Insomnia, or the inability to get the proper amount of sleep each night, can be a debilitating condition that wreaks havoc on a person’s day-to-day life. Without the proper amount of sleep, the mind and body can experience various disastrous effects.
Currently, it’s recommended that a person gets seven to eight hours of sleep on a nightly basis. However, a person with insomnia may experience as little as one to two hours each night.
Many people who have insomnia rely on sleeping pills to get the rest that they need. The problem is that most commonly prescribed sleeping pills come with lots of side effects.
There are studies being conducted to determine whether CBD can treat insomnia. There is an abundance of anecdotal evidence that suggests that CBD has what it takes to promote restful sleep when taken before bedtime.
In fact, many researchers and doctors agree that CBD has the unique ability to help a person get the amount of sleep that they need each night with minimal side effects.
What Causes Insomnia?
Many of us experience the occasional night of tossing and turning. We all know the frustration that’s associated with being unable to fall asleep. However, insomnia sufferers go through this frustrating experience on a regular basis.
If you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep at least a few nights out of every week, you may have insomnia.
There are many factors that contribute to insomnia. One of the most common reasons why a person has difficulty falling asleep each night is because of anxiety or stress.
We’ve all had nights when we couldn’t sleep because we simply had too much on our mind. An insomnia sufferer experiences this on a frequent basis.
If you are experiencing chronic stress or anxiety, your nervous system is constantly releasing cortisol into your bloodstream. High levels of cortisol increase your heart rate, rate of breath and brain activity.
When cortisol levels are chronically high, you may experience these symptoms daily. These symptoms make it difficult for you to drift off into sleep.
Insomnia can also be caused by chronic pain. Those who suffer from chronic pain often have difficulty falling asleep simply because the pain prevents you from entering the state of relaxation that’s required for your body to fall asleep.
Insomnia can also be a sign of a nutritional issue. For instance, vitamins D3 and B12 help your body produce melatonin, a hormone that is naturally released at nighttime to relax your mind and body. When your body isn’t producing enough melatonin, you may have trouble feeling sleepy at night.
In rare cases, insomnia can be a sign of a serious underlying issue within the body. That’s why anyone who experiences insomnia should see their doctor.
The Risks Associated with Insomnia
We all know that sleep is an important part of maintaining good health. Without the right amount of sleep each night, your health can suffer in a variety of ways.
During sleep, your mind and body repair themselves. Therefore, a person who is deprived of sleep can experience frequent illnesses and emotional distress.
Your immune system is also negatively affected by a lack of sleep.
Besides serious health risks, sleep deprivation can dramatically impact your mood and energy levels.
If you don’t get enough sleep you may also experience more physical pain because the muscles have not had the rest required to repair damaged tissue.
Conventional Insomnia Treatments
Often, if you suffer from insomnia you will receive a prescription for a sleep medication from you doctor.
Today, there are numerous forms of sleeping pills that are available. Often, the insomnia sufferer finds that the medication is effective. The problem, however, is that many of these sleeping pills are addictive and come with lots of side effects. These side effects include drowsiness, dizziness and depression.
For this reason, there are many insomnia sufferers who don’t want to be on these medications for a long period of time.
For less severe cases of insomnia, a doctor will often suggest a change in lifestyle habits. For instance, studies show that regular exercise regulates the hormones that are responsible for triggering sleep-inducing effects.
There are also certain dietary changes that can be made to improve your ability to get adequate sleep each night. For example, sugar, alcohol and caffeine can all interfere with your ability to sleep.
Those who have insomnia due to chronic anxiety can see a psychologist to develop coping mechanisms when anxiety symptoms are present.
Often, a psychologist can help you develop a strategy to combat anxiety-induced insomnia.
How CBD Can Help with Insomnia
CBD may be a profoundly effective treatment for insomnia. CBD, unlike most conventional sleeping pills, works with the endocannabinoid system within the human body.
This system regulates everything from energy levels to internal temperature.
It also regulates our ability to sleep.
Many of us do not naturally produce enough cannabinoids to keep the endocannabinoid system functioning properly.
CBD replenishes this system with what it needs in order to maintain homeostasis throughout the body.
Therefore, many consider CBD to be a natural supplement rather than a drug.
CBD, unlike THC, promotes sleep without making you feel high.
CBD is known to relax the mind and body while stimulating certain hormones and neurotransmitters that promote sleep.
Some studies have found that CBD has the unique ability to promote sleep without making you feel drowsy the next day.
This is most likely because of the fact that CBD regulates your sleep cycle.
Many sleeping pills aggressively shut down brain activity for hours to force you into a sleepy state.
CBD and Anxiety
As we stated earlier, stress and anxiety are known to contribute to insomnia. Fascinatingly, CBD may have the potential to treat anxiety in a completely safe and natural way.
Studies have found that it interacts with the neurons in your brain to secrete hormones that relax your mind and body to allow you to fall asleep quickly and sleep soundly throughout the night.
Unlike popular sleeping pills, CBD accomplishes this by replenishing the endocannabinoid system, allowing it to regulate your sleep cycle.
CBD and Pain Relief
CBD can also decrease pain throughout your body on a profound level. Various studies have demonstrated that CBD has high anti-inflammatory activity. In other words, it can reduce inflammation throughout your body.
It also acts as an analgesic, meaning that it blocks pain receptors in your brain from receiving signals from the nervous system.
If you have insomnia because of chronic pain, CBD may help provide you with the relief that you need to get adequate sleep each night.
How to Use CBD To Help with Insomnia
If you’re interested in trying CBD to treat your insomnia, it’s important that you speak to your doctor first. Although many researchers agree that CBD is relatively safe, everyone’s body is different.
There are many methods for taking CBD to treat insomnia. One of the most popular methods is using it as a tincture. You can easily purchase a high-quality CBD oil for this method.
Simply put a couple of drops under your tongue and allow the CBD to absorb. This method works quickly.
Another method of taking CBD is to ingest it. Today, edible CBD products are easy to find. Ingesting the CBD provides effects that last for a longer period because of how long it remains in your digestive system.
However, its effects may take longer to activate. If you can fall asleep quickly but have trouble staying asleep, an edible CBD product may be best for you.
The last method involves vaping. Many CBD brands make oils that can be used with vaping devices. By vaping CBD, the sleep-inducing compounds reach your brain very quickly.
Many people find that the CBD’s effects are felt within minutes. If you have a hard time falling asleep, vaping it may be the way to go.
How to Find the Right CBD Products
It’s important to know that not all CBD products are created equally. You should look for the purest CBD product out there. It’s also recommended that you search for organic, full spectrum CBD.
When CBD is grown in an organic environment, it retains higher levels of nutrients that can promote sleep.
Full spectrum CBD refers to the extraction process. The term means that the CBD was taken from the entire hemp plant.
Studies have found that the hemp plant possesses a wide range of beneficial compounds that work together to regulate various systems throughout the body when consumed.
What We Do Know
As of now, it’s widely believed that CBD can provide tremendous relief to people who suffer from insomnia. As you can see, this incredible compound can promote sleep in a wide variety of ways.