A significant percentage of the human population struggles with sleeping difficulties. Sleeping problems are mostly associated with upsetting events and stress. Nevertheless, insomnia can be caused by chronic issues and it can have significant effects on the daily functioning and life of a person. Consequences of insomnia include memory issues, reduced energy levels, focusing problems, and irritation.
Many people with sleeping problems try different treatments including sleeping pills. Unfortunately, these do not always work for them. That’s why some people turn to non-conventional treatments like CBD. CBD oil might be a solution to sleeping problems because it is calming for the mind and body as well as stress reducing. Thus, CBD can help with restoration of the normal sleep pattern.
Importance of Quality Sleep
Many people underestimate the importance of quality sleep. Generally, it is advisable to sleep 7 to 8 hours. However, the number of hours that a person should sleep varies from one person to another. One person may not have problems with sleeping 6 hours only while another will experience fatigue. Nevertheless, all people have trouble sleeping every now and then. And when this happen a person experiences fatigue during the day that follows. However, this is not a problem. It becomes a serious problem when a person fails to sleep properly several nights.
Sleep is a large part of life. Quality sleep allows the body to generate energy for the day that follows. Sleep helps with body restoration and recovery. The body removes dead cells and produces new ones during sleep. Muscles relax because when you sleep, heart rate, breathing rate, and brain waves’ frequency become lower. Additionally, sleep enables the mind to store and remember events of the day.
What Causes Sleep Disorders?
There are different causes of sleep disorders. Usually, the cause of sleeping problems is identifiable.
Common causes of sleep disorders include:
- Worries and stress
- Physical issues like chronic pain
- Endocrine disturbances, imbalances, and changes
- Poor sleeping habits like consuming a lot of caffeine, sleeping late, and sleeping during the day time.
- Neurological disorders like epilepsy, dystonia, and Parkinson’s disease.
- Jet lag
- Prescription medications side effects
How CBD Helps Deepen Your Sleep
Sleep problems are symptoms of more pressing, larger issues. In most cases, people with sleep problems are unable to turn off their minds. This can be due to several things. However, this is mostly because of an overactive mind, anxiety, or stress.
When CBD is used for sleep, it yields numerous benefits. Some studies have shown that CBD depicts powerful anxiolytic impacts. One human study focused on finding the possible anxiolytic effects of CBD on experimentally-induced anxiety among healthy volunteers. This study used a simulated public speaking model. A placebo and CBD were administered to 2 test groups that had Social Anxiety Disorder. The study established that anxiety levels in the group where placebo was administered were higher than in the group that received CBD.
CBD can also help with resetting sleep pattern thereby breaking the vicious cycle that occurs when sleeping problems are caused by anxiety. Another study showed that CBD increases sleep significantly.
As such, if anxiety and stress are the causes of wakeful nights, CBD can help by enabling you to have more relaxed nights thereby sleep with ease.
Why Cannabidiol Helps You Sleep Longer
Clearly, CBD helps with anxiety. This is very important in improving the quality of sleep and minimizing sleep difficulties. CBD can increase the amount of sleep while improving insomnia especially in people with chronic pain.
Sleep has multiple cycles that have different phases. When taken to improve sleep, CBD increases sleep in phase three. This is the deep sleep phase. It’s possible that this phase is the most troublesome for individuals with a sleeping disorder. Additionally, CBD decreases REM sleep duration. This is the light sleep phase where dreaming occurs. When CBD reduces REM sleep, it makes you dream less thereby improving memory and decreasing depression symptoms.
What’s more, studies have indicated that CBD influences dopamine levels during sleep. As such, a person that uses CBD for sleep enjoys a more relaxed, quality sleep. Additionally, research has shown that CBD can improve sleep in people that have irregular sleep patterns as well as individuals with chronic fatigue.
In summary:
- CBD can help reduce anxiety which causes insomnia
- CBD helps with the onset of sleep in pain patients
- CBD correlates with reduced dream recall
- CBD can help reduce insomnia
- CBD can help improve the REM Sleep Disorder
CBD Oil as a Supplement
As indicated, insomnia or sleep problems are mostly related to larger issues. It’s therefore important to deal with the larger issue first. Essentially, study the cause of the issue or take time to understand it first. CBD can play a supplementary role when it comes to dealing the underlying cause of your sleep problem.
For instance, if anxiety makes you sleep badly, CBD will help with anxiety reduction. If chronic pain hinders you from sleeping properly, CBD will relieve and reduce pain. It’s important to note that CBD is not everybody’s panacea. Just like prescription medication, CBD produces varying effects. The effects of CBD vary depending on individuals and their illness. For example, CBD can relieve pain in one person and work better in calming another person. But, unlike prescription medication, CBD does not have risks since it doesn’t have known serious side effects. Thus, CBD is healthy and natural. It’s a homeopathic soporific.
How to Use CBD for Sleep
When using CBD for sleep or insomnia, it’s important that you choose the right product or method. If your sleep problems are due to stress-related or anxiety issues, taking CBD sublingually will yield potent anxiolytic, analgesic, and long lasting effects. If your sleep problems are due to PTSD, use a vaporizer to get instant effects of CBD. However, bear in mind that the effects will not last longer like with other delivery methods.
Why to Use CBD for Sleep
Many people that take prescription medication to treat sleep-related problems say that they feel nauseated, lethargic, and distracted. They are also incapable of focusing properly. In some cases, even operating machinery or vehicles is a problem. That means prescription medication for sleep problems leads to mobility loss. CBD on the other hand doesn’t cause such problems. It is healthy and safe as long as it is taken in the right dose.
Richard is a lifelong health enthusiast who has been studying supplements, nutrition, and exercise for over 20 years. He loves to try out new products and report his experience with them.