Did you know that one-third of the people in the United States suffer from sleep problems? Usually, the insomnia is caused by some sort of stress or anxiety, but hormonal changes during menopause, heartburn, back pain, and social isolation, are the most common reasons for trouble sleeping.
I’m sure you’ve heard about CBD or Cannabidiol in the media lately. Its everywhere! You may have heard about the many health benefits of this hot new product such as anxiety, epileptic seizures, inflammation, and insomnia. Since I’m an over fifty-year-old woman with poor sleep due to Menopause, insomnia has been a trying issue for me. So I thought I would put CBD to the test to see if it could help me get a solid eight.
Just to be clear, unlike marijuana, cannabidiol does not provide any “high” even though it’s produced from the same cannabis plant. CBD is extracted from the flowers and buds of the marijuana plant but contains no, or scant traces of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). (under.03%)
Hemp-derived CBD is federally legal in all 50 states for medical use but illegal for recreational use for 11 states currently. Because it’s not legal in every state, there is no regulation, and it’s quite the “wild west” for producing it. Therefore you need to know which CBD oil companies are reputable to purchase high-quality and effective oils from.
Does CBD Oil Actually Work For Insomnia?
One known study published in 2019 looked at whether CBD could improve sleep and or reduce anxiety. The study involved 72 subjects, with 47 experiencing anxiety and 25 experiencing poor sleep. The subjects were each given 25 milligrams (mg) of CBD in capsule form each day. In the first month, 79.2 percent of the patients reported lower anxiety levels and 66.7 percent reported better sleep.
The problem though, with CBD used for treating insomnia, the studies suggest that it usually takes from 1-3 months before it really kicks in for full-affect. This can cause some people to “throw in the towel”, or I should say “pillow” before giving it a solid try.
Here are 5 main ways that CBD Oil helps insomnia:
Regulates the Sleep/Wake Cycle
Researchers discovered that the endocannabinoid system in the brain plays a role in maintaining certain body functions, such as mood, appetite, sleep, and regulating circadian rhythms. Within the endocannabinoid system is a network of cannabinoid receptors in the brain and central nervous system. The two primary receptors are CB1 and CB2. CBD attaches to these receptors and helps to regulate the sleep/wake cycle.
Raises The Levels Of Melatonin
Melatonin is a natural hormone in our bodies which helps to regulate sleep. CBD can increase your melatonin levels naturally to promote a more restful sleep.
Promotes Relaxation
By binding with cannabinoid receceptors in the brain, promoting relaxation.
Eases or Gets Rid of Chronic Pain
Cannabidiol reduces inflammation which causes chronic pain to diminish. It has been used for cancer patients, Multiple Sclerosis patients, and arthritis sufferers to ease their pain.
Less pain equals more sleep!
Eases Anxiety
By changing serotonin levels and changing the blood flow to the brain. Patients noted that they felt better because of the way that their brain responded to anxiety.
How To Use CBD Oil For Insomnia
As I’ve said earlier in this post, it can take a while to experience a regular good night’s sleep when using CBD for sleep. Most CBD Oil companies will tell you to start with 25 mg and work your way up if you don’t feel any of the effects like relaxation, and easing anxiety.
Equilibria
I started using CBD drops from a company called Equilibria, which is a cannabidiol company made for women, by women. It’s organically produced by its own bioscience team in Colorado with over 30 years of experience. What I like about them is that they assign you a 1:1 dosage coach when you purchase. My dosage coach, Kalin, helped to tweak the amount of my dose and the time of day that I take them. So far it seems to be working better than before since I’m taking a combination of soft gels and oils.
Kalin confirmed that it can take up to 3 months for your body to get into the groove of the CBD benefits.
Some of that is the amount of the dosage and when you take your soft gels or daily drops. The difference between the soft gels and the daily drops is really slow-release (soft gels) or fast action (daily drops).
You should start with the smallest dose, usually .25, and work up from there. The proper way to take it, is by placing the correct dose in the dropper under your tongue. Keep it there and allow it to penetrate the soft palate of your gums.
Don’t swallow it, because then it will just go down your digestive tract and you won’t reap all of its benefits.
I now take one soft gel after dinner with some sort of protein like a few nuts, and then a 1/2 dropper of my daily drops under my tongue at bedtime. Kalin also suggested for me to keep a 1/2 dropper handy on my nightstand ready to go, in case I wake during the night and can’t fall back asleep. But the longer I use the products, the longer I am sleeping without waking.
To try Equilibria yourself at 15% off your first order when using code: CATHCOOK217 and clicking here. to shop.
Green Compass
My husband started using Green Compass last year to help with his anxiety and sleep issues. I heard good things about Green Compass from my friend, Stacy. Stacy is a nutritionist and has her own plant-based nutrition blog so I trusted her to know which CBD company would provide the cleanest and most reputable products.
Stacy was right! Green Compass is truly the cleanest, multi-tested brand out there. 100% Feed to Farm means that they have their own 1100 acre farm in North Carolina grow and hand harvest their hemp without the use of pesticides.
Stacy was right! Green Compass is truly the cleanest, multi-tested CBD brand out there!
Green Compass started because the majority of hemp sold in the USA, surprisingly (or not), was actually grown in China, and then manufactured here.
Lately, I’ve started to dip into my husband’s Green Compass CBD Oil because this one is flavored with cinnamon! Wow! It is so yummy! If you haven’t tried CBD yet, just know that not every oil tastes good. This is why most people opt for a flavor like mint, cinnamon, or citrus instead of the natural CBD taste which is not great.
Shop Green Compass CBD Oil right here.
Green Compass CBD Oils come in different potencies ranging from 500-1000mg. Most starting out with these oils will begin in the 500mg range. This is considered “low-potency” and is good for overall general wellness.
Moving up to the 750mg range would be for those with moderate stress, inflammation, mild pain and discomfort.
The high-potency range would be at or around 1000mg which is for sleep issues, daily stress, anxiety, depression, pain, and inflammation.
Starting out with a low potency and dosage before moving up, is recommended.
Still Not Sleeping?
Green Compass has another product called Boost Sleep. It is made with organic lavender, chamomile, vanilla, and lemon balm to provide that added “boost” of extra calm. This combination of Boost calms an overactive mind, relieves muscle tension, and supports the body’s ability to relax.
Shop Boost Sleep $41.95 ($33.56 preferred client)
Side Effects of Using CBD
As with anything, there are sometimes side-effects when using.
When taken by mouth in doses of up to 300 mg daily have been considered safe for up to 6 months. Higher doses of 1200-1500 mg daily can be taken by mouth safely for up to 4 weeks.
Some reported side effects of cannabidiol include dry mouth, low blood pressure, lightheadedness, and drowsiness. Signs of liver injury have also been reported in some patients, but this is less common.
If you have Parkinson’s Disease or liver disease you should take a very low dose, but talk to your doctor first.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take CBD products.
Final Thoughts
If you struggle with insomnia, using a Cannabidiol product in the form of drops or gel caps can help you get your zzz’s.
It may take some time to find your right dosage, but depending on your level of stress, anxiety, or pain, you can know the right potency to start with to alleviate your issues.
When experimenting with brands and dosages, I have found out that I’m needing the 1000mg potency to get a solid eight hours of sleep. And…I wake up feeling energized and well-rested! No brain fog!
Going with a good, reputable company to supply your CBD is important to ensure the safety and efficacy of the CBD products. Give it a try! I think it’s a good safe alternative to sleeping pills or Advil PM to get a good night’s sleep.
Interested in CBD?
Check out my post on the Best CBD Infused Beauty right here!
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