How CBD Could Help with Insomnia

Not getting enough shut-eye every night can do more than mess with your morning mood. It may leave your cranky mood shifting to a severe inability to remain focused and productive at work and school. And before you know it, you’re battling a myriad of health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

That’s how much we need sleep. And as stated by the Sleep Foundation, seven hours should be the minimum number of hours we get per night. You might as well toss that magazine encouraging only four hours of sleep in the bin because productivity goes hand in hand with a good night’s rest.

But for some of us, it’s not as easy as just having the record set straight. For some of us, severe stress, anxiety, chronic pain, age, and even certain medications make closing those eyes very difficult. But thanks to the potential benefits of CBD, we may not have to stare at the ceiling all night anymore.

A Detailed Look Into CBD

CBD is the current buzzword making the rounds on every digital platform, hospital, research center, and so forth. Its potential ability to impact health positively has had scientists and researchers alike scrambling to get a closer look at it. And look at it, they did, helping clear the picture of how different it is from THC.

It’s true: CBD is an active ingredient found in the Marijuana plant, alongside THC. THC is the compound that is responsible for the high that comes with smoking Marijuana. Medical CBD, on the other hand, sourced from the hemp plant, interacts with the nervous system to potentially benefit the body.

And as backed by the World Health Organization, CBD may not display any probability of abuse or dependence in humans.

How Does CBD Work?

CBD, once in the body, interacts with a system known as endocannabinoid. This system, which is found in the central nervous system and the brain, is made up of cannabinoid receptors. Hence, the CBD binds itself to these receptors, specifically, the CB1 receptor and the CB2 receptor.

CB2 receptors demonstrate potential anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects in the body. CB1 receptors, due to their abundance in various parts of the brain, influence pain, sleep, motor control, and memory. Overall, the endocannabinoid system is responsible for the roles mentioned above, but most importantly, to sustain homeostasis.

A state of homeostasis in the body is a state of perfect balance. When the body is no longer balanced, the role of the ECS is to produce a cannabinoid to interact with CB1 and CB2 and restore balance. But when it can’t make those cannabinoids, CBD can come to the rescue.

An excellent example of when the body is imbalanced, in terms of homeostasis, is when insulin levels are imbalanced. This can result in diabetes and other conditions as well. Additionally, CBD may also be promising in helping CB1 and CB2 receptors carry out their roles, such as regulating pain, enhancing sleep, and boosting mental focus.

How Does CBD Help with Insomnia?

As seen above, CBD may help impact the cannabinoid receptors in performing their roles. But for this article, we must take a closer look at how it may affect sleep.

People that tend to have trouble sleeping usually struggle with high levels of stress and anxiety. Such conditions can be caused by high levels of physical pain, life-altering events, and so forth.

And as stated by research, stress, and anxiety elicits high levels of cortisol production in the body.

High cortisol levels in the body have been linked to increased nighttime awakenings, insomnia, and shorter sleep periods. This is because cortisol stimulates mental alertness, making it hard to go to sleep. CBD acts as a sedative by lowering cortisol levels and enhancing sleep by interacting with the CB1 receptor.

CBD comes in many forms: oils, topicals, and even gummies. They are easy to use and have the potential to be very effective in boosting an individual’s overall well-being. Whether you’re battling pain, anxiety, or insomnia, CBD may be able to help.