It’s no secret that a good night’s sleep is important to our well-being. Proper rest helps reduce stress, balance out hormone levels, improve the immune system, and support cognitive function.
But, if you struggle with symptoms of sleep disorders or have trouble falling and staying asleep, you aren’t alone. These days, there is no shortage of things to keep us up at night. Our screens, anxieties, and workloads can all be a hindrance to a good night’s sleep.
Luckily, there are ways to improve your sleep quality, and incorporating broad-spectrum CBD or full-spectrum CBD into your nighttime routine can be one of them.
So how exactly can CBD help lull you to sleep, and what is the best way to use it for a night of restful ZZZs? Let The Brothers Apothecary guide you through the ideal CBD sleep routine to combat poor sleep.
Can CBD Be Used For Sleep?
CBD products can be a wonderful natural sleep supporter. Many users prefer CBD because it works naturally with the body’s endocannabinoid system (also known as the ECS) to help you Unwind. It doesn’t come with the same hefty label of chemicals, artificial ingredients, and potentially dangerous side effects often found with over-the-counter sleep aids.
How Does CBD Work?
To better understand how CBD can promote sleep, it is important to understand the endocannabinoid system.
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
The ECS is an internal messaging system that uses endocannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, and enzymes to regulate the body and restore balance. The ECS helps monitor mood, appetite, sleep, and more.
When something is throwing off your body’s equilibrium–such as high stress levels or uncomfortable swelling–the ECS responds by producing endocannabinoids in the brain.
These endocannabinoids can travel through the body and bind with CB receptors to help activate the desired function. Shortly after, these endocannabinoids are broken back down by enzymes.
Because phytocannabinoids such as CBD are chemically similar to our own endocannabinoids, they are easily incorporated into the endocannabinoid system.
CBD, in particular, can temporarily block enzymes from breaking endocannabinoids down, which can strengthen their effects.
Cannabinoid Receptors
CBD would not provide full-body support if it weren’t for the cannabinoid receptors so prominent throughout the body. CB receptors are in the brain, spinal cord, organs, skeletal muscles, peripheral tissues, and immune cells.
Currently, there are two main cannabinoid receptors (although many researchers believe there are even more): CB1 receptors and CB2 receptors.
We mainly have CB1 receptors in the central nervous system, while CB2 receptors are prevalent in the peripheral nervous system and immune cells.
When endocannabinoids bind with CB1 receptors in the brain, it can help the ECS regulate mood, stress levels, and sleep. Outside of the brain, endocannabinoids can bind with CB receptors within muscles to help respond to signals and reduce tension throughout the body.
The Nervous System
The ECS helps the nervous system transport messages and activate neurons to maintain homeostasis within the body. Cannabinoids can even interact with hormones and neurotransmitters to promote balance.
When Should I Use CBD for Sleep?
CBD is a versatile compound, and you can use it however it best serves you. Taking CBD shortly before bed when you are feeling overwhelmed can help settle your thoughts so you can shift into sleep more easily that night.
If you hope for more long-term improvements to your sleep habits, you should take CBD for at least a month. Consistency is key to better sleep quality, so it is best to try taking CBD at around the same time each time.
Building and sticking to a regular nighttime routine can further help your body and mind unwind and settle into sleepiness.
Along with taking CBD, you can lean deeper into relaxation by setting your phone aside and engaging in calming activities instead.
A soothing skincare routine, cozying up with a good book, or focusing on meditative breathing in bed can all help you destress as the CBD gets to work in your endocannabinoid system.
How Long Does It Take for CBD To Kick In?
We recommend taking CBD about an hour before you plan on trying to fall asleep, as this is how long it usually takes for CBD to kick in.
Taking CBD oil sublingually (under the tongue) will kick in a little quicker–often between 30 to 45 minutes. Edibles such as CBD gummies or teas will take a little longer for the body to absorb, but the effects can last longer.
What Type of CBD is Best for Sleep?
When it comes to sleep support, our go-to is the Sleep Aid capsule, which combines high-quality CBD with relaxing chamomile, balancing skullcap, and the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin.
You can also count on a caffeine-free CBD tea to help relax the body before bed or a CBD Honey Drop for a naturally sweet nighttime treat that will skip the sugar rush and help settle the mind instead.
CBD tinctures, lotions, and oils are also available with calming ingredients like passion flower, lemon balm, and lemons.
What Effects Does CBD Have?
CBD can help the ECS naturally regulate your sleep cycle by promoting relaxation and providing relief from tension and physical discomfort.
Relaxation
By prolonging the effects of endocannabinoids like anandamide (referred to as “the bliss molecule”) in the brain, CBD can help reduce stress and calm the mind before bed.
CBD may also help block stress-causing molecules from binding to serotonin receptors, which can help promote feelings of rest that stress is known to interfere with.
Along with helping you fall asleep, the calming effects of CBD can help promote a deeper, more restful sleep so that you can wake up feeling ready to take on the day ahead instead of experiencing daytime fatigue.
Reduced Tension
The way the body holds tension can make it difficult to sleep. Suppose the physical effects of stress are keeping you up at night. In that case, CBD can help provide relief by partnering with tension-reducing endocannabinoids as they bind to cb receptors in the muscles.
Eased Discomfort
CBD’s natural soothing properties can help ease discomfort, providing much-needed relief to those sore spots keeping you up at night.
The Bottom Line
If sleep has been escaping you each night, building a bedtime routine that incorporates calming activities and soothing CBD can help you gain consistent sleep habits and improve your overall sleep quality.
Want to see which form of CBD may best support your slumber? Check out our collection at The Brothers Apothecary!
Sources
Brain activity of anandamide: a rewarding bliss? | Acta Pharmacologica Sinica
Jesse Richardson is the co-founder of The Brothers Apothecary. He's an avid tea drinker and the primary creator behind The Brothers' products. An undergraduate of UCLA for Political Science, Jesse currently studies Medicinal Plants at Cornell University and The International School of Herbal Arts & Sciences.
