Does CBD Help You Sleep?
Lack of sleep has a profound impact on your hormones. If you struggle to sleep, you are not alone. Even if your sleep habits are pretty good, small improvements can greatly impact your quality of life. The use of CBD for sleep has emerged as a promising avenue for those seeking natural solutions to enhance their sleep quality. The connection between CBD and sleep stems from its interaction with the body's endocannabinoid system, influencing various physiological functions, including sleep regulation. Research indicates that CBD's interaction with receptors in this system could promote relaxation and alleviate issues contributing to sleep disturbances.
CBD's potential to alleviate anxiety and stress plays a pivotal role in improving sleep. By modulating neurotransmitter activity, CBD fosters a sense of calmness, making it easier to drift off and stay asleep. Studies have highlighted CBD's ability to reduce anxiety levels, positioning it as a potential aid for individuals struggling with sleep due to stress-related issues.
Additionally, the use of CBD for sleep may have an impact on factors like chronic pain and inflammation, further underscoring its efficacy for sleep improvement. Its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties offer relief from discomfort, potentially enabling individuals to achieve a more comfortable and uninterrupted sleep experience. Addressing these underlying factors can significantly contribute to enhancing sleep quality for those dealing with pain-related sleep disturbances.
It's crucial to recognize that while using CBD for sleep shows a lot of promise, individual responses can vary. Factors such as dosage, product quality, and individual physiology influence its effectiveness. Seeking guidance from a healthcare professional before integrating CBD into one's sleep routine is prudent, ensuring safe and optimal usage. Exploring the potential of CBD for sleep may unveil a natural pathway toward achieving restorative and revitalizing nights.
Using CBD for sleep; A holistic approach.
The undeniable truth is we are experiencing a health crisis in the world like no other time in history. Much of it is due to stress, poor diet, lack of movement, poor sleep habits, and lack of time outside, but few of us make the simple changes needed to live a happier, healthier life. Despite countless discoveries, we are failing to solve our physical and mental health issues. I'm here to tell you that you have the power to make the changes that will greatly improve your sleep and your health. There is a metric ton of online health and wellness advice and coaching; frankly, it becomes overwhelming. The sheer amount of info put out is enough to confuse anyone. You don't need a PhD to get better sleep; you can dig deeper later if you want to.
Just about everyone will agree that a healthy lifestyle includes quality sleep, a good diet, stress reduction, and exercise, not necessarily in that order. When we take a look at these pillars of a healthy lifestyle, we start to see that they all work together to improve sleep. Let's start by improving your sleep. I'll summarize an easy plan to improve your sleep, but along the way, we'll discuss how CBD for sleep can have a holistic effect on your overall health.
The Connection Between CBD For Sleep and Stress.
The intricate relationship between stress and sleep is a well-established phenomenon, with heightened stress levels often disrupting the ability to attain restful sleep. In recent years, CBD for sleep has garnered attention for its potential to mitigate stress and anxiety, offering a promising avenue for those seeking natural remedies to improve sleep quality. CBD interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system, modulating various physiological functions related to stress response and sleep regulation.
Research indicates that CBD's interaction with specific receptors in the brain may reduce anxiety and stress levels, fostering a calmer state of mind conducive to falling asleep. By influencing neurotransmitter activity and dampening the body's stress response, using CBD for sleep creates an environment that promotes relaxation, making it easier to unwind and prepare for a restful night. Moreover, its potential to mitigate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) further underscores its efficacy in stress reduction, potentially translating to improved sleep outcomes for individuals affected by these conditions.
CBD's stress-alleviating properties contribute not only to the onset of sleep but also to its overall quality. By addressing underlying stressors that may disrupt sleep continuity, CBD aids in maintaining a more undisturbed and deeper sleep state throughout the night. Its ability to soothe the mind and body offers a holistic approach to managing stress-related sleep disturbances, presenting a promising alternative for individuals seeking to improve their sleep without the use of pharmaceutical interventions.
