CBD, the non-psychoactive cousin of THC, has the potential to support restful and consistent sleep for those suffering from both stress and sleep disorders. This medicinal cannabinoid can reduce inflammation from chronic pain and regulate our nervous systems to rest and restore from the daily stress of modern life. In this article we tackle all the basics on using CBD for sleep in Canada. We also include a detailed guide on choosing the perfect CBD product to help you sleep peacefully.
We do our best to provide up-to-date information but this is not medical advice. Please consult a physician for specific CBD questions/concerns or before trying CBD. Some of the links on this website may be affiliate links which means we may earn commission (at no extra cost to you). This helps keep our website ad free and pay our awesome team to keep researching and creating content for you.
Common Struggles For Sleep
There are a myriad of reasons why someone may struggle with sleep – be it a genetic predisposition, a side effect of medication, or perhaps stress and lifestyle factors. Based on a survey published by the public health agency of Canada, 1 in 2 adults have trouble going to or staying asleep while 1 in 5 adults do not find their sleep refreshing.
Insomnia happens to be the most common sleep disorder diagnosis globally, with 30% (and in some countries as high as 60%) of adults suffering from insomnia. This typically impacts people who undergo large amounts of stress, other mental illness conditions, or live a sedentary lifestyle requiring them to sit for longer than 4 hours a day.
Things like sleep scheduling, exercise, and a healthy diet can certainly go a long way for improving the average person’s sleep. Though, living in a fast paced world, it can be difficult to find the time and resources to manage stress properly. When under so much pressure, it can be hard to find the daily rituals that work best for restful sleep.
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What Is Restful Sleep?
Sleep is a complex biological process that occurs when your body rests, lead by the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS). When the PSNS is activated it slows down your heart and breath rates, lowering blood pressure and promoting digestion. This plays a key roll in your body and minds ability to recover from daily living.
When you don’t get quality sleep, this affects your physical and mental health, thinking, and your ability to heal.
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How CBD Affects Quality Sleep
CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system within the nervous system of the body, playing a key role in bodily functions. CBD acts on the part of our body that regulates memory, mood, reproductive health, and many other bodily functions. This means CBD can influence how you experience appetite, emotions, and stress.
A study conducted in 2014 examined patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and the possibilities for therapeutic use of CBD. It was found that CBD worked to improve the symptoms of REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD), a disorder that causes individuals to act out scenes physically while dreaming.
It is possible that CBD can help the body regulate hormonal processes as well as stress responses related to sleeplessness and restless minds before bed. It is still not fully understood how CBD affects sleep on a clinical level, but many individuals have been consuming CBD for stress relief and sleep aid for over a decade.
Between CBD’s ability to stabilize moods and reduce stress, as well as its anti-inflammatory properties it can work as an excellent supplement for anyone struggling with sleep because of stress or chronic pain.
CBD is also useful for eliminating daytime sleepiness and fatigue, which is a major symptom of insomnia. Not only will CBD support better sleep, but it can make managing day-time symptoms of sleep disorders easier.
It is also a great addition to any workout regiment, supporting joint health and muscle recovery. CBD could be an ideal supplement to incorporate into your fitness routine if you feel you are struggling with sleep.
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When To Take CBD Oil For Sleep
There are two key ways to utilize CBD for more restful sleep:
- Taking a CBD supplement daily for mood stability and stress relief can overall improve your health so that you may not be as impacted by daily stressors. This can be taken any time of day, and will typically range from 10-50mg per dose.
- You can also opt to take CBD nightly before bed to promote relaxation and restful sleep. It’s best to take at least 1 hour before bed. Finding your proper dose will be important so you do not accidentally over-stimulate yourself and cause more sleep issues, since a high dose of CBD can often have stimulating effects. It’s recommended to try a dose of 10mg and increase that in 10mg increments each day until you are at your desired effects.
Best CBD Products For Sleep
When considering the best CBD product for sleep aid there are a few factors to keep in mind. It’s important to find retail products that are third-party tests for quality assurance. Concentration of the product is also a critical factor, depending on the size of dose you are looking to try.
Many CBD products formulated for sleep aid will come with a number of other active ingredients such as thiamine and melatonin – it’s important to check all the ingredients and make sure that there will be no unwanted interactions with any other medications you may be taking.
Some CBD products will be derived from isolate (a purified form of CBD) or in variations of full-spectrum CBD oil. In a full spectrum oil there will be a profile of other trace cannabinoids, phenols, and essential oils that may offer added sedative effects. With full-spectrum products it is important to identify that they are meant for sleep-aid, as some trace cannabinoids and terpenes (the smelly compounds in hemp) may keep you up rather than wind you down.
Lastly, it’s always recommended to find products that have been reviewed by customers to verify brand quality and effectiveness.
CBD Gummies For Sleep
One of the more popular products CBD sleep on the market comes in the form of gummy edibles. This means these products will likely be in stock and accessible, making it a dependable product to try.
Dosing is made easy as each chewy piece is dosed accurately and can often be broken into sections for anyone preferring a lower dose.
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CBD Capsules For Sleep Aid
Another common and reliable source of CBD are sleep aid capsules. These can be infused with many different supplements that will improve sleep or the ability to stay asleep through the night, making this a great option for those looking for a stronger solution.
Due to the release time on the capsules, it will take longer to feel desired effects. Sometimes it can help to take half or a single dose 1-2 hours before bed, and then an additional dose right before bed to maintain the slow release throughout the night.
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Transdermal Patches For Sleep
A less popular, but equally effective option for CBD sleep aid are topical patches infused with CBD. These are great for a gentle, slow release throughout the night.
These might be a better option for travel or occasional use as they typically are a little more expensive or difficult to source than capsules or tinctures, but they are deeply effective and will not leave you feeling groggy in the morning the way melatonin or other sleep products might.
CBD Tinctures For Sleep Aid
Lastly, one of the more diverse categories of CBD sleep aid – tinctures! This is a unique category as many of these products are formulated with a blend of herbs and vitamins geared to support the nervous system and relax the body for sleep. It can be slightly more difficult to source as there are so many options but your selection can be narrowed down based on your desired effects:
- Stress and burnout: Tinctures with full spectrum CBD that are paired with adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms can be great for restoring the brain and nervous system. Ingredients like turkey tail, reishi, ashwagandha, licorice root, and rhodiola can increase anti-stress support.
- Light sleepers: Melatonin, passionflower, and high CBN in a full spectrum CBD oil can be ideal for those struggling with waking up multiple times in the night. These herbs and supplements can help you stay asleep until the morning.
- Non-morning people: Trying a plain CBD tincture without added herbs and supplements may be more ideal for you if you already struggle getting up in the morning. This will guarantee you won’t wake up in a fog that some complex remedies will cause.
- Craving restful sleep: CBD infused with chamomile, passionflower, and mint can be great for promoting healthy sleep at the 3 stage of the sleep cycle. More gentle blends like this won’t leave you as hazy in the morning the way melatonin might.
Hopefully this helped you learn more about how using CBD for sleep may be able to help you get a more restful, high quality sleep.
Any statements made in this post are not intended to replace advice from a medical professional. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any CBD product.
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