Getting enough sleep isn’t easy for some people. Busy lives, stress, restless leg syndrome, chronic pain, depression, so many factors can cut into a good night’s sleep. In fact, it’s estimated that 70 million suffer from insomnia, insufficient sleep or sleep disorders.
What’s a body to do? CBD may be an option that bears some scrutiny.
Could CBD help you sleep?
If you struggle with chronic sleep deprivation, you know it’s no laughing matter. Sleeping pills and other pharmaceuticals can have unsavory side effects and can also be habit-forming. But CBD may offer a natural option that has few side effects, if any, and isn’t addictive.
Because of its nature, CBD can produce calming, pain-reducing and anti-inflammatory effects. It does so through the body’s inherent endocannabinoid system. If you’ve read my blogs before, you know that CB1 and CB2 receptors are sprinkled throughout our muscles, brains and nerves. This system regulates many physiological processes including mood, pain perception, appetite, and cognitive functions, all of which can be a factor in sleep issues.
So, let’s break it down.
CBD, anxiety and insomnia
A major cause of insomnia is stress. Anxiety about family, job, money, you name it can keep you from falling asleep at night. As stressors are added, and brain activity ramps up, sleep eludes you even further. CBD, however, is a known stress and anxiety reliever. Plus it has the added benefit of being less addictive than prescription medication and is more effective over the long-term.
CBD and chronic pain
Often proven to relieve chronic pain, CBD can be a godsend if pain is keeping you up at night. Pain, often caused by inflammation, is taken to task with CBD, which is an anti-inflammatory. In fact, studies have shown that even difficult to treat pain can be lessened with CBD.
CBD, depression and PTSD
Depression is another culprit in stealing precious hours of sleep. But, here again, CBD has been proven to restore the chemical balance in the brain that often can cause depression. The same is true for sleep problems caused by waking often during the night with anxiety or fear caused by a traumatic event.
CBD and restless leg syndrome
It’s estimated that one in 10 Americans have this disorder. It is characterized by an uncomfortable need to move your legs when you are at rest. Although few studies have been done, it’s thought that using CBD inhibits prostaglandin biosynthesis and blocks pain receptor pathways, which in turn, lessens the need to move your legs.
These are just a few of the ways CBD may help you sleep. As always, I caution you to look more deeply into how it can help you. Find out what unfavorable interactions may occur if you have certain conditions or take medications. Also learn all you can about the CBD you want to use. I posted a blog a couple months ago that can help you know what to look for.