Trying to catch up on sleep shouldn't keep you up at night. Luckily, our friends and family tell us that Dad Grass is great before hitting the hay (because there's only so much tea we can drink).
Why Do I Have Trouble Sleeping?
According to Science Daily, 1-in-4 Americans develop insomnia each year. Beyond diagnosed sleep disorders, the CDC tells us that 70 million Americans struggle with general sleep due to complications with “injuries, chronic diseases, mental illnesses, poor quality of life and well-being, increased health care costs, and lost work productivity.” Beyond that - stress, anxiety, inconsistent sleep schedules, exercising too late at night and exposing yourself to too much blue light and caffeine can all contribute to poor sleep. While it’s always best to consult with a licensed professional if you have been diagnosed with a sleep disorder, CBD has been suggested to have positive effects on restful sleep and has been proven to relieve the negative effects of stress and anxiety.
The Negative Side Effects of Sleep Deprivation
We know that insomnia and sleep disorders are common enough, and if you’ve ever spent a night tossing and turning, you already know some of the negative symptoms of missing a good night’s rest. Beyond feeling groggy upon waking or unproductive after a restless night’s sleep, the long-term effects of sleep deprivation can have severe adverse effects on the body including memory loss, mood changes, weakened immune systems, high blood pressure and more. While CBD products alone won’t drastically change your sleeping habits; when integrated into a more mindful lifestyle that includes a structured sleep schedule, regular exercise and streamlined diet, the best CBD sleep products have been proven to help restful sleep and ease the negative effects of sleep deprivation.
Plants Over Pills: Why Sleeping Pills Can do More Harm Than Good
Common sleeping pills offer a fast way to fall asleep, but often cause more long term harm to people looking for help. Over-the-counter sleep aids often contain sedating antihistamines and, while they do get you to fall asleep, they often induce somewhat debilitating next day drowsiness. Some prescription drugs have potentially addictive and toxic properties that could also make you feel drowsy (which may lead to reduced alertness, cognitive confusion or memory impairment). The main thing to remember is that sleeping pills, whether over-the-counter or prescribed, offer a fast and easy way to fall asleep, but will often be more harmful in the long run. CBD for sleep is a longer commitment and does require more mindfulness and more holistic life shifts, but will have more positive effects year over year. Cannabis-based products that aid in restful sleep include CBD oil or smokable flower, and often contain cannabinol, or, CBN. This cannabinoid is known to offer relaxing, sleepy properties.
Top 5 Products for Sleep in 2021
Dad Grass Flower, Tincture, & Joints
- CBD Joints: Pre rolled joints are still the most effective way to feel the full range of benefits from CBD and have the quickest onset. For those struggling with insomnia, taking a puff (or two) from a high quality pre rolled joint rich in CBD may ease symptoms of sleep disorders.
- CBD Flower: Like joints, consuming loose CBD flower in joints, pipes, bongs, whatever will provide the fastest and purest effects from CBD. By diminishing the stress, anxiety and pain, it helps us fall asleep (and stay asleep) without making us groggy in the morning.
- CBD+CBN Tincture: CBD tinctures and CBD+CBN tinctures have shown promise as a natural treatment for sleep disorders. This is because CBD has a natural ability to act positively on the brain’s receptors for serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates your mood.
- Chamomile Tea: Chamomile is an ancient ayurvedic remedy that has been used for centuries to fight insomnia while providing a wide range of holistic health benefits.
- Melatonin: A naturally occurring hormone that is produced in the pineal gland in the brain, melatonin is thought to play an integral role in regulating sleep and circadian rhythm, which is why synthetic melatonin is a common, natural sleep supplement that has additional benefits like being rich in antioxidants.
What is CBN?
In addition to CBD, CBN is a cannabinoid that is getting a lot of attention for its effects on sleep. If cannabinoids were like the 7 Dwarfs, CBD would be Doc, CBG would be Happy, THC would be Dopey, and CBN would be… you guessed it. Sleepy. Read more about what is CBN.
A Quick Checklist for Buying CBD Oil for Sleep
Buying CBD for sleep shouldn’t keep you up at night. When selecting CBD products for sleep, it’s important to be mindful. Start with identifying a quality company before digging into particular strains. As a consumer, it’s important to keep in mind where the company sources its hemp or marijuana, treats and delivers your desired CBD oil for sleep to your door. Make sure the company is testing their hemp thoroughly in partnership with accredited third-party labs. Basically, transparency is key. You don’t want any secrets when it comes to your CBD oil before you hit the hay.
When it comes to the best CBD oil, the first thing you should pay attention to is potency. This usually presents itself as a percentage on the tincture bottle and will let you know the strength of the oil and will disclose additional cannabinoids. You should also be able to see if their products are validated by third-party lab reports to verify that percentage, along with any additional cannabinoids present. If you’re exploring CBD products for sleep, it’s very important to consider the oil’s effect, because the last thing you want to do is bounce off the walls when you’re trying to catch some z’s.
A Final Note on Using CBD Oil for Sleep
Dad Grass Classic Formula CBD Tincture
Lack of sleep can have incredibly adverse effects in the short term and over a lifetime. Sleep deprivation can lead to increased levels of stress and anxiety, lack of concentration, memory loss, mental health disorders and the treatment of sleep disorders can be just as stressful as not being able to fall asleep. CBD oil and products are suggested to relieve many of the causes of sleep deprivation like stress, anxiety and pain; ease daytime symptoms of lack of sleep and relieve grogginess. Keep in mind the high quality CBD will result in higher quality sleep and an overall safer and streamlined experience.
FAQ
CBD For Sleep: How it Works
Medical News Today wrote in June, 2020 on a recent study that “researchers found that cortisol levels decreased more significantly when participants took 300 or 600 mg of CBD oil. These results suggest that CBD affects the release of cortisol, possibly acting as a sedative.” The study found that, compared with a placebo, a 160 mg dose of CBD increased sleep duration. It is suggested that CBD products lowered cortisol (the stress hormone) levels, which increased the time and quality of sleep. People with insomnia have high levels of cortisol in the evening, whereas the majority of the population who don’t struggle with sleep tend to have those amounts of cortisol in the morning.
How Much CBD Should I Take To Help With Sleep?
The majority of clinical trials that research CBD and sleep have involved giving subjects between 25 mg to 1,500 mg of CBD per day. Everybody’s bodies are different, so when using CBD oil for sleep, it’s best to start with the smallest dose available and work with your body to find your perfect dose.
Is It Bad To Take CBD For Sleep?
In a nutshell, no. According to Medical News Today, all available evidence and research suggests that CBD, used at any time of day, is well-tolerated and has never caused overdose or addiction. It’s true that some people have experienced negative side effects like fatigue and grogginess the next morning, but all reports have been characterized as tolerable and have been connected with incorrect doses.
How Many Hours Before Bed Should You Take CBD?
Depending on the type of CBD product you’re using for sleep, joints, tincture, gummy, etc., timing varies because of the way your body metabolizes the CBD. Flowers and joints are the fastest and most effective way to feel the effects of CBD, and usually kick in between five to ten minutes. CBD gummies take between fifteen and forty-five minutes to begin easing you into sleep. CBD oil and tinctures begin taking effect within half an hour to two hours (again, everybody’s bodies are different, and it’s best to begin with the smallest dosage and perfect your own routine over a few nights).
Is CBN Legal?
As long as the CBN you are consuming is hemp derived and contains less than 0.3% THC, it is considered federally legal thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill that officially decoupled Hemp and Marijuana.