Have you ever been bothered by poor sleep? I believe the answer is confirmative for most people, especially for those under huge working pressures or with health problems. In today’s fast-paced life, sleep disorders are not only a common phenomenon but also a worldwide issue. According to the World Health Organization, the sleep disorder rate of people all over the world is up to 27%, which is still climbing. What’s worse, people suffering from poor sleep are getting younger and younger.

New data from Sleep Cycle has shown that no country in the world manages to achieve 8 hours of sleep on a regular basis. As the recommended range of sleep for an adult is 7-9 hours a night, this highlights a worrying lack of sleep throughout the world. The figure below just tells the truth.

 

The harm of poor sleep

At first, many people ignore the harm of sleep deprivation and just get used to it. But after this bad habit becomes chronic, it brings more and more negative effects to one’s mind and body. In fact, poor sleep is as harmful as any other pathogen to an individual’s health. Lack of sleep doesn’t just leave you tired and groggy the next day. A new World Health Organization study is warning that it should be a risk factor for heart disease like smoking and lack of exercise. The worst consequence of poor sleep is death.

Besides the physical aspect, it can also negatively influence one’s mental mind. Studies show that lack of sleep significantly increases one’s symptoms of depression. It was revealed that most of the patients who suffered from anxiety or depression sleep less than six hours on the average night. Also, good sleep is key to one’s cognitive processes. We can get concentrated only when our body get enough and high-quality rest. Otherwise, lack of attention limits one’s ability to study, judge and solve problem effectively. The below figure shows the leading negative impacts of missing sleep according to U.S. adults as of 2017.

The sleep-improving function of CBD

Anyway, the natural methods that doctors and psychologists recommend to improve poor sleep seem not to be so effective, thus many people resort to sleep medications such as hypnotics. But it’s often the last choice as it brings serious side effects to human bodies. Luckily, recent studies have found that the blockbuster cannabidiol, more commonly referred to as CBD, can help improve the amount and quality of sleep without proven side effects. It’s set to be one of the best choices for insomnia sufferers.

Researches show that CBD can interact with a specific type of receptor in the brain known as a “CB1 receptor”.  These receptors are entirely responsible for managing neurotransmitter release in a way that prevents excessive neuronal activity. CBD in smaller doses during the day increases alertness and energy for us, while larger doses in the evening can have a calming effect.

Studies indicate that the calming effect of CBD and other cannabinoid medications on the central nervous system can potentially create a conducive physical state for deep and restful sleep. Also, the anti-anxiety and pain relief benefits of CBD can make a significant difference in the quality of sleep. It’s also important to note that the calming effect doesn’t only show up on healthy adults, but also individuals suffering from nerve diseases.

The advantages of CBD for sleep

CBD turns out to be the best alternative among different remedies. People can take CBD during the day, and it’s not strictly a nighttime supplement like melatonin, because melatonin makes you so sleepy that you never take it in the morning. What’s different, CBD doesn’t really make people sleepy, it just makes you feel more relaxed and then fall asleep naturally. So CBD does not alleviate insomnia by inducing drowsiness but combats it at its source. It’s not so pharmacologically strong.

Moreover, unlike THC, CBD does not have any psychoactive effects, it’s often the preferred option for people who simply don’t want to feel high while getting relaxed. With psychoactive effects, THC can also improve feelings of relaxation, but it causes memory changes at the same time, which means that you even can’t remember what you dream of after waking up.

Essentially, CBD helps improve stage 3 sleep and balance the sleep-wake cycle, as it affects one’s body and brain receptor, protein, hormone and neurotransmitter activities allowing it to have calming, restorative and supplementary results. It proves to be more effective than natural remedies while much safer than other chemicals in the aspect of improving sleep.

According to a recent nationally representative Consumer Reports survey, about 10 percent of Americans who reported trying CBD said they used it to help them sleep, and a majority of those people said it worked.

