How CBD Could Revolutionize the Way You Sleep

CBD’s popularity is taking off…and it’s about time.  The compound has so much potential to help so many people, we’re almost surprised it didn’t enter the mainstream any earlier! 

Research has hinted that CBD may be good for inflammation, immunity, freedom of movement, and sleep. 

Do these health problems sound familiar to you? If not, perhaps they should — they’re all signs (and symptoms) of poor regeneration.  

Since CBD’s benefits have come to light, scientists have been busy trying to find a theory of everything, if you will, for how cannabidiol works. CBD “balances the endocannabinoid system,” they may say…or “it promotes homeostasis.” 

Both those things are true. But could there be something more to the story?

Probably so. In order for one’s body to regenerate quickly, one has to ‘think’ fast. Internal communication needs to be optimal in order for each biological system to govern itself, and internal synchronization needs to be at its peak. 

This is where something called the endocannabinoid system (ECS) comes into play. The ECS does more than just promote a generalized form of balance or homeostasis. It actually increases the body’s ability to communicate with itself, paving the way for regeneration to happen more quickly and efficiently than ever. 

There’s an overarching concept at play here, one seen in the sleep study mentioned earlier: the endocannabinoid system wants us to regenerate by getting good sleep…so it responds to the stress of sleep deprivation in hopes of encouraging improvement. 

The endocannabinoid system also regulates sleep stability, helping entrain one’s sleep cycles to those of the sun. Anecdotally speaking, many people who use CBD report sleeping better and dreaming more. And this study confirms a ‘flipside’ effect: that cannabinoids reduce PTSD-caused nightmares. 

Keep in mind that these qualities go back to CBD’s ability to improve endocannabinoid health. By supplementing the endocannabinoid system, CBD may help it promote fast regeneration. And that means CBD may also help with — you guessed it — sleep. 

There’s another way CBD could help you sleep better…and this one has to do with how you feel. CBD may boost endocannabinoid levels. For those unfamiliar, endocannabinoids are a major part of the endocannabinoid system. They’re its messengers. 

Discovered in the early 90s, endocannabinoids play a role in seemingly everything. Well, not everything — but they sure do influence sleep. More specifically, anandamide causes feelings of happiness and bliss. It’s translated name, ‘the bliss molecule’, reflects exactly that.

If anandamide corresponds to bliss, so does CBD. CBD binds to endocannabinoid receptors like anandamide does — just more gently. More anandamide = more bliss = better sleep, at least in theory. 

The implications of all this are only just now being demonstrated in human research. A 2019 study describes what we know so far:

• High-dose CBD increases the duration of sleep (1)
• Cortisol levels decrease with CBD intake, causing a “sedative” effect (2)
• High-dose CBD is more sedating than low-dose CBD (3) 

If you’d like to sleep better with CBD, the research is clear. Opt for a slightly higher dose than normal, a few hours before bed.

CBD & CIRCADIAN RHYTHM

Often the most tangible thing new CBD users experience is better sleep.

That’s especially impressive considering CBD doesn’t affect sleep in the ways we’ve come to expect from more conventional sleep aids.  Take melatonin during the day at your own risk: it’ll override other circadian cues and signal to your body that it’s time for some zzzzz’s.

Pharmaceutical-grade sleep medication is usually worse. Among the mildly depressing options are Klonopin, an anti-anxiety drug that will probably eliminate your sleep problems…and your emotions. 

CBD, on the other hand, can be safely taken during the day without instilling in users the drowsiness they only seek at night. 

Why do the compound’s effects vary depending on the time of day? Excellent question. Our bodies don’t use minutes and seconds to tell time. They use light. And the endocannabinoid system —  like nearly every biological system we have — is naturally ‘tied to’ the timekeeping of the sun. 

• A healthy endocannabinoid system is a photo entrained to the sun. According to cannabinoid expert Dr. Di Marzio, the ECS  helps us“relax, eat, sleep, forget and protect.” Endocannabinoid levels vary naturally throughout the 24 hour day, and they may well help signal to the body when it’s sleepy time. 

Example: ECB’s are high in the morning when adaptation to waking life is most needed and they are lower in the evening when it’s time to wind down and be still.

• A healthy ECS fosters wakefulness during the day…and just the right level of sleepiness at night. How? Endocannabinoid tone appears to impact the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which is often called the mind’s ‘internal clock’ because it directly oversees sleep hormone secretion. 

• Many people have dysregulated endocannabinoid systems…and dysregulated sleep. While the endocannabinoid system can deal with sleep deprivation for a while, it even starts breaking down eventually. Clinical Endocannabinoid deficiency syndrome often results. CECDS, in turn, may cause a whole host of other problems…compounding existing sleep problems. 

• Good news: restored endocannabinoid tone = better and deeper sleep! This may include greater amounts of restorative REM sleep, better dreams, and even more refreshment upon waking. 

Correct your hormonal state, and your sleep quality should follow! Low levels of the hormone GABA have already been implicated in sleep problems and insomnia; conversely, optimizing GABA usually means sleep will flourish. Hacking sleep hormones could be as simple as…sleeping enough. Who knew!? 

It’s true: if you want to boost your endocannabinoid system…boost your sleep. Get your 8 hours a night, which is what most people seem to need. Crunched for time? Try polyphasic sleep.  

A body whose circadian rhythm is in sync with the sun will also be in sync with itself — fully able to harness its internal strength. 

ACTION STEPS

So, how should CBD be used to improve your sleep quality? By taking it consistently, of course!

Also, it’s important to know that CBD dosing is important. The difference between 5 and 10 milligrams of the compound could be the difference between radically improved sleep and no changes at all. 

CBD’s effects are biphasic — in other words, the compound behaves differently depending on how much you take. While 5 milligrams could make you feel energized, 20 mg could be slightly sedating. 

The good news is that CBD’s dose-response curve can be ‘hacked’ to improve your sleep. There’s one thing you should know first, however: your ideal dose. Let’s say that you start feeling best on 30 milligrams of CBD oil per day. 

Once you know this, you can then overstep that 30 mg’s by just a little bit. By taking just a little more CBD than your body actually needs, you’ll have a good chance of experiencing one of the compound’s few side effects: drowsiness. 

One more way CBD could help you sleep better? By reducing those stubborn aches and sore spots. A recent survey by Project CBD found that CBD oil was “remarkably good” at improving the moods of those with chronic pain or PTSD. People who take CBD also tend to sleep better — this effect, too, probably goes back to mood improvements.

Experience CBD’s most sleep-friendly effects for yourself by trying our premium CBD-rich Softgels with Melatonin or other top-rated CBD Sleep products. Pairing CBD with Melatonin is a match made in heaven, specifically targeted for people who could benefit from better sleep — a good night’s rest.  Our premium CBD products have already helped countless customers sleep better than they have in years. Ordering is convenient, too. We offer local delivery, curbside pickup and free shipping options within the U.S. Virgin Islands, and free shipping to any part of the United States. Visit us online to place an order, visit our FAQ page or call us with any questions.

That’s it for now, Take Care!