Best CBD Oil for Sleep and Insomnia

Preliminary research shows that CBD oil can help treat various sleep disorders, insomnia being one of them. This blog discusses what CBD is, how it helps with sleep disorders, how to choose the best CBD oil for sleep, and CBD oil dosage for sleep.

A good night's rest is important for your well-being and health. According to experts, adults should sleep around seven to nine hours per night. Proper rest makes you rejuvenated for the next day, making you productive. It also helps in the growth and repair of tissues and prevents sickness too. Unfortunately, most individuals nowadays do not sleep for the recommended hours because of their busy lives. Various strategies can help with insomnia and sleep, including; improved sleep hygiene and aids. CBD oil is becoming a popular strategy for a good sleep because of its anti-anxiety properties, and most people love it because it has no side effects. With that said, more research is still needed to confirm these claims.

What is CBD?

According to Burstein &Sumner (2015), Cannabidiol (CBD) is an active cannabinoid derived from the hemp plant. It does not contain psychoactive effects like (THC). The good thing about CBD is that it does not lead to dependency and the risk of abuse. CBD's popularity is growing in the US, and although many benefits are attributed to it, evidence is still unclear.

How CBD Helps with Sleep Disorders

Some individuals who utilize CBD oil for chronic pain reported improved sleep. And it is still unclear whether they sleep better because of reduced pain or whether CBD affects their sleep. Not everybody gets the same sleep benefits with CBD oil. According to research, low dosages are stimulating while high ones are sedating. Also, the method of administration is a factor that causes discrepancies in experience.

Anxiety and CBD Oil

Even though it is not a sleep disorder, anxiety contributes to poor and insufficient sleep and, at times, sleeps disorders. Blessing et al. (2015) noted that CBD soothes the nerves and can be used to treat anxiety disorders. According to studies, almost eighty percent of patients who used CBD oil for their anxiety reported an improvement in their anxiety levels in a month. Also, their sleep improved.

Insomnia and CBD

Individuals experiencing insomnia find it difficult to fall asleep at night. Insomnia affects one's daytime wakefulness and mood, rendering one unproductive throughout the day. Most individuals with insomnia experience anxiety about their poor sleeping habits, which increases sleeplessness. Kuhathasan et al. (2021) commented that since CBD helps treat anxiety, help alleviate insomnia-related anxiety.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and CBD Oil

Patients suffering from REM (rapid eye movement) sleep behavior disorder normally verbalize and make aggressive motions during their REM sleep stage. This disorder is mostly seen in older people with Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Studies showed that individuals with Parkinson's who took CBD oil reported that it helped them manage REM sleep behavior symptoms. Before consuming the oil, they normally experience symptoms around two to seven times a week, but after taking it; they get symptoms only once a week and sometimes none.

How to Choose the Best CBD Oil for Sleep

Below are guidelines that will help you choose the best CBD oil for sleep:

Lab Reports

Only buy CBD oil from a manufacturer whose lab reports are on their website. If not, you should ask for it. Lab reports prove the legitimacy and quality of the oil. Ensure that a third-party lab does the reports since its information will be unbiased and factual. Lab reports constitute the purity level of the source and cannabinoids content level too. Learn more about does cbd oil help in fibromyalgia treatment?

Positive Reviews

It is advisable that before buying a product, check its online reviews. Other consumer reviews will help you know the CBD oil quality and whether the oil works or not for sleep issues. You can find these reviews on the brands' websites.

Brand Transparency

Since CBD products are not FDA approved, they lack regulation. Hence, it would help if you chose a transparent brand that shows how they manufactured the CBD oil. Avoid companies that hide information about their products.

CBD Type

There are three types of CBD oil; isolate, broad spectrum, and full spectrum. Full spectrum CBD oil has all cannabinoids, including flavonoids, THC, and terpenes. De Assis et al. (2021) noted that broad-spectrum CBD lacks THC. However, it has all the other cannabinoids. In contrast, CBD isolate oil has only the CBD compound.

The CBD oil type you choose is critical. Many individuals prefer the full spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oil since they provide an entourage effect and are more beneficial for sleep disorders. The full entourage effects mean all the other compounds work together with CBD to enhance its effects. First-timers should start with an isolated spectrum to allow their bodies to adjust accordingly.

Clean Formula

Check the ingredients list of the CBD oil since manufacturers do not follow any strict regulations on what they incorporate in the oil. Choose oil with few ingredients and ensure that the non-CBD ingredients are at your standard level and safe to consume. Learn more about is cbd oil safe for kids?

Extraction Process

Look for CBD oil that uses the carbon dioxide (CO₂) extraction method since it offers a cleaner and chemically stable substance.

CBD Oil Dosage for Sleep

Since there is no universal CBD for sleep, it is advised you start slow and low. Begin with around twenty-five milligrams of CBD oil and gradually increase the dosage until you get your desired effect. It would be best if you also ingested it one hour before sleep to make it more effective.

Summary

CBD oil has various benefits, such as pain relief, anxiety relief, and improving sleep. However, the FDA has not yet approved CBD oil, meaning some CBD companies may not follow strict regulations. Various ways can help you know the best CBD oil for sleep. They include; the extraction process used, product reviews, brand transparency, lab report, and CBD type. If you want the full entourage effect go for the full spectrum and broad spectrum CBD oil. For those who want only the CBD effect go for CBD isolate. Before taking CBD oil, always communicate with your doctor to determine the best dosage for your insomnia.

References

Burstein, S. (2015). Cannabidiol (CBD) and its analogs: a review of their effects on inflammation. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry, 23(7), 1377-1385.

Blessing, E. M., Steenkamp, M. M., Manzanares, J., & Marmar, C. R. (2015). Cannabidiol as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders. Neurotherapeutics, 12(4), 825-836.

Kuhathasan, N., Minuzzi, L., MacKillop, J., & Frey, B. N. (2021). The use of cannabinoids for insomnia in daily life: Naturalistic study. Journal of medical Internet research, 23(10), e25730.

de Assis, P. M., Ferrarini, E. G., Baldasso, G. M., Paes, R. S., Gouvêa, M. C., Segundo, C. E. N., ... & Raposo, N. R. B. (2021). Broad-spectrum Cannabis oil alleviates behavioral symptoms associated with stress-related anxiety and depression in mice. Pharmaceutical Sciences, 28(2), 239-250.