CBD as a Sleep Aid

CBD as a Sleep Aid; A good night’s sleep is essential to your overall health and wellbeing. Experts recommend adults sleep seven to nine hours¹ each night. Proper sleep ensures you feel well-rested and have energy for the next day². A good night’s rest also contributes to memory formation, helps grow and repair muscle and tissue, and prevents sickness. Unfortunately, falling asleep or staying asleep can be difficult for certain types of sleepers. As many as 70% of Americans³ report not sleeping the recommended hours, and nearly one-third of American workers sleep less than six hours per night⁴. Solutions for better sleep and avoiding sleep debt vary. Possible approaches include improved sleep hygiene, prescription sleep aids, and natural sleep aids. One increasingly popular strategy for sleeping better is taking cannabidiol (CBD), a derivative of cannabis. CBD is commonly used to improve sleep and decrease anxiety.

About Cannabis and Cannabinoids

While there are many different slang terms for the green, narrow-leafed plant you may recognize, the plant is scientifically called Cannabis sativa⁵. The word “cannabis” can be used to describe any products made from the plant. Cannabis plants contain multiple chemical compounds, including a group referred to as “cannabinoids.” Out of more than 100 cannabinoids, researchers have primarily studied two that appear to have the greatest impact on humans: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD.  

What Is Cannabidiol (CBD)?

CBD, the other commonly known cannabinoid, can be legally sold in the U.S. when extracted from hemp⁸ and marketed according to relevant regulations. CBD does not have psychoactive properties⁹ and does not bring about the same effects as THC. Also, CBD does not have effects that would lead to potential dependency¹⁰ or risk of abuse.  

What Are the Effects of Taking CBD?

Research shows that CBD has a calming effect on the nervous system²⁰. CBD can also alter mood because it affects the serotonin system. Outcomes vary among people and depend on the product type and dose. Unlike THC, CBD does not induce a feeling of being “high.” Even large doses of CBD do not produce THC-like effects. Additionally, a few studies have demonstrated that CBD reduces the psychoactive effects of THC.  

What Health Conditions Can CBD Help With?

So far, CBD’s effectiveness in the treatment of epilepsy is well-supported by research. Other early research suggests that CBD may also help treat schizophrenia and substance use disorders. Preliminary research suggests CBD can help with a number of sleep disorders, including insomnia²² REM sleep behavior disorder²³, and excessive daytime sleepiness disorder²⁴. Additional preliminary research suggests CBD can also help patients improve sleep and reduce anxiety.

Anxiety and CBD

While not a sleep disorder itself, anxiety can contribute to poor quality sleep, insufficient sleep, and sleep disorders. Because CBD calms the nervous system, early research indicates that CBD can be used to treat anxiety-related disorders. One study showed that nearly 80% of participants who used CBD to treat their anxiety reported lower anxiety levels within a month. Sleep initially improved in more than 65% percent of participants, followed by fluctuating results.

Insomnia and CBD

People who suffer from insomnia experience difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep²⁵ at night. This disorder affects daytime wakefulness, ability to concentrate, and mood. Because of their history of poor sleep, people with insomnia may suffer from anxiety about getting inadequate sleep, which can then increase sleeplessness at night²⁶. Given the potential positive outcomes of CBD treating anxiety, it is speculated that CBD may also help reduce the anxiety associated with insomnia. Additionally, a new pilot study²⁷ of CBD and THC use in humans with physician-diagnosed insomnia is underway. The results of the study will offer more insight into the effects CBD has on insomnia.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and CBD

In REM sleep behavior disorder, patients verbalize and make aggressive movements²⁸ during their rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep. The disorder is most common in older patients with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. In a limited study of four patients with Parkinson’s disease, CBD helped manage the REM sleep behavior disorder symptoms. Before taking CBD, the patients experienced disorder symptoms 2–7 times per week. After taking CBD, the symptoms occurred 0–1 times in a week. Further studies are necessary, but these initial results suggest CBD as a possible treatment for REM sleep behavior disorder.