CBD Oil for Sleep and Insomnia. Does it Work?

Cannabis is becoming increasingly valued for its therapeutic properties as new research continues to emerge. The cannabinoids within the cannabis plant all offer different medicinal effects, with THC and CBD being the most heavily studied. CBD in particular is known for producing a range of therapeutic benefits without the intoxication that comes with THC use. Many people are finding CBD oil for sleep aid to be a natural alternative to prescription sleeping pills.

CBD from hemp is commonly used to treat symptoms from many disorders such as multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and epilepsy. In addition, using CBD oil for insomnia is becoming more and more popular due to its relaxing and sedative effects, which makes it a promising alternative treatment for sleep disorders.

Furthermore, evidence shows that combining CBD with other natural remedies such as chamomile tea and melatonin can really enhance a good night’s sleep.

CBD Oil For Sleep and Insomnia

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is estimated to affect up to 10% of the adult population. Insomnia is defined as having difficulty falling and staying asleep for at least three nights per week, over a period of three or more months.

There are various medications designed to treat insomnia, but they often come with unpleasant side effects. For this reason, many clinicians recommend taking a non-pharmacological approach to treating insomnia before resorting to medication. If you are suffering from insomnia, then CBD hemp oil could be a great option to try.

One study has shown that CBD use triggers marked improvements in overall sleep quality. The patients reported minimal side effects from taking CBD oil for insomnia, and most of them enjoyed experimenting with a natural treatment solution rather than taking the medication route. Even though it’s only one example of CBD benefiting insomniacs, it strongly suggests that CBD could be a beneficial alternative to traditional sleep medications.

Underlying Issues Causing Insomnia

CBD could be quite useful for dealing with comorbidity (the simultaneous presence of two chronic diseases or conditions). It is fairly common for depression and anxiety to accompany bouts of insomnia, and vice versa. Hemp-derived CBD could potentially be used to treat all of these conditions at once.

CBD has well-documented anxiety-reducing effects, and it also helps the brain regulate serotonin levels, which is important when dealing with depression. Given all of its therapeutic benefits, it would be very convenient to not have to worry about managing different medications to treat different disorders, and instead use hemp-derived CBD as a potential all-purpose treatment method. 

How Much CBD Oil Should You Take for Insomnia?

Interestingly, CBD has shown to be a stimulant at low doses; while the sedative effects of CBD are mostly present at larger doses. As is common with most anxiety relievers, sedatives, and anticonvulsants, CBD generates its therapeutic effects by decreasing activation of the central nervous system, making the user less alert. 

Furthermore, higher doses of CBD have been shown to significantly reduce the pulse rate when combined with small amounts of THC. Not only does this relaxing quality make it easier to fall asleep, but it can also be instrumental in treating panic and anxiety disorders. In fact, evidence has suggested that CBD’s sedative effects are mostly due to a reduction in anxiety.

Visit our free online CBD Dosage Calculator for a good starting point on finding the right CBD dose.

Lastly, there is the issue of absorption, bioavailability and how long the CBD will last in your system. For instance, CBD capsules will take longer to “kick-in” but they will also last longer in your system than taking CBD through a tincture.

More Research Needed for Using CBD Oil for Sleep

Even though there is much evidence to suggest that taking CBD oil for insomnia and sleep issues can be very helpful, research on this topic is still relatively new. There are even studies that disprove CBD’s role in affecting sleep, so it’s clear that more research needs to be done before a conclusive answer is reached. 

It is also unclear whether or not CBD alone responsible for its sleep-promoting qualities. There are terpenes in hemp, such as myrcene, that are known to be sedative, and CBD’s sedative effects often intermingle with those of THC in a cannabis product. For now, it seems that CBD can have great potential as a sleeping aid, but it remains to be seen if it has this quality in isolation. 

All Tessera Naturals products are made with a broad spectrum hemp extract. Evidence suggests that consuming a full spectrum or broad spectrum CBD products is more effective overall than consuming a CBD isolate due to the “entourage effect“.

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Key Takeaways

• CBD can be used as a stimulant at low doses, and a sedative at high doses.
• CBD has a number of sedative, anxiety-reducing, and anticonvulsant effects that can all potentially aid in falling asleep.
• CBD has potential as a treatment method for comorbidity – that is, it could be used to treat two or more diseases/conditions that are suffered at the same time.
• There has been limited research on CBD’s impact on sleep. More studies need to be conducted in order to find out if CBD can have an effect in isolation.
• The entourage effect has been shown to aid in the effectiveness of taking CBD oil for insomnia.
• Combining CBD with melatonin can be an effective sleep aid.