Is CBD a solution for sleep disorders, does it really help you sleep better?
Causes of sleep disorders and insomnia
Insomnia affects 15 to 20% of the adult population and 9% suffer from a severe form. The causes are diverse and varied. Sleep disorders can be caused by medical conditions, medications related to certain diseases or psychological causes. There are so many reasons why you have trouble falling asleep. A poor lifestyle can be the cause (poor diet, alcohol consumption, coffee, lack of physical activity...). Some people suffer from sleep apnea and wake up in the middle of the night, disrupting their sleep cycle. Others may find it more difficult to fall asleep because they are overwhelmed by stress and anxiety. When you are anxious, the arousal systems are activated, which prevents you from falling asleep at bedtime.
The environment also plays a role in your sleep phase, a room that is too noisy or bright, a poor quality pillow, a pet that sleeps with you... To all of this can be added the screens that we are already hooked to all day. The blue light emanating from our smartphones, computers and tablets distorts our brain's data, giving it the impression of daylight, which delays the sleep phase. So what can you do to make it easier to fall asleep, calm your mind and reduce insomnia?
CBD better than sleeping pills for insomnia?
There are several solutions to remedy this lack of sleep and recurrent insomnia. You are certainly familiar with the solution of sleeping pills, Benzodiazepines, these drugs that are prescribed to help you fall asleep. However, even if they are prescribed by doctors, sleeping pills have very real side effects and risks that are little known to the general public. Taking sleeping pills can lead to impaired sleep, drowsiness during the day, dependence and addiction. According to some studies, sleeping pills even increase the risk of mortality, cancer and, in the long term, memory loss and Alzheimer's disease.
In short, as you will have understood, if you can do without it, it's better. But there are more natural alternatives to alleviate your insomnia and sleep problems. Cannabidiol (CBD), a molecule naturally present in the hemp and cannabis plant, is able to interact with our body and more specifically with our endocannabinoid system (ECS). CBD is not a direct sedative as sleeping pills usually are.
CBD to combat sleep disorders and insomnia
This complex interaction of CBD with our body is therefore partly due to the endocannabinoid system. CBD has the ability to interact with the system responsible for regulating essential biological functions in our body such as sleep, appetite, metabolism, pain system, neural development, cardiovascular function, inflammation, immunity, mood, stress and a few other physiological and pathophysiological processes.
Specifically, CBD can help prevent the breakdown of a chemical neurotransmitter in the brain that affects emotional state, mental function and pain, among other things. As a result, it can increase the amount of melatonin secreted at bedtime to provide restful sleep. Melatonin, also known as the sleep hormone, regulates many hormonal secretions. It is the hormone of well-being, relaxation and, above all, of deep and restful sleep. It allows the body to regenerate itself at night, by accessing several important sleep phases, necessary for the complete regeneration of the organism.
In anxious people, CBD does not trigger sleep like a sleeping pill, but its anxiolytic action acts on the cause of insomnia, anxiety, by activating one of the serotonin receptors. It helps to reduce the mental tension often present at bedtime.
In addition to this, CBD also acts as a painkiller and promotes muscle relaxation, it can help you find your way back to sleep when you are awakened by physical pain. It is therefore very interesting to consume CBD before going to bed, in order to avoid being disturbed during your sleep. Cannabinoids will help you get a good night's sleep.
CBD regulates the sleep-wake cycle
By interacting directly with your ECS, CBD plays a key role in the circadian rhythm, also known as the sleep-wake system. CBD has been shown to reduce REM sleep through its ability to reduce anxiety which is often responsible for poor sleep or insomnia. REM sleep is a phase during which we are more sensitive to dreams and to waking up unexpectedly. In general during this phase you are more likely to wake up. CBD therefore promotes a deeper and more peaceful sleep. The time it takes to fall asleep is also reduced thanks to its relaxing effects.
CBD promotes a better overall cycle and is equally beneficial to the body during the day and at night. Taken during the day, it can be very beneficial to wakefulness, as CBD has a regulatory effect. This complex interaction of CBD with our body is partly due to the endocannabinoid system.
Which CBD to take for better sleep?
CBD comes in a variety of forms: oil, capsules, flowers, resins, etc. It can be consumed in different ways: by direct absorption, infusion or vaporization. The trick is to make your choice according to your personal preferences. We give you some hints in the article: " Which form of CBD to choose and why?In all cases, the effectiveness of CBD will not be altered by the way it is consumed or by its form, but the effects may take more or less time to manifest themselves.
Vaporisation and inhalation allow for fairly instantaneous effects, within minutes, as they allow for faster assimilation of the cannabinoids. However, the effects last about 1 hour. Edibles that you take by absorption release the cannabinoids more slowly, but last longer. If you take an oil by sublingual absorption, the effects will occur within 15 minutes to 1 hour. By ingestion of capsules/softgels for example, the effects will appear after 1 to 2 hours, but they will last much longer, up to 6 hours. In conclusion, if you want to benefit from the effects of CBD throughout the night, it is best to consume an oil or softgel 1 hour before going to bed.
Consumed in combination with melatonin, as offered by Pure Extract CBD's 25 mg + Melatonin softgels, CBD is even more effective. It can promote a more structured sleep and prevent you from waking up during the night.
In the article " How to consume CBD and in what quantity? " you'll find a few explanations and usage tips on various CBD-based products.
What are the side effects?
CBD has no significant side effects. It won't knock you out, get you high, or have any addictive effects. Unlike conventional drugs which tend to cause involuntary sleepiness, unrefreshing sleep and, above all, a strong addiction.
If in doubt or if you are taking other forms of medication, it is best to consult your doctor for a professional opinion on the compatibility of the different substances. CBD is not a medicine, it is a food supplement to be taken as part of a healthy lifestyle.
