We all experience sleep problems at some points in our lives, whether it’s due to stress, lack of time, or something else. In such cases, CBD oil is a popular alternative to prescription medication because it’s safe, natural, and doesn’t cause any side effects.
That’s why many people in Australia and other countries are turning to this non-intoxicating supplement to help with insomnia and many other health issues.
In this article, we’ll talk about how CBD can help you get a good night’s sleep and explain the best way to use it.
Treating The Cause
Unlike most pharmaceutical drugs, which work by making you sedated, research suggests that CBD works by treating the underlying cause of poor sleep.
Common causes of insomnia and other sleep difficulties include:
- Stress, anxiety, and depression
- Caffeine intake
- Pain, soreness, and restlessness
- Environmental factors, such as loud noise
- Sleep cycle issues
While CBD is not a cure-all and you can’t expect it to solve all your problems, it can help with many of these causes of poor sleep.
Most notably, there’s strong evidence that CBD reduces anxiety, one of the most common reasons we are unable to fall and stay asleep.
In one 2019 study of people with anxiety and sleep issues, 79% reported reduced anxiety and 67% improved sleep after taking CBD for a month. CBD might also have antidepressant properties.
Furthermore, there’s evidence that CBD and other cannabinoids can relieve pain. Since pain and soreness from exercise, injuries, or a health condition can keep you awake at night, this is another way that CBD can help you get better sleep.
CBD may also help the body maintain a healthy sleep cycle. For example, a 2014 study found that CBD improved the symptoms of REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD), a condition that causes abnormal REM sleep.
Finally, there’s some early evidence that CBD can relieve restless leg syndrome (RLS), which causes an urge to move your legs at nighttime and makes it difficult to fall asleep.
CBD vs. Sleeping Pills
Unlike standard sleep medications, CBD is a safe, natural compound that works by treating the underlying cause of sleeplessness.
That’s great because you can take it indefinitely without having to worry about side effects. You can also stop taking CBD once it helps you get the underlying issue under control.
In comparison, prescription sleeping pills are synthetic drugs that simply make you more sleepy rather than dealing with the root cause of your sleep problems.
They come with significant side effects such as excessive daytime drowsiness and can also make your sleep worse if taken too frequently.
How To Use CBD for Sleep
If you want to try using CBD to improve your sleep, it’s best to take it about half an hour before bedtime. This will give enough time for absorption so that CBD’s effects kick in by the time you’re trying to fall asleep.
Although there are many CBD products you can take, CBD oil is the most popular and efficient option. In particular, it’s best to use tinctures made from whole-plant hemp extract. Such full-spectrum CBD oils contain all of hemp’s cannabinoids, terpenes, and other beneficial compounds, which means they’re more effective than pure CBD on its own.
To use CBD oil, simply place as many drops as needed under your tongue and hold for 60 seconds to let the CBD absorb before swallowing. If you’re new, it’s best to start with one or a few drops and gradually increase the dose over time until you begin to experience the desired effect.
Summing Up
In short, there is growing evidence that CBD is an effective way to improve your sleep. CBD oil is an increasingly popular alternative to sleeping pills because it’s safe, natural, and can be taken long-term.
The most straightforward, effective way to use CBD to aid your sleep is to take a full-spectrum CBD oil about 30 minutes before bed.
As one final note, it’s important to remember that CBD is not a magic pill. It’s always best to use it as an addition, rather than a replacement for healthy lifestyle choices such as regular exercise and not drinking coffee past noon.
