Are There CBD Gummies For Sleep?    

With all the benefits tied to CBD products and, in this case, gummies, one might wonder whether there are CBD gummies that can be utilized for sleep. It has been proven that CBD ingestion aids in the relaxation of the body and mind and soothing muscles. Is there a relationship between this with sleep?

CBD has existed since, and so have its products in the hair healthcare industry, skincare industry, and even edibles. One of the most popular edibles in the market is gummies; these are candies that are CBD oil-infused to provide the body with the benefits linked to CBD. CBD gummies are linked to health and wellness benefits. Some claimed effects include relieving anxiety, reducing pain, dealing with depression, and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. But there are also claims that CBD gummies might be useful in improving sleep, but are these true? Here is more information.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the second most predominant compound in naturally grown hemp plants. CBD is harnessed from the stalks and stems of the hemp plant, where cannabinoids are in high concentrations. These cannabinoids are CBD and THC, but Jones & Vlachou (2020) showed that THC is the psychoactive compound responsible for causing a high sensation, while CBD is used for therapeutic reasons. After its discovery, Hazekamp (2018) found that CBD can be used in treating a variety of health issues.  

Types of CBD 

There are several ways in which CBD can be extracted, including lipid extraction, carbon dioxide extraction, and steam distillation. Different types of CBD are extracted from these extractions and compositions; therefore, the strains are categorized into three main forms.

Full-spectrum CBD   

This type contains all the cannabinoids and terpenes present in the hemp plant. These CBDs typically contain all the compounds of CBD, including 0.3% THC. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive compound in cannabis, while CBD gives therapeutic effects to cannabis. Unless CBD is used with THC, it cannot cause any intoxication or impairment. Zorić et al. (2022) showed that terpenes are responsible for smell and offer therapeutic and soothing effects to the consumer. Flavonoids are also other compounds found in cannabis but are also found in other natural growing fruits and vegetables. Full-spectrum CBD is highly beneficial as users benefit from the entourage effect. The entourage effect suggests that CBD with THC is more effective than CBD alone. Gummies obtained from this type of CBD also contain the same compound structure and effects associated with full-spectrum CBD.

Broad-spectrum CBD

This CBD also contains all the cannabinoids and terpenes found naturally in organic hemp. Broad-spectrum CBD contains all the compounds of CBD but what differentiates this type from full-spectrum CBD is that it doesn't contain any THC content. This means that any product made from this type of CBD lacks the intoxicating compound of cannabis. Broad-spectrum CBD is also beneficial as it contains other compounds of cannabis that work together with CBD to give better effects. This type of CBD is preferable for those who want to benefit from the compounds while avoiding THC. Broad-spectrum CBD is also suitable for health and wellness products as it is void of THC. Gummies processed from this type of CBD are of practical value and suitable for those who want to avoid THC.

CBD Isolate

This is the complete opposite of Full-spectrum CBD, as it is the purest form of CBD. This type of CBD doesn't contain any other compounds of the cannabis plant apart from CBD. The extraction of CBD isolate involves thorough procedures to produce the purest form of CBD, which is often expensive. CBD isolate doesn't contain any other compounds of cannabis, and it is because of this that products from CBD isolate are not considered as effective as those from full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD. CBD isolate gummies are suitable for people who want to benefit from cannabinoids while avoiding all the other compounds of cannabis, including THC. You will also have to ingest many gummies if they are from CBD isolate to achieve the desired effects.  

The Endocannabinoid System and Sleep         

Van Drunen & Eckel-Mahan (2021) revealed that the endocannabinoid system plays a role in maintaining specific body functions, including appetite, mood, regulating circadian rhythms, and sleep. The endocannabinoid system comprises a network of cannabinoid receptors in the brain and central nervous system. Cannabinoids attach to body cells to offer diverse effects. Concerning how CBD, in general, may affect sleep, there is a need for more scientific studies to ascertain these claims. However, Roland & Bliwise (2021) argued that cannabidiol (CBD) may merge with certain receptors, inherently affecting the sleep/wake cycle. CBD, in general, is essential in reducing anxiety and pain that affect peaceful sleep. Lessening the symptoms that may affect sleep may consequently improve sleep.

Facts from Scientific Research about CBD

There is not enough research to prove all the claims tied to CBD, but this doesn't mean that there is no research about the health benefit claims of CBD altogether. Krystal et al. (2019) examined people with insomnia. It involved participants rating their insomnia on a 1-10 scale, where severe symptoms were rated at 6.6 on average. These participants were treated using cannabis flowers in different forms, including pipe, joint, and vape. THC potency was between 20% and 30%, and on CBD, it averaged about 5.7% to 30%. After using cannabis, the rated symptoms of these participants decreased by 4.5 generally. The results prove that cannabis might have potential benefits for sleep and insomnia. But you need to understand that this study was carried out with cannabis flower, which contains many cannabinoids, so it is hard to determine whether it was the CBD or the other cannabinoids.

In another study, participants were given 25mg of CBD capsule form. These were participants who suffered anxiety and poor sleep. Those with anxiety took theirs in the morning, and it was reported that 79% of anxiety decreased. After some time, the sleep score fluctuated while there was a steady decrease in anxiety symptoms. Several small studies on CBD have shown that the use of CBD oil may be essential in improving sleep. In some of these studies, people reported improvements in quality and quantity of sleep over about five months.

Conclusion   

The good news is that cannabidiol may improve the quality and quantity of sleep by minimizing the sleep stressors that affect people. So in the case of CBD gummies, no gummies are made specifically to deal with sleep. There needs to be more research done on CBD and its products to prove whether they may help sleep, but until now, there isn't any scientific proof that ascertains these claims.             

References

Hazekamp, A. (2018). The Trouble With CBD Oil. Medical Cannabis And Cannabinoids, 1(1), 65-72.

Jones, É., & Vlachou, S. (2020). A Critical Review Of The Role Of The Cannabinoid Compounds Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) And Cannabidiol (CBD) And Their Combination In Multiple Sclerosis Treatment. Molecules, 25(21), 4930.

Krystal, A. D., Prather, A. A., & Ashbrook, L. H. (2019). The Assessment And Management Of Insomnia: An Update. World Psychiatry, 18(3), 337-352.

Roland, J. P., & Bliwise, D. L. (2021). Impact Of Pharmacotherapy On Insomnia In Patients With Alzheimer's Disease. Drugs & Aging, 38(11), 951-966.

Van Drunen, R., & Eckel-Mahan, K. (2021). Circadian Rhythms Of The Hypothalamus: From Function To Physiology. Clocks & Sleep, 3(1), 189-226.

Zorić, M., Farkić, J., Kebert, M., Mladenović, E., Karaklić, D., Isailović, G., & Orlović, S. (2022). Developing Forest Therapy Programmes Based On The Health Benefits Of Terpenes In Dominant Tree Species In Tara National Park (Serbia). International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health, 19(9), 5504.