Written by: Jessica
Cannabidiol (CBD) is gaining public attention like a wildfire. Consumers around the globe are increasingly using it in everything from iced coffees to easy-to-swallow gel caps. One can even soak in an evening bath with CBD-soothing salts that promote relaxation. CBD has many benefits ranging from anxiety relief to muscle recovery, but did you know it can help relieve insomnia?
CBD has been known to act brilliantly in managing to fight off symptoms of insomnia-promoting disorders. CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) and its receptors. ECS is responsible for maintaining homeostasis (body’s internal equilibrium system) through our body’s endocannabinoids. CBD helps to fill in the gaps when there is a lack of enough endocannabinoids in the body. This, in turn, aids in sleep management, mood management, pain management, and other bodily functions.
Let’s know how CBD can help you fall asleep quicker? Here are three ways CBD can help relieve insomnia.
- CBD can relieve pain that keeps you up at night.
One of the most powerful therapeutic benefits of CBD is pain relief. In fact, according to research (1) from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine concluded that cannabis or cannabinoids are effective for the treatment of chronic pain in adults.
When patients with poor sleep cycles were given Cannabidiol treatment, they experienced better sleep quality. When pain keeps you up at night, all you can do is replace traditional pain medications with CBD edibles. Alleviating the pain could make it easier for you to get a good night’s sleep and feel energized the next day.
- CBD can help you calm down.
If you’re having a hard time relaxing before sleep, CBD can come handy. Since it is an overall calming compound, it will help you slow down at night. Researchers have suggested that CBD could help you calm down and get to sleep if you’re suffering from anxiety. A study (2) showed that CBD can alleviate anxiety-related sleep issues.
Depression is another underlying cause of insomnia that can keep you up at night. Insomnia and depression often go hand in hand. Depression combined with anxiety can create a negative mood leading to sleep difficulty. A recent review (3) found that CBD may help alleviate depression linked to stress.
- CBD can stop nightmares
Generally, one need not worry about nightmares. But frequent nightmares can cause sleep anxiety, which markedly interferes with your sleep patterns. This is the reason why it is medically recognized as a sleep disorder.
Rapid Eye Movement (REM) is one of the main origins of a nightmare. Increased nightmares or restlessness can lead to REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). Experts believe that CBD can help in the treatment of this disorder. In a case study (4), four patients were treated with CBD, and the results showed a substantial reduction in RBD-inspired events with no side effects.
If you’re sleepless and other treatment options don’t seem to work, then you can try CBD and ease insomnia. However, you should consult with your doctor to determine the best way to use CBD to improve your sleep pattern.