However, while CBD shows promise in stress reduction and sleep enhancement, individual responses may vary. Factors such as dosage, product quality, and an individual's unique physiology can influence its effectiveness. Consulting with healthcare professionals or sleep specialists can provide personalized guidance on integrating CBD for sleep as part of a comprehensive approach to stress management and sleep quality.
The Nature Of Sleep And Exercise.
Sleep is how we recover from mental stress and physical activity. The holistic benefit of using CBD for sleep is that you recover faster when you have longer periods of quality, uninterrupted sleep, and you wake refreshed and able to take on the day. You might even have the energy to get a little exercise. Adding some exercise to your daily routine creates a feedback loop that leaves you tired, less anxious, and ready for a good night's sleep. This is where your use of CBD for sleep can start to impact the other pillars of a healthy lifestyle.
Exercise and time outside have been linked with lower rates of anxiety and depression, better sleep, and a strengthened immune system, so the cascade of benefits can make you happier, healthier, and more productive. After a few nights of using CBD for sleep, you may start to feel better physically and think more clearly. Within a day or two of increasing your exercise and time in nature, you may also start to sleep better. Using CBD for sleep may also help with the soreness and inflammation from your new or old exercise routine. You can see how the holistic benefits of using CBD for sleep start to pile up.
How Sunlight And CBD Can Help You Sleep Better.
The sun has the power to influence our lives and our sleep quality. It provides us with the energy we need to live and the essential vitamin D for our health. Vitamin D is important for a variety of reasons, including maintaining strong bones, fighting infection, and reducing the risk of cancer. Sun exposure is also important for our mental health. Sunlight triggers the release of serotonin, which helps to regulate our moods. Sunlight is also thought to help improve symptoms of depression. The sun helps your immunity to colds, viruses, and diseases and can help reset your circadian rhythm by getting sunlight early in the day. The sun, or lack of it, can also significantly affect your sleep. Just 15 minutes of exposure to the sun, both early morning and late evening, can reset your circadian rhythm and help your sleep immensely.
CBD's interaction with the endocannabinoid system, which plays a crucial role in regulating bodily functions, offers a potential avenue for understanding its impact on the circadian rhythm. Studies propose that using CBD for sleep might influence specific receptors involved in regulating sleep and wakefulness, potentially modulating the timing and quality of our sleep cycles. This interaction hints at CBD's ability to fine-tune the body's internal clock, fostering more consistent and restorative sleep patterns.
Furthermore, CBD's potential to mitigate stress and anxiety, which often disrupt the circadian rhythm, presents another aspect of its impact. By reducing stress levels, CBD might indirectly contribute to stabilizing the body's internal clock, promoting a more harmonious balance between wakefulness and rest. Improved stress management could potentially aid in synchronizing the circadian rhythm, leading to better overall sleep quality and daytime alertness.
Using Nutrition and CBD For Better Sleep.
The influence of nutrition on our sleep patterns is an often-underestimated aspect of overall well-being. However, emerging research emphasizes the profound impact that dietary choices can have on the quality and duration of our sleep. A balanced and mindful approach to nutrition fuels our bodies and plays a pivotal role in regulating our sleep-wake cycles and promoting restorative sleep.
Certain nutrients, such as tryptophan and magnesium, are known for their sleep-enhancing properties. Tryptophan, found in foods like turkey, chicken, nuts, and seeds, is a precursor to serotonin and melatonin, neurotransmitters that regulate sleep and relaxation. Likewise, magnesium, abundant in green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains, aids in muscle relaxation and the production of GABA, a neurotransmitter that promotes sleep. Much like the use of CBD for sleep, integrating these nutrients into our diets contributes to a more conducive environment for achieving restful sleep.
Conversely, the consumption of stimulants like caffeine and certain types of food close to bedtime can disrupt sleep patterns. Caffeine, present in coffee, tea, and some sodas, is a stimulant that can interfere with the ability to fall asleep. Additionally, high-fat and spicy foods close to bedtime may lead to indigestion or discomfort, impacting the quality of sleep. Being mindful of the timing and content of meals, especially in the hours preceding sleep, can significantly influence the ease and depth of our rest.
