Did you know that a lack of sleep can lead to a range of personal and medical problems, such as:
- Inability to focus
- Struggles at work
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Many others
The Atharvaveda (Hindu text circa. 1500 BC) mentions its use for medicinal purposes. A Chinese medical text from around 1200 BC says to use CBD hemp oil for sleep.
Fast Forward to Today
Today, millions of people around the world make use of CBD hemp oil as a sleep aid. CBD is a compound found in cannabis Sativa L. This form of cannabis, however, contains only trace amounts of THC. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive component that causes the “buzz” associated with marijuana. The use of CBD oil for many different reasons has exploded in the past couple of decades.
According to Consumer Reports (CR), a highly reputable source:
- Approximately 64 million Americans have tried CBD hemp oil at least once
- One in seven people in the survey by Consumer Reports said they use CBD daily.
According to another CR study, approximately 80 percent of adults in the US say they have problems sleeping at least one night each week. Many study participants stated that most over-the-counter and prescription sleep aids don’t work well. These sleep aids also carry with them a variety of risks and potential side effects.
Why Can’t You Sleep
There are many different reasons why a person might suffer from poor sleep, including:
- Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Some medications include upsetting your normal circadian cycle (your sleep-wake cycle)
- Physical problems such as chronic restless leg syndrome, essential tremors, and Parkinson’s disease
- Excessive amounts of caffeine, particularly late in the day
- Environmental issues such as extreme heat, cold, noise, or simply an uncomfortable bed
Sometimes, a person can suffer from more than one of these symptoms. In most instances, environmental causes have a simple cure. For those with mental or medical issues, consult your doctor before using CBD hemp oil as a sleep aid.
Does Using CBD Hemp Oil Help with Sleep?
There are mixed opinions as there has been very little scientific research on CBD hemp seed oil for sleep. Despite this, many medical experts say that CBD hemp oil is known to help reduce anxiety. This can help many people fall asleep faster and enjoy better sleep.
Dr. Patricia Frye, Chief Medical Officer at HelloMD and a board-certified cannabis clinician, states that evidence exists to show that higher doses of CBD oil can help modulate the adenosine pathways in the human brain. Frye says,” Adenosine is the substance that accumulates during the day and deactivates the sensory neurons in the area of the brain that keeps us awake.
Research shows how CBD affects a person’s 5-HT1a serotonin receptors and can cause sleepiness. In certain people, this can also lead to the relief of anxiety or depression, leading to sleep issues.
A Little More About Your Circadian Rhythm
Medical research has found that your body’s endocannabinoid system plays a significant role in how your body functions. It affects your mood, appetite, sleep, and circadian rhythm.
Your endocannabinoid system consists of cannabinoid receptors in your central nervous system and brain CB1 and CB2. The cannabinoid compounds in CBD hemp oil attach themselves to these receptors with varying effects. This includes, at least, some belief those receptors affect your circadian rhythm or sleep cycle.
The circadian rhythm is your body’s internal time clock. Your body uses it to regulate many bodily functions over 24 hours. These include the production of hormones, cell regeneration within your body, and your appetite. One of the most common results is poor sleep when something disrupts your circadian rhythm.
The typical rhythm is for a person to be awake during the day and also asleep at night. To help with this, your body produces a hormone called melatonin. During the daylight hours, the sun helps to keep melatonin levels low. Once the sun goes down, your body should naturally increase melatonin production to help you sleep.
Many things can affect this important rhythm, such as working the night or graveyard shift. Spending your day in an office with little exposure to sunlight can wreak havoc on melatonin production. Some medications and supplements are also known to cause similar issues.
Different Forms of CBD Hemp Oil for Sleep
Many people are under the assumption that CBD hemp oil is extracted from the same cannabis plant as marijuana. They fear that CBD oil contains the psychoactive compound THC found in marijuana. However, for a CBD oil product to be legal, it must have less than 0.3% THC. This amount isn’t enough to cause you to “get high.”
There are many several ways in which you can find CBD hemp oil for sleep, including:
- In tinctures – you can add these to a drink. However, you can place a few drops under your tongue or swallow them.
- In edibles – depending on where you live, you should be able to find a vast array of CBD edibles. These include cookies, cakes, candies, gummies, drinks, etc.
- For vaping – recent advances include the development of CBD extract for use in vape pens and other inhaled vaporizers.
Keep in mind that CBD hemp oil is available in a variety of concentrations. What might work for one person might not have any effect at all on another. Finding the dose and concentration level that works for you may take some experimentation!