How to use CBD for sleep

After learning about the benefits that CBD can bring for our body, I guess many poor sleepers want to have a try of it. If you’re interested in using CBD for sleep, you might be wondering how to use it to get the best effects.

As the health and wellness concept of CBD is realized and accepted by more and more people, there are various CBD products with different brands emerging in the market. Anyhow, most people prefer to use CBD oil rather than other products because it’s easy to take and turns out to be more effective. For patients, choosing a pure CBD oil product with a high concentration of cannabidiol is the best way to address sleeping problems and derive the maximum benefits from these chemical compounds.

Another issue to watch out for is the dosage of CBD. In-taking too little or too much of it can’t achieve the ideal effect either. Generally, people get improved sleep when they take between 40 and 160 milligrams of CBD before bed, depending on individuals. As a general rule of thumb, it’s typically best to start with a smaller dose at the beginning and then slowly increase the dose over time until you experience your desired result.

The next is about the methods of consuming CBD oil. Normally, it’s suggested to take about 40 milligrams with the sublingual method a few hours before bed. Simply apply a few drops under your tongue, hold it in the mouth for about 30 seconds before swallow. And holding the oil under tongue for a couple of minutes can speed up absorption and help experience the effects more quickly. Compared with other methods like inhalation, vaping and topical application, this delivery way is more convenient, discreet and effective, giving you feelings of calm and well-being.

Choose the best CBD oil for sleep

Perhaps the last puzzle poor sleepers face is how to choose the best CBD oil to improve sleep. Currently, many companies around the world have jumped on the CBD bandwagon and swarmed into producing CBD products. It’s important to realize that not all of the CBD products bring equal value to you.

In order to experience the maximum benefits from taking CBD for sleep, you should make sure that you’re using the premium and high-quality CBD oil. However, identifying these high-quality oils from the dazzling array of bottles can be easier said than done, especially if you don’t know what standard it is to distinguish them.

Followings are some general guidelines you need to keep in mind when shopping for CBD oil:

• Strength: This is the amount of CBD contained in the bottle.
• Sourcing: Ideally it’s made from organic and USA-grown hemp plant.
• Testing: The manufacturer should have all of its products tested for quality.
• Full spectrum or CBD isolate：CBD oil labeled “full spectrum” means that it contains not only the CBD compound, but also other important compounds such as CBN, CBC, & THCA. CBD isolate means you’re getting the purest form of CBD.

Besides, it’s also a good idea to pay attention to the extraction method. CBD oil is extracted by sophisticated methods that ensure a pure and certified end product. The manufacturer should ensure its extraction method doesn’t involve petroleum-based products, which can leave toxins behind that taint the quality of your CBD oil.

Some CBD oil brands recommendation

We’ve done a thorough investigation and compiled all kinds of information on the best CBD oil for sleep. Simply put, the best CBD oil for sleep is cbdMD. The 300 mg tincture, available in 4 flavors, is a top-quality product for a surprisingly affordable price. If you’re looking to try your first CBD product for improving your sleep, go for cbdMD. Their broad-spectrum tinctures include a range of cannabinoids that can help support deep, rejuvenating sleep — at a price that won’t keep you awake at night.

If you want to experience the calming effects of CBD oil without the complications of THC, Pure Hemp Botanicals offers isolate-based tinctures with non-detectable levels of THC. Their tinctures are carefully formulated using organic hemp oil. The brand’s lowest concentration dose is 300 mg in a 30 ml bottle, which delivers 30 days of relaxing benefits. Its subtle taste means that it blends well with food and beverages.

Conclusion

After reading through, you must have a deeper understanding of CBD’s effect on sleep. There is growing evidence showing that this non-hallucinogenic supplement has the capacity to enhance sleep in an extremely safe and effective way. If there is anyone nagged by poor sleep around you, just recommend the proper CBD oil to help him/her get rid of the nightmare as soon as possible.

Also, if you have experience in using CBD products, please feel free to share your feelings about it. You can leave any comments or suggestions, which may be very useful for those who want to have a try of CBD.