Ask A Doctor Health Wellness

How does CBD help you sleep?

Written by Dr. Leah Zachar

The National Institute of Health estimates that nearly 1 out of 3 people in the general population complains of some type of sleep disruption, and approximately 1 out of 10 people in the general population has trouble functioning during the day because of their insomnia. Can CBD help?

Question: What causes insomnia?

Answer: Insomnia is caused by anything that interferes with your body’s mental, environmental, or physical balance.

Examples of mental stressors that can cause insomnia are:  anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Examples of environmental stressors are:  laptop or computer use before sleep which emits a “blue light” causing wakefulness, an uncomfortable mattress, or an unusually hot or chilly room.

Examples of physical stressors are:  pain, arthritis, esophageal reflux, and side effects of prescribed medications

Question: How does CBD help you sleep?

Answer: The circadian rhythm is responsible for the maintenance and promotion of sleep. CBD works directly on the sleep-wake cycle. It increases the 3rd phase of sleep (deep sleep), thus giving you a deeper sleep, a longer sleep, and as a result, a more refreshing sleep. Therefore, by taking CBD, you will be able to sleep, and wake refreshed.

Question: What about THC?  Can THC help you sleep?

Answer:  Perhaps temporarily, but definitely not if used regularly.  THC does not “reboot” the circadian rhythm, as CBD does.  When THC is used, there can be the side effect of daytime sleepiness, delayed sleep latency, and memory disturbance. THC is also associated with withdrawal when used regularly and in these cases, you develop insomnia due to THC withdrawal – and you now have a problem on top of a problem….THC dependence plus insomnia.

Question: Is there a connection between anxiety and insomnia?

Answer: Yes. With anxiety, sleep is near impossible as the person is overwhelmed by racing thoughts about past and future events, and a loss of control over one’s responsibilities. With decreased anxiety, the mind is less consumed by racing thoughts. When CBD is taken, the brain relaxes, then the body relaxes, and a natural sleep ensues.

Delivery system – When treating insomnia, the most effective delivery system is tincture or inhaler, as both have a quick onset of action, and when one wants to sleep, they want to sleep “right away”.

Dose: Click HERE for the General CBD Dose Guidelines.

Disclaimer:
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About the author

Dr. Leah Zachar

Dr. Leah Zachar, M.D. is a physician who worked for nearly thirty years in Internal Medicine.
She currently is a scientific adviser to CBD Testers. Dr. Zachar believes that there is much that medical cannabis, and cannabidiol in particular can offer to traditional medicine.