How Can CBD Help to Improve Sleep?
With the number of people affected by sleeplessness at an all-time high due to the epidemic of stress, there is a growing interest in seeking natural remedies for sleep. Even in normal times, approximately thirty to thirty-five percent of the population experiences sleeping issues. Now more than ever, sleep is a struggle, and we need easy solutions to ease our minds.
CBD works in harmony with the body to help us maintain balance and overall wellness. The human body is home to what is referred to as the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), a system dedicated to cannabinoids. The ECS is the master regulatory system of the body, which consists of receptors that are responsible for certain cannabinoids, including CBD. CBD and other active compounds in the plant help your body’s natural stress response, which plays a role in functions like mood, immunity, sleep and more.
Stress and sleep are intimately connected, with sleeping issues being one of the most common outcomes of stress. Stress, a modern epidemic that is considered “the social toxin of today”, is the cause of an estimated 75 to 90% of all doctors visits, and it’s a health issue that affects us all in different ways. According to research from Harvard University, “Stress can have damaging effects on learning, behavior, and health across the lifespan.” One common way that stress impacts our daily health and quality of life is through sleeping issues.
There’s growing evidence suggesting that CBD supports healthy sleep patterns, and studies suggest that CBD may have the ability to help us both fall asleep and stay asleep. There is growing evidence that suggests CBD supports sleep, and early studies have been conducted on CBD and its efficacy for better sleep. A 2019 study looked at 72 adult participants with stress and poor sleep and 48 of the study participants reported better sleep within 30 days. Scientists believe that CBD helps to support sleep because of its relationship to cortisol, the “stress hormone”. Levels of cortisol typically peak in the morning, but some people with sleeping issues may have high cortisol levels at night, which is associated with an increased number of nighttime disturbances. In one recent study, participants with poor sleeping habits were given CBD at high concentrations and their cortisol levels decreased dramatically, which enabled quality sleep. Growing evidence suggests that CBD may impact the body’s natural release of cortisol, which may explain its role as a natural sleep-aid.
Researchers believe that CBD may also help with other health issues that indirectly contribute to sleep quality:
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Body tension
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Mood
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Stress response
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Immunity
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Metabolism
The connection between CBD and stress is known and documented, and for many people, the underlying source may be related to stress. Given CBD’s efficacy in supporting stress, there is evidence to suggest that CBD may play a critical role in sleep quality and support.
