When we think of the uses of CBD oil, we often think of how it can help relieve discomfort and inflammation or its ability to help manage stress and anxiety. But endocannabinoids play an important role in the natural sleep cycle too and, as a result, CBD can help us fall asleep and sleep more soundly. As 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders, the relationship between CBD and sleep is more important than ever – especially for women looking for natural ways to manage their health.
How CBD Can Help You Sleep
CBD is a cannabinoid found in cannabis plants, including those of the hemp variety. Unlike THC, another common cannabinoid, CBD is non-intoxicating but still interacts with the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) – a network of receptor cells located throughout the body. CBD helps boost levels of the endocannabinoid Anandamide (the bliss chemical) that the body naturally makes by blocking the enzyme (Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase or FAAH) responsible for breaking Anandamide down. When you take CBD oil for sleep, Anandamide stays in your body longer, allowing your body to relax more fully.
Recent studies have shown that Cannabis products (which include CBD oil), can help reduce the time to fall asleep, increase slow wave (deep) sleep, and even decrease nightmares. CBD in particular, was noted for its ability to reduce nightmares in patients with PTSD without reducing important REM sleep.
So, is CBD good for sleep? Yes! A good night’s sleep is key to maintaining optimum health, yet many of us find it hard to stop tossing and turning or to sleep soundly through the night. Stress and anxiety play a large role in sleep disorders, as can an endocannabinoid system that is out of balance. CBD supports relaxation while helping our bodies and minds achieve balance.
How Much CBD Oil to Take for Sleep
Now that you know how CBD can help you get a good night’s rest, you might be wondering how much CBD oil to take for sleep, and the answer is a bit complicated. The optimal CBD dosage for sleep varies by the person taking it. The general rule of thumb when using CBD for sleep problems or any other issue is to start low and go slow.
That said, at low doses, CBD can actually help your body stay alert and focused, which is useful during the daytime but may become an unwanted side effect when it’s time to fall asleep. If you are using CBD for stress and sleep support, you may actually need more – not less – CBD to achieve the desired sleep effect. As you work to find the right dose of CBD for sleep for you, you can increase or decrease the dose each night as needed based on how you slept the night before. Looking for products that also contain CBN, another non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in broad-spectrum CBD oil, can help as well, as CBN is a marker of products that have sedative properties.
The good news is that you cannot overdose on CBD, and very few people experience side effects when taking CBD, especially if the CBD oil they have bought is full spectrum or broad spectrum and comes with third-party lab tests. But, in terms of CBD oil for sleep, occasionally, some people report feeling energized instead of sleepy for the reasons discussed above, or they experience some minor stomach upset. Overall, though, CBD has an excellent safety record that has been acknowledged by the World Health Organization. In short, CBD can help you sleep but the key is to take enough CBD to help you sleep instead of waking you up, and to use a full or broad spectrum hemp product that also contains other sleep-supporting compounds such as CBN and terpenes like linalool and myrcene.
When to take CBD Oil for Sleep
For those wondering when to take CBD oil for sleep, it’s a good idea to take CBD an hour or so before going to bed to maximize its benefits. It is also worth noting that the right dose of CBD for sleep for your body can change over time. If you find your regular dose is no longer working, you can take more and/or take a break for a few days to reset your body’s response to the supplement.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a healthy night’s rest, we think you’ll love our SHEbd CBD-rich Broad Spectrum Hemp Oil products, which were developed specifically to help women sleep better, including our CBD oil and softgels. All of our CBD products are extracted from 100% organically sun-grown hemp, with 0.0% THC. Check out our online shop or, if you have any questions, leave a comment below or drop our customer service team a line. We’d love to hear from you!
Experts Consulted
The Knox Docs, Certified Cannabinoid Medicine Specialists
