One of the most important things you can do for your health and well-being is to get plenty of sleep. Many people ignore their body’s needs and constantly find themselves under-rested. They stay up late, either burning the candle at both ends for work or they overdo it, hitting the clubs or gaming all night. Sometimes, people want to rest, but they’ve created circumstances that make it difficult for their bodies to reach a restful state. This can happen for a number of reasons, from late-night snacking to too much screen time. And some people have serious health issues that can prevent them from sleeping, such as sleep apnea. Whatever the reason, there are millions of Americans who aren’t getting enough sleep, and it’s eating away at their health.
Today, I’d like to talk about the benefits of a good night’s sleep, as well as some of the things that keep us from sleeping. And then, I’d like to talk about some natural solutions, including the potential of CBD as a sleep aid.
The Benefits of Sleep
While you sleep, your body goes into overdrive, restoring and repairing itself. Vital functions are restored and toxins are removed from the body. Your brain sorts memories and files them away in the proper sections of your mind. Your pituitary gland releases growth hormones to help repair your body. And your cortisol levels drop, giving your body a chance to relax, free of its “fight or flight” response. Basically, your body renews itself so that it can function properly the next day.
The proper amount of sleep varies, depending on age. According to the CDC, adults need at least seven hours of sleep every night. Older adults need even more. Unfortunately, one-third of all Americans don’t get their recommended amount of sleep. That means a third of us aren’t getting all of those benefits that help keep a body running the way it should. Over time, sleep deprivation can become a serious issue. It can affect memory and mood, as well as cause high blood pressure, raise the risk of heart disease, and other serious issues.
What Is Insomnia?
The term insomnia refers to the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. This condition can be short term, lasting from a single night to a few weeks. This is called acute insomnia. Chronic insomnia refers to more long-term sleeplessness, typically lasting longer than three months. Some symptoms include fatigue, grouchiness, and lapses in memory or concentration.
If you’ve been losing the battle with insomnia, you don’t necessarily have to go straight to pharmaceutical sleep aids. In fact, you should try to find a natural solution. Many sleeping pills are actually harmful to your health. They’re not always effective and some come with health risks. Before you resort to sleeping pills, you should consider some natural solutions to help you sleep better. When treating insomnia, I always recommend trying to restore your body’s natural sleep cycle prior to taking sleep aids.
Natural Ways to Prevent Insomnia
The first thing you should do, if you’re having sleepless nights, is take stock of your own activity leading up to bedtime. There are several common things that people do which prevent sleep and lead to insomnia. These include too much screen time, caffeine intake, eating a heavy meal late in the evening, and exercising too close to bedtime. Exercise, in general, is great for sleep. But too close to bedtime, it works up your body temperature and endorphin levels, making it difficult to nod off.
You also need to set the right environment for sleep, with a cool, dark, quiet room. Research has shown that the ideal temperature for sleep is between 60 and 67 degrees. Temperature can affect our circadian rhythm, the pattern our mind and body sets itself to for sleep. By making the room cool and dark, you’re telling your body that it’s time for sleep.
It also helps to calm the mind before bed. This is often easier said than done, but a busy and stressed mind is difficult to settle down for sleep. Many people turn to meditation and visualization exercises to help them to clear the stressful thoughts of the day.
How Can CBD Help With Sleep?
If you do require a sleep aid, I recommend going the natural route. That’s where CBD comes in. CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of a group of chemical compounds, called cannabinoids, that are found in the cannabis plant. Yes, cannabis can refer to marijuana. But I’m talking about the low-THC version of the cannabis plant, called hemp. Hemp-derived CBD products can be quite effective in putting the body in a more restful state, preparing it for sleep.
CBD, like every cannabinoid, has an interesting effect on the body’s endocannabinoid system. This is the system that helps the body’s other systems maintain homeostasis, or balance. This affects a number of crucial functions, including sleep. The body creates its own endocannabinoids, which bind to receptors and send signals to the nervous system to operate as it should. CBD and other cannabinoids signal to these same receptors to do the same.
CBD is often combined with another cannabinoid, called CBN (cannabinol), which is especially effective in making the body restful. For this reason, CBN is referred to as the “ultimate relaxation cannabinoid.” Products, such as a CBD + CBN Night Capsules, make use of both of these cannabinoids and the Entourage Effect, which is the phenomenon wherein multiple cannabinoids used together boost each other’s effectiveness. Together, CBD and CBN can help the body enter a relaxed state, making it easier to fall asleep and sleep soundly through the night.
CBD is also sometimes combined with melatonin, as in CBD Gummies with Melatonin for Sleep. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland, and is tied to the body’s sleep-wake cycle. Taken together with CBD and other restful ingredients, such as sleep terpenes, magnesium, chamomile and lemon balm, it is an effective and natural sleep aid.
There are products that contain CBD, CBN, and melatonin, including CBDfx’s CBD Oil Sleep Tincture. This tincture is one of the most effective natural sleep aids I’ve seen. The cannabinoids complement the melatonin in such a way that you really do feel deeply sleepy and can get through the night without waking up again and again. I think a big advantage of this oil, aside from being organic and all natural, is that you don’t wake up with that groggy hangover feeling you get from some sleep aids. It’s just a healthy, natural way to get your full night of rest.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which your breathing stops and starts repeatedly while you sleep. Because it essentially cuts the flow of oxygen, sleep apnea can have serious detrimental effects on the body.
I can’t recommend CBD for a condition like sleep apnea, legally. The CDC has very strict rules on what you can and can’t say about chemicals and products that have not been approved for medicinal use. I can tell you that people have tried CBD for sleep apnea and there have been some positive reports on its usage for this purpose. The theory behind using CBD for sleep apnea is that it relaxes the body while you sleep, which in turn allows your airway to relax and your breathing to improve. Before you attempt to use CBD for sleep apnea, I highly recommend speaking to your physician first. I cannot stress this enough: DO NOT attempt to treat sleep apnea without consulting your doctor. Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition and if you think you may have it, make an appointment right away!
A Few Final Words on the Benefits of Using CBD for Sleep
One of the most important things we can do for our bodies is to give them proper rest on a daily basis. There are several things that can get in the way of a good night’s sleep: some of our own making and some that are out of our control. If you suffer from insomnia, it’s important to find a solution — preferably a natural one. I’ve mentioned some tips to try to help you get into a more restful state of mind before bed. And if you need a sleep aid to help you fall asleep (and sleep soundly), I recommend trying a natural supplement before you resort to trying sleeping pills. CBD is a great tool that can help you fight insomnia safely and effectively. I hope it can help you on your journey to better health.
Need to relax? Try our CBD + CBN Oil Calming Tincture!
