Many people struggle to get a good night's sleep. In fact, it's so common that about 70 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder and about a third of adults are regularly short on sleep. Healthy sleep habits are essential, but everyone could use some help now and then. One option for supporting healthy sleep and making it easier to get the rest you need is CBD.
What is CBD?
CBD is short for cannabidiol. It's a cannabinoid, a compound extracted from the cannabis plant. CBD is usually extracted from industrial hemp, a type of cannabis plant.
Another well-known cannabinoid is THC, which is extracted from another cannabis plant, marijuana. Both CBD and THC can offer therapeutic effects, but CBD can offer the effects without the euphoric high experienced with THC. For some people, CBD is preferable because it can offer benefits for sleep, pain, anxiety, and more, all without the high of THC.
Why CBD For Sleep?
When you're having a hard time sleeping, we know you can feel utterly hopeless. You might even turn to over the counter or prescription sleep aids. But these can have side effects and be habit-forming so recommend using them as an absolute last resort with the advisement from a doctor.
CBD can be an effective alternative to sleep medication and can offer relief for everyday insomnia. And, it can help relieve two common sources of poor sleep: pain and anxiety.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that cannabidiol offered relief for both insomnia and anxiety within the first month of use.
Additionally, a review of research by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that cannabis and cannabinoids can be an effective solution for pain management. In fact, some people are able to replace prescription pain killers with cannabis.
Is CBD Safe?
CBD is overall a low-risk drug. According to the World Health Organization, CBD has a good safety profile. It has little risk of side effects, and is generally well tolerated by users. It also carries little to no risk of addiction or dependency.
Is it legal?
At the federal level, CBD is legal, as it's a hemp product. And hemp sourced CBD is legal in almost every state, but there are exceptions. It's important to confirm whether CBD is legal in your state, and which types.
For example, although hemp sourced CBD is legal in most states, marijuana sourced CBD for medical or recreational use isn't legal nationwide.
Which Forms of CBD Are Best For Sleep And Relaxation?
CBD can be taken in a variety of ways, and there isn't one that's necessarily better than the other. Typically, it comes down to personal preference. You can choose from CBD tinctures, which you drop under your tongue, topical products such as creams, inhalation such as vaping, edibles, or even capsules.
Edibles are a popular form for CBD, but they can be slow to take effect. If you're using CBD edibles for sleep and relaxation, it's a good idea to take them before you actually need to get to sleep.
If you'd like to make CBD part of your bedtime routine, consider topical applications, too. For example, you can take a warm, relaxing bath with a CBD bath bomb. Just make sure to drink plenty of water afterwards! The detox process will require you to hydrate.
If you're struggling with sleep, CBD could potentionally help. It's a low-risk drug with the potential to help relieve anxiety, pain, and chronic insomnia. Consider how you can use CBD and what might be the best method for you to use it and get the rest and relaxation you need to feel your best.
Amelia Noble is a researcher with the CBD Awareness Project. When she's not working, you can find her playing board games.