▷ CBD for sleep disorders ???? Guide ➜ Help, tips & experience

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CBD for sleep disorders

Open, watering eyes, tossing and turning from one side of the bed to the other, and no sleeping position promises relief or even relaxation whilst attempting to finally fall asleep. According to current studies, every third adult suffers from occasional to frequent sleep disorders. The reasons for this are various – the research community is currently aware of some 100 different sleep disorders. These include such obvious things as problems falling asleep or sleeping through the night, but also less well-known phenomena such as restless legs syndrome, where people’s own limbs repeatedly interrupt their sleep with their restless twitching. Sleep disorders involve everything from severe fatigue in the morning to intense nightmares and pathological sleepwalking.

In addition to chemical sledgehammers such as high doses of sleeping pills, or homeopathic remedies, which have virtually no proven effects, many people use CBD against sleep disorders. CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is a plant-based product derived from hemp.

When is comes to sleep disorders, CBD helps calm the body and, more importantly, the mind and does so in a natural way. The process of “winding down”, or the tuning out of conscious thought, as one might put it, is greatly supported by the use of CBD.

Causes – What is the origin of sleep disorders?

Sleep disorders unfortunately have a large number of possible causes. Research into these causes can thus become a fairly tedious affair, especially for sufferers and their doctors. In the case of sleep disorders, until the causes can be found and treated medically or, for example, with psychiatric therapy, CBD can help those affected to finally start sleeping better again. But where do the sleep problems come from, and what kinds of causes are there?

Medical practitioners speak of a number of possible causes. These include

mental disorders
brain diseases
sleep-related breathing disorders
physical complaints
unwanted effects of drugs and medications
the nature of the sleeping environment
ingrained sleeping habits
psychosocial problems

How sleeping pills work

The mechanism of action of sleeping pills (also known as hypnotics or soporifics) is usually declared for consumers, classifying them into those which are strong, requiring a prescription, and those which are medium-strength or weak, which are referred to as non-prescription pills and preparations.

Strong sleeping pills

Strong sleeping pills promote sleep, relieve anxiety and cramps, and calm and relax the muscles.

Weak sleeping pills

As the name suggests, not only are the effects of the weak sleeping pills less pronounced than those of the stronger ones, but so are the side effects. Whilst there is a risk of physical and psychological dependence in the case of strong sleeping pills, this problem is not associated with weaker ones. Essentially, weak sleep medication consists of antihistamines, melatonin and of course herbal sleep remedies. Although antihistamines are a form of medication used against allergies, they also have a sleep-inducing effect. Melatonin, the sleep hormone, usually helps to restore the body’s natural biorhythm.

CBD and sleep disorders – How can cannabidiol help?

In contrast to THC, which is psychoactive, CBD does not cause a state of intoxication, but rather allows the body to achieve true restfulness and complete relaxation. In its pure form, CBD is even used as an antidote to THC.

The calming effect of CBD for sleep disorders derives from the fact that it has a strong muscle relaxing effect. In the form of CBD oil, for example, it begins to take effect some 20 minutes following ingestion. The precise timing depends on the quantity taken and the physical constitution of the user. Unlike states of intoxication, where control over the body is abandoned, CBD creates an entirely natural kind of tiredness and inner peace.

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According to a study from the University of California, participating subjects who suffered from insomnia reported an improvement in their sleep as a result of using substances containing CBD. In a report by researchers at the University of Colorado[1], a 10-year-old female patient, whose sleep disorders were related to post-traumatic stress disorder, was mentioned. Taking CBD oil improved both the quantity and the quality of her sleep.

Another study worth mentioning was undertaken at the University of Michigan[2]. In this study, researchers carried out interviews with people who had already taken cannabis as a therapeutic measure, and asked them about their sleep problems. The majority of respondents stated that their sleep problems were caused by pain. Using cannabis helped about 80 percent of the participants to improve both the quantity and the quality of their sleep. Cannabis was rated by almost everyone as improving their sleep.

Better sleep with cannabidiol – CBD as a sleep aid

Pain reduction is one of CBD’s recipes for success when used as sleep aid. It’s something everyone is familiar with: if you lie in bed with a headache, toothache or aching limbs, you just won’t sleep. CBD means you can kill two birds with one stone. On the one hand, the CBD alleviates the pain that keeps you awake, and on the other, the relaxing effect of this natural hemp product helps you fall asleep.

This improved sleep which occurs through the use of cannabidiol is achieved thanks to the fact that, especially when it comes to chronic conditions, CBD brings about improvements in muscles and joints. Essentially, this happens because CBD expands the arteries and because CBD significantly lowers blood pressure. For these reasons, doctors also see CBD as a genuine and effective alternative to sleeping pills.

The advantages of CBD in the form of oil, for example, over THC are many. For one thing, THC is psychoactive, whilst CBD is not. This is also the reason why it is legal to buy and sell CBD here in the UK. The effects of CBD can vary due to differing doses. The lower the dose, the more it keeps you awake. The stronger the dose, the more calming and soporific the effect. Users can quite safely find out what the right amount of CBD oil is for them through self-experimentation. An overdose, or an underdose, won’t do any harm.

Conclusion

CBD’s ability to help with sleep disorders is due to various factors. Of particular significance are cannabidiol’s function as a painkiller and its calming effect.
Another possibility which you may wish to consider is taking CBG oil.

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27768570 – 24.07.2019

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28926791 – 24.07.2019

Further studies

Taking products containing cannabinoids may result in interactions with various medications. If you are already taking medication, the use of CBD and other cannabinoids should be discussed with your doctor beforehand.