One night spent tossing and turning is bad enough, but imagine night after night of that. Unable to fall asleep, unable to stay asleep; just a constant restlessness no matter what you’ve tried or how tired you are. After enough nights like that, it’s only natural to wonder if perhaps using CBD for insomnia could provide the sleep you’re so desperate to achieve.
Leah Campbell
Published January 22, 2021
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What is Insomnia?
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) describes insomnia as a common sleep disorder marked by trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, and getting good quality sleep. This could be a short-term condition precipitated by stress or changes in your schedule and environment, or it could be a chronic condition lasting for months on end. What’s worse, insomnia doesn’t just impact your ability to get a good night’s sleep. That lack of sleep can also alter your memory, interfere with your ability to concentrate, and increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer 1 Insomnia Insomnia | NHLBI, NIH. (2021). Retrieved 13 January 2021, from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/insomnia NHLBI, NIH.
Does CBD for Insomnia Work?
It’s easy to find anecdotal evidence of CBD helping patients with sleep disorders—because cannabidiol acts without the psychoactive components of THC, patients are generally more willing to try it and often report positive results. But the scientific research we have in this area is promising as well, with several studies suggesting CBD could be a viable treatment option for patients struggling with sleep.
In 2019, researchers looked at the potential benefits of CBD for treating anxiety and sleep disturbances. This study included 72 participants with pre-existing anxiety concerns. The patients were each given 25 mg of CBD every day. Patients who complained most about anxiety took CBD capsules in the morning, while those who struggled more with sleep took their dose in the evening. Within the first month of the study, 57 patients reported decreased anxiety, and 48 reported an improvement in sleep 4 ). Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series Shannon, S., Lewis, N., Lee, H., & Hughes, S. (2019). Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. The Permanente journal, 23, 18–041. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18-041 Shannon, S., Lewis, N., Lee, H., & Hughes, S.
It’s important to remember that not all CBD brands are created equal. Do your research and make sure you are purchasing from a reputable company with solid reviews and a commitment to producing quality products before to choosing the best CBD for insomnia product for you.
You should also pay attention to what type of CBD you are purchasing. For instance, full spectrum products, may contain trace amounts of THC that could show up on a drug test. If that is something you need to avoid for work or otherwise, you’ll want to ensure you purchase broad-spectrum or isolate CBD products.
The best CBD for insomnia products are those that you feel most comfortable taking. This may vary from person to person, so simply focus on finding a product you enjoy, whether that be edibles, capsules, or CBD oil for insomnia.
What CBD dosage should I use for insomnia?
The right CBD for insomnia dosage will also differ by individual, but we have a dosage chart to get you started. It’s always best to begin at the lowest recommended dosage and work your way up until you feel a therapeutic benefit.
Living in Alaska, Leah Campbell has a degree in developmental psychology and has written extensively on topics relating to health and wellness. As a single mom with endometriosis, she relies on medical cannabis to function at her fullest and is an outspoken advocate for marijuana legalization and the end of disproportionate incarceration rates against men of color for marijuana related crimes. A writer for HuffPost, Parents, and Glamour, Leah has discussed these issues on national television, to include Good Morning America and The Tamron Hall Show.