Why Should You Be Taking CBD Oil For Sleep?
- Sunrise CBD
- December 4, 2020
According to the Sleep Foundation, the human body contains two sleep regulatory systems – the circadian biological clock and the sleep/wake homeostasis.
After being awake for prolonged durations, your sleep/wake homeostasis tells your body that it’s time to sleep. And after falling asleep, the same system ensures that you get ample sleep to compensate for the hours of being awake.
But to achieve a regular and properly functioning sleep/wake cycle, your sleep/wake homeostasis works synergistically with your circadian biological clock.
Understanding How Your Circadian Rhythm Works
The sleep/wake homeostasis is controlled by a complex cell-signaling system known as the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is a system that hosts the body’s endogenous cannabinoids (known as endocannabinoids) and various endocannabinoid receptors. The endocannabinoid system’s primary role is regulating your body’s natural homeostatic balance, including maintaining a healthy sleep/wake cycle.
On the other hand, your circadian biological clock is controlled by a region in the brain known as the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN). SCN is a group of cells located in the hypothalamus that regulate sleep by responding to changes in lighting conditions. For instance, when you wake up in the morning, your Suprachiasmatic Nucleus sends signals that trigger a rise in your body’s temperature while also stimulating the production of hormones like cortisol. That combination is necessary for staying awake throughout the day. At night, SCN induces the release of sleep hormones like melatonin while delaying the secretion of cortisol.
From the information above, it’s logical to conclude that everyone has a regular sleep/wake cycle. Well, nothing can be further from the truth.
According to statistics, one in every three people suffers from some form of insomnia. While mild insomnia once in a while shouldn’t be an immediate cause for concern, we cannot say the same about chronic insomnia.
The following are some of the common causes of chronic insomnia;
- Stress about your work, family, school, health, or finances
- Anxiety disorders, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder
- Mental disorders like Alzheimer’s disease
- Disruption in your work or travel schedules
- Poor bedtime habits like short naps right before bedtime and stimulating activities like movie-watching
- Uncomfortable sleeping environment
- Eating too much dinner, which could lead to uncomfortable medical conditions like heartburn and bloating
- Consuming too much caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol, especially late in the evening
- Certain medical conditions like respiratory illnesses, chronic pain diseases, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and an overactive thyroid
- Certain medications, such as antidepressants
The Role of CBD in Treating Insomnia
While numerous substances can reduce insomnia, many sleep medications are infamous for inducing a host of side effects. Fortunately, you can now use cannabidiol (CBD) to relieve insomnia and maintain a sleep/wake balance without worrying about experiencing nasty side effects.
CBD is one of the famous cannabis extracts that can treat numerous medical conditions, including sleeplessness. But before you order your CBD gummies Canada, it’s crucial to understand how CBD works against insomnia.
Cannabidiol relieves insomnia by impacting your endocannabinoid system’s performance, thereby boosting the efficiency of your sleep/wake homeostasis. When you consume a CBD-infused product, the compounds in the product (known as phytocannabinoids) enter your body through the endocannabinoid system.
CBD mostly interacts with endocannabinoid receptors known as CB2 receptors, located in peripheral organs instead of your brain. Its limited interaction with receptors in your brain and central nervous system explains why CBD doesn’t cause mind-altering effects.
So, unlike psychoactive cannabis extracts like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), you can use CBD for insomnia without worrying about experiencing euphoria.
Specific Ways CBD Helps to Relieve Insomnia
1. CBD shortens your sleep latency
Sleep latency refers to the time it takes to drift from a complete state of wakefulness to sleep.
Cannabidiol has sedating properties, which explains its positive effects on sleep latency.
2. CBD shortens or eliminates REM Sleep
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is the stage during sleep when we tend to be most physically inactive but mentally alert. The stage is characterized by rapid eye movements and elevated heart rate. According to medical experts, most dreams occur during REM sleep.
While many dreams will not interrupt your sleep, nightmares can wake you up in the middle of the night and even make it difficult to go back to sleep. By eliminating REM, CBD ensures that you have fewer dreams, translating to more restful sleep.
3. CBD treats various symptoms of insomnia
Another way cannabidiol can improve sleep quality is by relieving some of the core symptoms of insomnia.
First, CBD comes with powerful analgesic properties that might be handy in treating sleeplessness induced by chronic pain. Cannabidiol can also relieve anxiety disorders, making it easy to fall asleep.
Studies also cite CBD for its positive effects on REM sleep behavior disorder (RSD), a disorder where a person acts out their dreams. Not only can CBD treat RSD, but the substance might also be useful in treating excessive daytime sleepiness. As such, CBD guarantees quality sleep at night and maximum productivity during the day.
CBD appears to be more effective against insomnia than regular sleep aids. The substance addresses insomnia in various ways and comes with minimal side effects. At worst, some users only report mild cases of dry mouth, drowsiness, and nausea. What’s more, CBD can treat insomnia without inducing euphoria, thanks to its non-psychoactive properties.
About the Author: Jeffery Thompson is a full-time content marketing specialist. He has been closely following the pet and CBD industry trends for quite some time. He has dabbled in various domains. On his off days, he likes to spend his time at the nearest animal shelter or nose deep in a book.
One Response
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