Not being able to fall asleep is a very frustrating experience. As well as leaving you groggy and irritable the next day, not getting enough sleep can have longer-lasting health impacts. This can include poor mental health and increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
In recent years, CBD oils have emerged as a potential saviour for the sleep-deprived, with many claiming to help you doze off quicker for a quality rest.
But what does the science say? While research is still in the early stages, we take a look at the promising results we know so far when it comes to how CBD oil for sleep can help.
What is CBD Oil?
Before we get into the research, we should explore what CBD oil actually is! Short for Cannabidiol, CBD is a chemical compound that comes from the cannabis plant.
CBD is not the part of the cannabis plant that can get you “high” – that is THC – instead, it is believed to offer health benefits, with early research results suggesting it can help with issues regarding sleep, pain and anxiety.
CBD is a cannabinoid, and when taken, it interacts with your endocannabinoid system, which is used to help balance many of the processes in your body.
Treating the Cause of Sleeplessnes
While sleep disorders are a problem for some, often, sleepless nights are caused by external factors, such as stress, pain or discomfort.
Research into CBD oil indicates that it is able to help reduce both anxiety and pain. With these external causes of sleeplessness treated by CBD oil, it is hoped that it can help make people experience better sleep.
Research published in the Permanente Journal in 2019 revealed that of subjects who took 25mg of CBD a day, 79% reported lower anxiety levels and 66.7% reported better sleep.
Likewise, a 2018 review from Frontiers in Pharmacology concluded that evidence suggests CBD helps to ease pain and that this reduction in chronic pain can help improve sleep.
Reduces RBD
One study into the effects of CBD on sleep, published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, discovered that CBD can help to reduce the frequency of REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) in people with Parkinson’s disease.
The 2014 study concluded that CBD can ‘control the symptoms of RBD’.
Similar findings were gained from a 2017 review into the effects of CBD on sleep, which noted that CBD could be used to treat REM sleep behaviour disorder.
Helps Treat Insomnia
The 2017 review of literature into cannabis, cannabinoids and sleep from Babson, Sottile and Morabito concluded that CBD “may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of insomnia”.
At present, research is still being done on the full effects CBD can offer people with insomnia.
A Better Option?
CBD can be used as a natural treatment for insomnia – something which many people are seeking as an alternative to prescribed medications.
Research from The Guardian revealed that in 2011, more than 15 million prescriptions were written for ‘sleeping pills’ – medications such as Valium or Ambien, which can help treat insomnia.
While these drugs are helpful to many, they pose the risk of being potentially addictive, with people developing dependencies on these sleeping pills. Further, it has been found that while sleeping pills can help people get to sleep, the quality of sleep they experience is poor, with REM sleep rarely achieved.
How Can ElleVance Help?
If you struggle to drift off, stay asleep or experience poor quality Z’s, then trying out CBD oil could be the next step for you.
Our ElleVance COMPLETE Relief CBD oil is made from a full-spectrum extract of all-natural cannabinoids and terpenes.
All of our products are tested at independent laboratories to ensure quality and consistency, and our university-led clinical research has allowed us to discover the precise amounts you should take each day.
Our CBD oil may help you to get some much-needed rest, but if you consistently struggle to get quality sleep, then please speak to your doctor.
If you have any questions about how CBD can help you get to sleep, then please get in touch!
