https://unsplash.com/photos/wBuPCQiweuA
Poor sleep leads to detrimental effects on the body. Inadequate sleep can cause memory issues, a weakened immune system, weight gain, and lack of concentration. It can also cause chronic health issues, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and mental health issues like stress and depression.
There is no medal for going without sleep, so if you are skipping sleep for work, it is best to change your lifestyle habits. But if poor sleep affects you because of chronic or mental health issues, consider a natural compound that many are now using to help them sleep better.
https://unsplash.com/photos/NDPUzuo5a8M
What is CBD?
The name cannabinol (CBD) seems to be everywhere these days. From social media influencers to celebrities, many are raving about this natural compound and its health benefits. CBD belongs to the same plant family as marijuana, but it differs in one critical way, and it is the main reason CBD is now legal in many countries.
While marijuana contains a high THC level, a psychoactive substance, CBD has a low THC content — less than 0.3 percent. So when you take hemp-derived CBD, there is no risk of getting high or overdosing from this cannabinoid.
Instead, you can enjoy the various health benefits CBD provides users. Although research on CBD is inconclusive, early studies show promising results as a potent health tool for several chronic and mental health issues.
With its legalization and rise in popularity, manufacturers are now coming up with various CBD-infused products. CBDfx can be used to get hemp CBD pills, oil tinctures, edibles, balms, skincare products, and other items. Many are trying CBD to improve their health, from helping with anxiety to preventing the onset of Alzheimer’s.
Better sleep is another significant reason users are opting for this natural compound. The following are the top five reasons how CBD can improve your sleep.
https://unsplash.com/photos/529zNTVlLLo
CBD for anxiety and stress
Stress, anxiety, depression, pain attacks are some mental health challenges many of us face. These conditions can all lead to poor sleep when our mind refuses to bow down and stops us from getting some rest. CBD can combat these mental health issues and give you the chance to sleep well.
Researchers had observed how this natural compound could balance the level of cortisol in our body that can be overproduced when chronically stressed. Cortisol is essential in an actual emergency, but when everything is an emergency, it can leave us with a high cortisol level, leading to chronic fatigue, a weakened immune system, and possibly weight gain.
CBD can help with anxiety and depression too. In studies conducted to date, researchers have noted CBD’s potential to trigger serotonin release in the body. The latter is a neurotransmitter, known informally as the happy chemical, because a healthy serotonin level is critical for us to feel well.
https://unsplash.com/photos/8Naac6Zpy28
CBD for grogginess
When insufficient sleep is a nightly issue, grogginess is often the result. Most of us cannot afford to feel tired, dizzy, and confused because we need to get on with our work and never-ending to-do list. CBD can combat grogginess by providing an energy boost. In a study conducted in 2014, researchers observed how this natural compound promotes wakefulness, although they could not explain how it did so.
CBD for trauma
The aftermath of trauma can leave you feeling like an empty shell with only nightmares filling up that emptiness. Poor sleep is often the result when nightmares prevent you from having a restful night or wake you up in the middle of the night. The good news is that CBD can help in this area too.
In a study conducted in 2017, researchers noted how CBD could treat REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). REM is the deepest part of the sleep cycle. It is where we process memory and dreams. When CBD triggers a change in the REM cycle, it helps keep the nightmares at bay and provides you with sound and nightmare-free sleep.
https://unsplash.com/photos/hfvFunLkFgg
CBD for pain
Pain can also cause poor sleep. Ironically, the more pain we are in, the more rest we need, and we often need help to break this vicious cycle. Whether it is temporary or chronic pain caused by a disorder, CBD can help ease pain and provide better rest.
Early studies show the anti-inflammatory properties CBD has to treat chronic inflammation in the body. Studies on chronic joint pain, such as that caused by multiple sclerosis and arthritis, show that CBD helped ease joint pain.
CBD for addiction
From opioids to social media, cigarettes, and food, addiction looks different for all of us. Still, the common denominator here is that when we are curbing our habits, the craving can keep us up at night. CBD can help by diluting the enjoyment we experience when we indulge in our addiction. When a group of opioid addicts was given CBD to help them combat their addiction, they found it easier to say no.
Final Thoughts
Sleep is an important part of our life, and we should do everything in our power to give our bodies and mind the rest they deserve so we can face challenges with focus, positivity, and, why not, even humor.
References:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8257923/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6319597/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4023456/
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11920-017-0775-9
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5874292/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851925/
- https://www.recoveryanswers.org/research-post/cbd-effect-drug-craving-anxiety-heroin-use/
