflammatory which helps to manage pain. For those who suffer from external or internal inflammation, this can result in painful symptoms and CBD can enter the ECS system to regulate this. By reducing the inflammation and pain, it may help to simultaneously improve sleep conditions. This is one of the most common reasons why people are using CBD. According to a Single Care study, “of the Americans who use CBD, the most common uses are for pain relief (64%), anxiety (49%), and insomnia (42%).” Many people are seeking CBD to relieve symptoms that can cause insomnia such as anxiety and pain relief or simply for insomnia itself. 

There has been various research to measure the effectiveness of CBD for sleep. And while there is still much more to discover, there are promising findings. For example, a study published in the journal Medicines took 409 people with insomnia and tracked their sleeping schedules for nearly two years. In this time, participants rated their symptoms of insomnia on a scale of 1 to 10 before CBD, and the average number was 6.6. After the use of cannabis and CBD, the average rate of the participant's symptoms dropped down to an average of 2.2!

In another 2019 study, researchers took 72 adults that have primary anxiety symptoms and tested to determine whether CBD helps to improve sleep and anxiety with these participants. The results concluded that although more clinical testing needs to be done, anxiety scores decreased within the first month in 57 patients and remained decreased during the duration. Additionally, sleep scores improved within the first month in 48 patients.

CBN For Sleep

Like CBD, CBN is another of the many compounds found in the cannabis plant. Cannabinol (CBN) is similar to CBD as it does not cause a psychoactive or “high” feeling like other cannabinoids. At the moment, CBN oil is much harder to find than CBD oil. CBN oil is not nearly as known or as well-studied at this time. Although there is much more research that still needs to occur to measure the validity of statements, many people claim to use CBN oil for sleep.

In 2011, the British Journal of Pharmacology  concluded that combining THC and CBN produced a more sedated type of high in human subjects. Aged cannabis products or those that have been exposed to a lot of sunlight are said to be better to create this relaxing, sedated feeling. This is due to the fact that they have higher CBN content. 

CBD Oil For Sleep

CBD oil for sleep is often the most popular choice of all types of product categories. This is taken sublingually, meaning that you place a dropper or two (depending on dosage) under the tongue to ingest. Many choose this product category for its convenience and fast-acting abilities. Since you ingest this under the tongue, it immediately absorbs into the body. CBD oil enters faster than edibles because it doesn’t need to first pass through the digestive system. You can learn more about the proper dosage in our dosage guide

Here at The Green Dragon CBD, we work with trusted, high-quality brands to offer the best CBD oils and tinctures. We are proud to say that we now carry Green Roads Sweet Sleep CBD + CBN Oil. This product includes both CBD and CBN in efforts to help enjoy the best night of sleep possible. In a recent product review on our website, Jeff said “not only has my sleep gotten better but my mornings have gotten way easier, I’ll never use another product again.” 

Other CBD Products For Insomnia

Cannabidiol has evolved into countless different product categories and each is suited depending on the consumer’s needs. When it comes to using CBD for insomnia, here are some other popular product categories stand out. These include:

  1. CBD Capsules, Tablets and Supplements - Common use is due to the ease and ability to fit into any routine. With a capsule, it can be taken just like any other pill. This makes it easy to remember to take and easy to use for those who are new to CBD. There are even CBD tablets that additionally contain melatonin to further encourage sleep. Recommended Product: Medterra Goodnight Tablets (CBD + Melatonin)
  2. CBD Edibles - Experience anxiety and that could links to your insomnia? Edibles may be a good product for you. These will take a bit longer to take effect because it will pass through the digestive system. It may be beneficial to take an hour before you go to sleep to help relax your mind before your head hits the pillow. This is also easy to use and is often delicious in the form of gummies, chocolate, and more. Recommended Product: JustCBD Gummy Bears
  3. CBD Flower - For those who are more experienced using CBD, CBD flower can be a good option. This could be a relaxing way to unwind before bed and help to create a healthy sleep routine. If you’d like to smoke but are unsure how to roll, you can easily buy pre-rolls. Then, you can enjoy a few hits before bed. It’s important to take the time to clear your mind and truly relax before sleep, and this may a great way to do so while also taking CBD. Recommended Product: Savage Richie Rich Pre-Rolls

If you are looking to purchase any of our top quality CBD products to help you sleep, please feel free to use code SLEEP20 for 20% off your order!  We are here to help with those sleep challenges!

Conclusion

While many factors can cause someone to struggle with insomnia, understanding why you may be having trouble sleeping is the first step. If anxiety, stress, or pain are the cause, then CBD may help for a better night’s sleep. It’s always important to talk to your doctor before making this switch. Especially if you are already taking other medication for sleep. Have you tried taking CBD to get a better night’s sleep? Share your experience in the comments below.

Can CBD Help You Sleep?
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CBD for Sleep is one of the most common uses of CBD. Learn all about how CBD might be able to help the root causes of your insomnia!
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Can CBD Help You Sleep?
February 16, 2024
CBD Education