Sleep is essential to our wellbeing. Whether you prefer 6 or 10 hours, we all need it! But with more people around the world struggling to get to sleep and stay asleep, it has become more important than ever to find strategies for getting a good night’s sleep.
And while there are plenty of great sleep aids, our favorite is CBD. If you’re a newbie and not sure how to crack into the CBD realm, using CBD to supplement healthy sleep cycles is a great way to start. Because who doesn’t want a little extra relaxation before dozing off?
But before we get to implementing it into your nightly routine, it’s key to understand why exactly CBD is so great for sleep.
Why does Cannabidiol help you sleep?
When taken in higher doses, CBD is believed to have a sedating effect. In lower doses, it can have a stimulating effect. But for the sake of the sleepless, we’ll focus on higher doses.
To understand why CBD may help you get to sleep faster and stay asleep longer, we need to understand GABA levels. GABA stands for Gamma-aminobutyric acid and is a chemical made in the brain that functions in the central nervous system.
What’s so important about GABA?
CBD naturally boosts GABA levels. With increased GABA activity, the brain’s GABA receptors organically reduce the amount of signals the brain receives. These increased GABA levels can relieve the brain of constant mental activity (like everyday stressors that tend to take over when your head hits the pillow) and support a sense of calm.
Think of it like a game of dodgeball.
Every time a ball is hurled in your direction, naturally you duck to get away. Now imagine that each ball from the opposite team is a stressor and CBD is a window pane between you and the bombardment of dodgeballs. Instead of ducking from the constant barrage of stressors, the balls bounce off the window and away from you.
Perhaps an overly simplified example, but with super legitimate real life application.
CBD also interacts with serotonin receptors. Speaking of dodgeball, let’s throw it back to your middle school science class: serotonin helps regulate mood, feelings of well being, and happiness. And it impacts your entire body, so it’s pretty important.
And while CBD doesn’t necessarily increase serotonin levels, it may affect how your brain’s receptors respond to serotonin that’s already in your body. These interactions could support an overall calming effect on the mind.
Another way to think of this is simply reducing feelings of everyday stress. CBD can support feelings of calm which can lead to relaxation and overall well being. In this way, Cannabidiol allows you to calm down and ultimately get into a relaxed state quicker. And if you feel more relaxed and mellow, of course you are going to be ready to fall asleep.
So the next question is: how can you implement this calming sensation into your nightly routine?
CBD is lipophilic (or fat soluble), which means it compounds in your body over time. Because of this, it’s good to take it every day. Just like Pavlov’s dogs: If you take it every night, about an hour before going to bed, your mind may simply start to associate CBD with relaxation and sleep. Just this simple association could help you get into a dreamstate quicker!
Lucky for you, there are plenty of options for implementing CBD into your sleep routine for optimal health benefits.
CBD Drops
Another great option is CBD drops. Drops are arguably the best option in terms of versatility and convenience. Not only can you just take CBD oil drops straight (by putting some oil under your tongue), but you can also get creative.
If you are using CBD drops for sleep, you can put a few droppers into chamomile, passionflower, or any other bedtime tea. These other natural ingredients can amplify the effects of CBD and get you to sleep even faster.
If you go the CBD oil route, you definitely want to be sure to check the labels and make sure you know how much CBD you are actually getting. For example, a 2000mg CBD oil will be more concentrated than a lower dose of say, 300mg. And as we discussed before, when taken in higher doses, CBD is believed to have a sedating effect. So if you’re using CBD for sleeplessness, you will want to opt for a higher dose of 2000mg or more for the best results and best value.
Gummies
If you have a sweet tooth, CBD gummies will be your new best friend. Pop a few gummies when you feel that sweet hankering coming on—you’ll satisfy a little dessert craving and get ready to snooze.
Capsules
Another option is to opt for a supplement with CBD and other natural ingredients. These little capsules contain what could be your best night’s sleep, because they combine CBD with several well-known sleep-inducing ingredients. We suggest a supplement with CBD, Valerian Root, Passionflower, 5-HTP, and Ashwagandha for best results.
Is CBD better than other sleep aids?
While everybody is unique and will react differently to various sleep aids, we highly recommend trying CBD on for size.
Because it is derived from the earth and helps with calm and sleep, it’s a great addition to your nightly routine. And CBD has not always been as accessible as it is now, so it’s quite a privilege that it has become so widely available as a sleep aid alternative. If you prefer natural alternatives and remedies, it doesn’t get much better than CBD!
Plus, if you opt for a product with a high CBD concentration, a small bottle of CBD oil may last longer than other sleep aids because you won’t need much to get the job done! So it’s not only natural and effective, but cost efficient too.
Grab some CBD and hit the hay. Happy sleeping!
