Sleep & CBD
Getting a good night’s sleep can be tough – you put on your Nightire PJ’s, turn off all your screens, but your racing mind after a busy day and the anxiety of daily life still makes it tough for even the best sleepers to get to sleep and stay asleep.
Does this sound like you? If it does, you would normally go see your doctor and get a prescription for sleeping pills. But many looking for a natural alternative have turned to CBD, an ingredient in cannabis, to help fight their insomnia – and they find it works as well, if not better, than behind the counter options. We chatted to Brett at Fog - a CBD based supplement brand - about this much-raved-about ingredient and how it relates to sleep:
What is CBD?
The cannabis plant produces over 100 cannabinoid molecules that interact with the Endocannabinoid System in humans and other animals. The two most studied molecules produced by cannabis are THC and CBD. The CBD (Cannabidiol) compound is non-intoxicating, meaning it won’t get you high.
CBD is available in many different forms. We recommend capsules because they’re consistently dosed so you know what you’re getting every time.
Unlike medicinal and recreational cannabis, CBD is legal throughout the UK and can be purchased everywhere from local fashion boutiques to pharmacies.
Why take CBD?
CBD has a number of medicinal applications that we’re only starting to understand. Mainly, your body has an Endocannabinoid system that interacts with all of the body’s core functions. Per existing research, cannabinoids, like CBD, can trigger different receptors in your Endocannabinoid System to help treat a range of conditions – including anxiety, sleep, inflammation and many others.
The Science Behind CBD and Sleep
This study, published in the Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, found that CBD can be helpful in reducing anxiety, a major reason why so many of us struggle to get to sleep and stay asleep. According to this research, adding CBD to your nightly routine could promote the relaxation you need prior to sleep and make it easier to get a good night’s rest.
Some other research indicates that CBD may directly affect sleep by interacting with receptors in your Endocannabinoid System that govern your daily sleep/awake cycle, according to this 2017 survey on cannabinoids. More research needs to be done on this but initial results are highly promising.
That’s one of the reasons why researchers are running a clinical trial at a hospital in Massachusetts where researchers are studying to see if CBD does in fact help promote sleep. The results of this trial should inform our understanding on why so many people find CBD helpful in promoting a good night’s sleep.
Is CBD Safe to Take?
Yes. If you’re not currently taking other medications you don’t have anything to worry about. If you are taking other medications, then you should talk to your regular treating doctor before trying CBD.
A recent report by the World Health Organisation concluded: “the evidence from well-controlled human experimental research indicates that CBD is not associated with abuse potential. At present no public health problems (e.g. driving under the influence of drugs cases, comorbidities) have been associated with the use of pure CBD.”
A review of current literature describes the safety profile of CBD as “in comparison with other drugs used for the treatment of medical conditions, CBD has a better side effect profile”.
What CBD should you take?
I personally use Fog’s Clarity soft gels. I like that they’re dosed consistently and easy to take before bed. I keep a bottle on my nightstand so I remember to take them nightly. My preferred dose is 2 capsules (50mg) and usually start to get sleepy in 30-40 minutes.
But before you purchase any CBD product, make sure to check that the brand:
- makes independent testing of their product available to consumers
- contains only natural ingredients
- does not possess any THC
- is compliant with UK recommendations
Research is crucial to finding the best CBD on the market. I love using CBD to help with my sleeping issues and don’t know what I’d do without it. As a thank you to Nightire readers, we’re offering 20% off our Fog Clarity capsules with the promo code SLEEP20.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes!
Written by
Nina Clark, Nightire founder
