Cure Insomnia With CBD
If you suffer from insomnia or have trouble getting to sleep from time to time, you might be considering turning to CBD oil for help.
Cannabidoil, more commonly known as CBD, has been associated with a number of health benefits, including easing symptoms of anxiety, pain and stress. But is CBD oil an effective treatment for insomnia or will it keep you awake?
What causes insomnia?
Insomnia affects millions of people in the UK and is most commonly caused by stress, anxiety or depression.
Worry-related sleep problems have been on the rise during lockdown, with more than half of Britons saying they have experienced more disturbed sleep than usual.
Can CBD oil help cure insomnia and help you sleep?
While further scientific research is needed on this topic, preliminary studies have suggested CBD oil may be an effective natural remedy for insomnia sufferers, thanks to the way it interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system.
‘Cannabidiol (CBD) is a popular treatment for insomnia, and promotes refreshing REM sleep to reduced excessive daytime sleepiness,’ says Dr Brewer. ‘CBD is proven to be particularly helpful for sleep disorders in people with neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease.’
How does CBD oil for sleep work?
While you might relate cannabis to feeling relaxed and sleepy, using CBD oil to treat sleep disorders is slightly more complex than simply making you feel drowsy. Ironically, CBD oil can make you feel more alert.
So how does it work as a treatment for insomnia and sleep disorder?
‘It is particularly helpful for people whose sleep problems are due to anxiety,’ explains Dr Brewer. ‘A recent review of 72 adults with anxiety or poor sleep found that anxiety scores decreased within the first month in 79.2 per cent and remained decreased during the study duration.
Sleep scores also improved within the first month in 66.7 per cent and it was well tolerated.’
Similarly, one of the other major factors associated with insomnia is stress, but research has shown that CBD oil can improve your stress response, which can in turn help you to relax.
CBD oil is available in a number of forms. It is most readily available as a tincture, which can be taken by applying a few drops under your tongue.
When it comes to CBD dosage, always start small – around 10 to 20mg – its effects should be immediate, so you will be able to tell if the lower dosage is working for you.