By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    physical health
    5 Ways Playing Games Can Improve Neural and Physical Health
    September 9, 2022
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    February 16, 2022
    healthcare organization
    5 Actionable Strategies For Healthcare Organizations
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    email marketing in healthcare
    Harnessing the Power of Email Marketing in Healthcare
    October 26, 2023
    healthcare claims
    The Role of Communication in Resolving Complex Workers’ Compensation Claims in Healthcare Settings
    September 22, 2024
    Wounds and Wisdom: What Motorcycle Accidents Teach Us About Health and Healing
    Wounds and Wisdom: What Motorcycle Accidents Teach Us About Health and Healing
    February 12, 2025
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Can CBD Help You Sleep Better? Here’s What To Know
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Insomnia > Can CBD Help You Sleep Better? Here’s What To Know
InsomniaMental HealthWellness

Can CBD Help You Sleep Better? Here’s What To Know

Diana Hope
Last updated: April 27, 2020 5:34 pm
Diana Hope
Share
8 Min Read
SHARE

 

Contents
What is CBD?CBD and InsomniaThings to Consider

It’s not at all unusual to experience insomnia from time to time. Most of us can remember nights we spent staring at the ceiling and glancing at the clock to calculate how many hours we have until we need to get ready for work. Once we get to work, we’re basically just trying to get through the day. We feel groggy and irritable; we can’t focus, and we have a hard time controlling our emotions.

Unfortunately, it seems that the rates of insomnia and other sleep-related disorders have increased in recent years. It could be that our lives have become more stressful as the labor market is more unstable. Our diets have also worsened, and we’re more engaged with technology than ever before. Whatever the causes may be, we’re all extra tired and extra sleep-deprived.

Although Cannabis had been used as a sleep aid for centuries, it’s only in the past few years that legislators have loosened restrictions regarding research into the potential medical applications of the plant. As a result of this research, CBD has become the newest buzzword in the health and wellness industry.

More Read

Innovations And Human Creativity In The Time of Corona
The Top 5 Surprising Benefits Of A Chiropractic Adjustment
How Top Rated Hospitals Are Improving the Patient Experience
Unlocking a Healthier You: Shedding Unwanted Pounds
5 Morning Habits That Can Improve Your Health

What is CBD?

The Cannabis sativa plant has more than 100 different cannabinoids, among which THC and CBD are the best known. THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol and is responsible for the psychoactive effects we usually associate with “smoking weed”: relaxation, euphoria, increased appetite, a propensity for introspection and philosophical thinking and, eventually, sleepiness. THC creates these effects because of its ability to bind directly to the CB1 receptors of the endocannabinoid system.

CBD or cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive and non-addictive cannabinoid. Unlike THC, it cannot bind to cannabinoid receptors directly and works by stimulating the body to produce its own cannabinoids such as anandamide, thus promoting homeostasis. Many people are afraid that CBD-based products such as Organic CBD Nugs will make them “high,” but their worries stem from misconceptions. These products are, in fact, derived from hemp, a strain of Cannabis with less than 0.3% THC concentration. This is much lower than what would be needed to cause any motor impairment or euphoria.

CBD and Insomnia

Insomnia can have many different causes. It can result from external factors such as sleeping on an uncomfortable bed or in a noisy room. It can stem from drinking too much coffee or drinking coffee too close to your bedtime, from certain medications or a disruption in the circadian rhythm like jet lag or excessive exposure to blue light. Insomnia can also be a symptom of another condition such as ADHD, PTSD, depression, or anxiety.

People with insomnia often try to treat their symptoms with prescription sleeping pills, which, unfortunately, are not effective long term and can lead to addiction. Then there are over the counter medications, but these often cause daytime sleepiness, grogginess, and confusion.

There are several studies suggesting that CBD can be useful in treating symptoms of insomnia. However, you need to keep in mind that research is still in its infancy, so the precise mechanism through which CBD modulates sleep remains unclear. Since CBD seems to interact with serotonin and GABA receptors in the brain, researchers theorize that this lowers anxiety and promotes relaxation. Note that benzodiazepines (prescription drugs used to treat anxiety and insomnia) also target GABA receptors.

The most relevant study on the therapeutic benefits of CBD for anxiety and insomnia was published in 2019 in the Permanente Journal by Shannon et al. This study had 72 participants – 47 with anxiety and 25 with difficulties sleeping. After four weeks of receiving 25 mg CBD pills, 79.2% reported lower levels of anxiety, and 66.7% reported improved quality of sleep.

In a 2013 study published by Chagas et al. in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, CBD was injected into the peritoneum of Wistar rats at different dosages – 2.5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg. Based on the recordings they made of the light and dark periods over four days, it seems that CBD increased sleep duration in a dose-dependent manner, and the group that received 40 mg also had higher REM sleep latency.

Chagas was involved in another study on REM sleep with human subjects, published in 2014 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. Participants had Parkinson’s disease and REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD – a condition that makes the person act out their intense and sometimes violent dreams, common in patients with Parkinson’s). The study found a reduction in the intensity and frequency of RBD.

Things to Consider

CBD products come in different forms with different methods of application. You can choose from oils and tinctures, pills and capsules, edibles such as gummies, or vaping concentrates for faster results.

The dosage will depend on your weight and body chemistry. You should start with the lowest dose and work your way up to what gives you the best results. Note that small doses of CBD reduce daytime sleepiness and increase alertness, so when you begin, it’s better to take it in the afternoon until you find the level that induces sleep. Even if you have friends that have already tried it and they recommend a certain dosage, remember that what works for them won’t necessarily work for you.

As you saw from the studies we mentioned in the article, results are not immediate. The effects are assessed after about four weeks, so you’ll need to be patient.

CBD is generally well tolerated even at high dosages. We know this from clinical trials done for Epidiolex – an FDA approved drug for treating epilepsy seizures. They tested it on youths between 2 and 18 years old at an equivalent of 1,360 mg for an adult of 150 pounds. CBD is also not addictive, and researchers are looking into its potential application as a treatment for psychostimulant addiction.

However, CBD can enhance the sedation effects of alcohol and can interact with other medications. You should consult your doctor before trying it to make sure it’s safe, especially if you’re CBD, already taking prescribed medications to treat your insomnia.

TAGGED:cbdsleepsleep bettersleep habitssleep hygienesleep routine
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

protein diet
Wellness

Protein Diet Overload

September 28, 2013
work life balance for physicians rocks
Wellness

Work Life Balance for Doctors – Whistler Mountain Hike

August 30, 2012

How to Make Your Hair Look Thicker and More Voluminous

June 5, 2018

When Patients Leave: Why They Fire the Doctor

December 26, 2017
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?