Can't Sleep? This May Help Your Insomnia
You know the feeling: Just as your head hits the pillow, you begin re-living your day, thinking about what you forgot to do. Before you know it, you’re worrying yourself about tomorrow or the entire week ahead, watching the cock tick closer to morning and dreading the foggy head that awaits you when the sun comes up.
If this vicious cycle sounds all too familiar, you’re not alone: Almost 80 percent of Americans have reported trouble sleeping at least once a week. The good news? CBD may help insomnia or bouts of sleeplessness. Read on to see how taking CBD may help usher you into dreamland—and ease your anxiety, as well.
Lessening anxiety with CBD
For many of us, the occasional bout of sleeplessness is all too familiar. While the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep can rear its ugly head at any point in our lives, it’s no surprise that sleeplessness often happens during periods of stress or anxiety. Luckily, full spectrum CBD—or cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive compound found in the hemp plant— has been shown to help lessen feelings of stress and anxiety, and be just what you need to calm your overactive mind and help you drift into sleep.
In a 2019 published study by the National Institutes of Health “to determine whether CBD helps improve sleep and/or anxiety in a clinical population,” scientists found that anxiety was greatly improved during the duration of the study. The results of the study found that out of 72 adults whose primary concerns were anxiety or poor sleep, after a month of being administered CBD,
“Anxiety scores decreased within the first month in 57 patients (79.2%) and remained decreased during the study duration. Sleep scores improved within the first month in 48 patients (66.7%) but fluctuated over time. In this chart review, CBD was well tolerated in all but 3 patients.”
In short, if you’re tossing, turning and overthinking instead of getting a good night’s sleep, taking CBD may help alleviate your anxiety enough that you can actually enjoy a restorative rest—without waking up feeling hungover or “out of it.”
CBD and sleep
We know that as a cannabinoid, hemp-derived CBD interacts within the body’s endocannabinoid system—the system that governs many of the body’s functions, including the body’s sleep/wake cycle. While studies are still ongoing, the link between CBD and sleep shows promise.
According to sleepfoundation.org, “Currently, there is insufficient research to determine the effectiveness of CBD in treating other health conditions. However, preliminary research suggests CBD can help with a number of sleep disorders, including insomnia22 REM sleep behavior disorder23, and excessive daytime sleepiness disorder24. Additional preliminary research suggests CBD can also help patients improve sleep and reduce anxiety.”
How can CBD help insomnia?
The Mayo Clinic defines insomnia as “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 get back to sleep.” It can be acute (short term) brought on by stress and anxiety, or chronic (long term) and sometimes associated with underlying health conditions.
Cortisol, also known as the “stress hormone,” tends to peak in the morning, but those suffering from insomnia may experience these peaks at night. Such high levels of this hormone can cause an increase in awakening in the middle of the night. Full spectrum CBD may be an integral part in helping to combat these spikes in cortisol, and in managing feelings of stress associated with high cortisol levels.
According to medicalnewstoday.com, “In one study on the effects of CBD, researchers found that cortisol levels decreased more significantly when participants took of CBD oil. These results suggest that CBD affects the release of cortisol, possibly acting as a sedative.”
“While studies surrounding the sleep benefits of CBD are still ongoing, we know from our customers’ anecdotes that it is often impactful in helping them fall asleep and prevent awakening during the night,” shares Sarah Mirsini, founder of MASK CBD Skincare.
“We continue to be amazed by the myriad benefits of this cannabinoid! We encourage everyone to speak to their doctor about any sleep disorders they may be experiencing—and how to best incorporate full spectrum CBD, like the trusted organic options from Iremia CBD—into their healthcare regimen.”