CBD For Sleep – Is It Effective, Safe, and Legal?
Research might have shown CBD to be effective in the treatment of different ailments, but there’s still a catch – we don’t know enough about the compound. Other than its mechanism, researchers also don’t have enough knowledge about CBD dosage calculation.
Unless all these things come to the surface, it’s important to learn about CBD’s safety and legality before using it for any condition, such as insomnia. Anecdotal and scientific evidence has shown CBD sleep aid to be a plausible theory.
In this guide, we discuss the safety and effectiveness of CBD for sleep.
What Causes Sleep Troubles?
While insomnia is the most common sleep disorder, many other conditions lead to sleeplessness.
However, the causes behind lack of sleep are similar among most ailments. Some of them include:
- Mental health problems, such as depression or PTSD
- Physical pain, such as back, neck, or leg pain
- Loud noises in the surrounding environment
- Medication
- Caffeine consumption later in the day
If you have a habit of consuming caffeine in the evening, giving it up might help you sleep better. Plus, you can lower your blue light exposure before bedtime for better slumber.
However, if the sleeplessness is due to underlying health concerns, you might want to resort to CBD sleep aid.
Effectiveness of CBD For Sleep
Most of the research around CBD’s effectiveness for sleep has been in correlation with anxiety since mental health disorders are often the cause of poor sleep. A 2019 investigation found that CBD could reduce anxiety while improving sleep.
72 participants took part in this research, 25 of which had poor sleep while 47 suffered from anxiety. The researchers administered 25mg of CBD to the study subjects every day.
As a result, about 67% of the patients reported sleeping better, while 79% had lower anxiety.
In most cases, insomnia is a result of excessive pain. A review showed that CBD might be effective against chronic pain. Since it resolves the root cause of sleeplessness, CBD can act as a useful sleep aid.
Another 2014 study showed the effects of CBD in four of Parkison’s patients. The results were quite impressive as CBD seemed to have a lowering effect on the REM sleep behavior disorders’ symptoms.
Since the disorder is characterized by the sufferers acting out their dreams and having nightmares, CBD could be a potential relief.
Although there are a considerable number of studies to show CBD’s usefulness in sleep, none of them have identified the compound’s mechanism of action. Therefore, at the moment, experts aren’t exactly sure how CBD helps in sleep problems.
Hopefully, more research in the future will help us understand the pathways CBD initiates or follows to promote sleep.
Is CBD For Sleep Safe?
Many people are concerned about CBD’s safety as the industry is not regulated by the FDA or any other authority. Fortunately, CBD is quite safe for human consumption, and research has shown patients tolerate doses of CBD as high as 1500mg per day.
However, despite its tolerance, CBD has certain side effects. These are:
- Reduced appetite
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Diarrhea
More importantly, CBD interacts with a host of medicinal drugs, including antidepressants, NSAIDs, and blood-thinners. Thus, you should always consult with your doctor before using CBD products while on medication.
Apart from the compound’s innate harms, you also have to worry about the product quality. A recent investigation found that almost 70% of the CBD products sold online have misleading information on the labels.
While some products are under labeled to mention a lower amount of THC than that present in the formula, others are over labeled to show a higher CBD content than present in the oil or capsules.
Plus, the researchers also found traces of THC in supposedly THC-free products.
When CBD shopping, don’t blindly fall for claims a company makes. Do your research and only buy a product after reading enough satisfactory customer reviews about it.
Is CBD For Sleep Legal?
The primary reason CBD blew up in 2018 was the Farm Bill. According to this Bill, it’s legal for manufacturers to sell CBD products with less than 0.3% THC in the US.
Considering this, it’s safe to say that CBD is legal federally. However, state regulations may differ. While some states have completely banned the compound, others restrict the sale and purchase of CBD edibles and drinks.
So, you should check your local laws before buying CBD products online.
How To Use CBD Sleep Aid?
Luckily, there are many ways to use CBD for sleep. You simply have to choose one that works for you.
If you’re comfortable with hemp’s taste, you can use CBD oil for sleep since it’s the easiest product to find. Here are some ways to use CBD oil:
- Apply it topically to your skin.
- Put a few drops of it under your tongue for sublingual administration.
- Add it to your drinks or foods.
- Mix it in your daily tea or coffee.
However, CBD oils do not have a higher bioavailability. Plus, they take their sweet time to put you to sleep.
On the contrary, CBD vapes are quick to act. But the catch here is respiratory damage due to long-term usage. Also, not everyone is fond of smoking before bedtime.
Another easier and quicker way to use CBD for sleep is by eating gummies or capsules. Although they show a slow effect, they taste good and are packed with other ingredients too.
If you’re uncertain about the right CBD dosage for sleep, start with a low dose and increase it until you find an amount that works well for you.
Conclusion
If you’re tired of being groggy or not getting work done in time due to poor sleep, you’d definitely want to get your hands on the best CBD for sleep. While doing so, make sure that you only shop from a reliable brand with third-party testing and high-quality standards.