Adopting a holistic and balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats supports overall health and improves sleep quality. Striking a balance with nutrition, steering clear of heavy meals before bedtime, and incorporating sleep-supportive nutrients and CBD for sleep can play a pivotal role in cultivating healthy sleep habits and optimizing our nightly rejuvenation.
Blackhouse Botanicals Has The Best CBD For Sleep
Studies indicate that using CBD for sleep may improve sleep quality, help you get to sleep, stay asleep, and fall back asleep faster with little to no side effects or drowsiness the next day. One study indicates that using CBD for sleep can help reduce anxiety by providing a calming effect on the central nervous system (Source). Because everyone is unique in how they respond to cannabinoids, Blackhouse Botanicals has three different CBD Gummy formulas, all geared toward sleep and recovery. Our CBG/Delta 8 THC gummies have been great for customers who don't enjoy the more potent psychoactive effects of Delta 9 THC. The CBD/CBG gummies are an amazing product with plenty of THC but a more comfortable effect than you get from most Delta 9 Gummies that lack other cannabinoids that create a true entourage effect. Blackhouse Botanicals CBD gummies are our most popular and are packed with cannabinoids. You will enjoy these if you have a higher tolerance to THC and cannabinoids. When you find your favorite, I promise it will change your world.
A Simple Plan to Fix Your Sleep.
1. Figure out what time you will go to bed and when you will wake up. Plan at least 7-8 hours of sleep. Commit to doing this now because the first step may be simple, but starting is always the hardest part. Just set your alarm. It doesn't need to be set for 4 am. You can even set a bedtime reminder on your phone to prompt you to go to bed at the same time every day.
2. Turn off and dim as many lights in your house as you can shortly after dark and leading up to bedtime, and stay off your phone and away from screens for at least an hour before bed. Make your bedroom as dark as possible.
3. If you struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep, try using CBD for sleep. Take a CBD Gummy or tincture forty-five minutes to an hour before bed. Experiment with which one works best for your body. Using CBD for sleep is a great way to jump-start your new sleep habit.
4. Get up when the alarm goes off!!! Are you a snooze user? As soon as that alarm starts ringing, put your feet on the floor in an act of defiance and roll out of bed. Try putting the alarm on the other side of your bedroom, so you have to get up to turn it off. Another trick you can use is to count backward from 5; when you get to 1, roll over and put your feet on the floor. This little trick can help with all sorts of procrastination throughout the day. Try it when you don't feel like starting a project, 5,4,3,2,1 go.
5. Get outside and get direct sun on your skin and in your eyes. Take those sunglasses off! You look amazing in them, but direct sunlight in your eyes is crucial. If you can, exercise in the morning, even if it is a short walk around a park or your neighborhood. Getting sun early in the morning and late in the day will help reset your natural circadian rhythm.
Work at this every day for two months, and you will have a new healthy habit. Sixty-six days is what some research says it takes to create a habit that sticks; other studies indicate 27 days, but it won't take long for this to become part of your life. Don't beat yourself up if you miss your bedtime here and there. Just get back on track.
Focusing on making one healthy change at a time will be easier than trying to figure out a new diet, a new workout routine, and new sleep habits simultaneously. You can start by trying CBD for sleep and then work on the other changes. If you already have your diet or exercise plan dialed in, congrats! This will be the perfect addition to an already great plan. Your mood, energy level, and sleep quality should start to improve dramatically, all thanks to your discipline, nature, and using CBD for sleep. Starting is hard; I promise you that quality sleep and time in nature are a gift and will improve your life in countless unforeseen ways.
Disclaimer: The Blackhouse Botanicals Blog is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. While we strive to provide quality links and studies, the use of information in this blog or materials linked from this blog is at the user’s own risk. Users should seek professional medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of a healthcare professional for the treatment of any medical condition they may have. By using blackhousebotanicals.com, the user agrees that this website does not constitute a replacement for health and fitness advice from a professional provider.
References:
Shannon S, Lewis N, Lee H, Hughes S. Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. Perm J. 2019;23:18-041. doi: 10.7812/TPP/18-041. PMID: 30624194; PMCID: PMC6326553.