CBD for Insomnia: Can It Help?

Insomnia is a bigger problem than many may think. Can you believe that about 10% of American adults grapple with insomnia at least thrice per week? This means that they have difficulty falling asleep or remaining asleep. Although some of those who have the problem indicate that it is just a temporary issue, for others it is a chronic problem that negatively impacts their day-to-day life.

Good sleep is not only for optimal performance in one's duties but is also critical for the proper functionality of the immune system. It also enables one to have stable moods and high energy levels as well as motivation and better overall health.

Those suffering from insomnia have had to rely on sleeping pills which are addictive and have a hoard of negative effects such as dizziness or grogginess during the day, among others. On the other hand, anecdotal evidence supports the use of CBD to deal with somnolence (sleepiness) with no adverse effects having been observed.

CBD’s help in sleep-related issues

Cannabidiol (CBD) is among the main cannabinoids found in cannabis. Cannabinoids work in the body by interacting with the endocannabinoid system, which enables the body to maintain a balanced or stable state (homeostasis). CBD does not make users "high" like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Instead, it has many health benefits including pain relief, reducing seizures in epileptic people, and helping cancer patients to manage the symptoms.

According to some studies and anecdotal evidence, there are suggestions that CBD can assist in giving the user a nourishing night’s sleep. Here are some ways in which CBD helps to deal with sleep problems:

Relieving pain

Some people experience sleeplessness due to acute or chronic pain. Such people can find a good solution from CBD, which can substitute pharmaceutical drugs for pain. CBD works on the symptoms to reduce pain-induced sleeplessness but does not provide a sedative effect like the majority of sleep-aids do. For quality CBD products to help you with pain-induced insomnia as well other issues, you can buy Berkshire CBD buds here.

According to a review in 2018 in Frontiers in Pharmacology, it was observed that there is a substantial amount of evidence to support that CBD relieves pain. The authors noted that given that CBD can reduce chronic pain, it can also enhance sleep.

Reducing anxiety

Anxiety and stress are common causes of insomnia. Those suffering insomnia due to anxiety can rely on CBD, which helps to regulate cortisol, a stress hormone with a significant impact on non-REM (rapid eye movement) sleep cycles.

Research published in 2019 sought to investigate whether CBD could help with improved sleep or lowering anxiety. The study analyzed 72 subjects, 45 of whom had anxiety problems and 25 who were experiencing poor sleeping patterns. Each participant received a 25mg CBD capsule every day. The results in the first month were that 79.2% of the patients reported reduced levels of anxiety and 66.7% indicated that they had better sleep.

Relief from somnolence

CBD has been observed to have a dual effect that is dependent on the individual and the time of administering it. The reason for this is that it helps to regulate the sleep and wake cycles of the human body. The effect is the promotion of alertness during the day and relaxation or sleepiness at night. The ability to fall asleep at night and the level of productivity during the day are heavily affected by insomnia, somnolence, or daytime sleepiness. Taking CBD during the daytime can help to promote attentiveness and lead to a more restful night’s sleep.

Relaxing muscles

Studies have shown great potential for CBD in treating movement disorders and assisting in easing tremors and hypermotility for those with Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease patients can get sleep (overcome insomnia) thanks to reduced muscle tremors when using CBD.

CBD can help to deal with insomnia in other ways such as relieving anxiety related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For CBD to help with insomnia, the patients should first find out what works best for them since each person is different. It is critical to experiment because CBD can have different effects depending on the dosage, time of administering, and individual’s body chemistry. It is recommended from the studies to use CBD for short-term sleep problems because the effect may significantly reduce with time. It is also advisable to seek a doctor’s direction before using CBD if one is pregnant or is on other medications.