Do you have trouble sleeping due to anxiety? Do you toss and turn due to racing thoughts? Maybe its chronic pain that is keeping you awake? A new report published in The Permanente Journal indicates that CBD can help improve sleep, especially for those suffering from poor sleep due to anxiety or pain.
Dangers of poor sleep
Sleep is a major issue for Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), adults should be getting 7 or more hours of sleep per night. However, about a third of US adults report that they have trouble sleeping and usually get less than this recommended amount. In addition, almost 80% of Americans say they have trouble sleeping at least once a week. The CDC also notes that insufficient sleep has been linked to the development and management of a number of serious diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and depression. So all this lack of sleep is not only keeping us up at night but it is also causing many serious health issues across the country.
The latest on CBD for sleep
The large clinical case study at the Wholeness Center in Colorado, published January 7, 2019, shows that Cannabidiol (CBD) can help with short-term sleep problems caused by anxiety and pain. The study by Dr. Scott Shannon, charted 103 patients who were suffering from sleep complaints due to anxiety symptoms. During the first month of the study period 79.2% of patients reported a decrease in anxiety scores and remained decreased during the three month study duration. Sleep scores also improved in the first month for 66.7% of patients.
The study also found that the CBD was well tolerated in all but three participants. Again leading to the conclusion that CBD does not produce serious side effects. This is good news as many existing prescription sleep aides have resulted in some newsworthy and risky side effects. However, there is still caution that CBD is not the wonder drug being touted online. Dr. Shannon’s conclusion did note that more formal studies on dosing are “much needed.” With the sudden popularity of CBD products, and the ease of purchasing them, more information is needed to know how much is the right amount for someone new to CBD.
Cannabinoids range from non-psychoactive to psychoactive and can help with a broad range of health issues. Alway be sure to “start low, go slow” when increasing your dosing.
Don’t forget about THC for sleep
With all the hype in the news about the wonders of CBD we can’t forget about THC to help with sleep. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is still superior when it comes to inducing sleep. Strains that are dominant in Indica qualities are known for creating a sense of “couch lock” in users. This is the heavy, sleepy feeling that you get from strains that have sedative qualities. Studies show that THC reduces the amount of time it takes to fall asleep and increases REM sleep. However, if you are a novice to using THC for sleep remember that this is also the part of the cannabis plant that is psychoactive. Over medicating can result in feelings of anxiety and paranoia which may cause the opposite effect of getting a good night’s sleep. As with all cannabis products the best advice is to “start low, go slow” with your dosing. Be sure to talk to your certified budtender about the strains that may be best to help you sleep and what are safe doses to start with.
So if you are having trouble sleeping, cannabis could be a natural solution for you. The increased acceptance of CBD products has brought it into the mainstream. So if you don’t have access to products that have THC you can now find hemp CBD products at pharmacies, specialty wellness retailers and online direct from the manufacturers. However, be cautious of how the product was manufactured and what chemicals may be hiding in the ingredients. The 2018 Farm Bill and new FDA oversight of CBD products will help standardize the industry but until that time there are many unregulated products on the market. One of our favorite women in cannabis is Alexis Rosenbaum, check out her company Rosebud CBD for quality products that are tested to meet their high standards.
Nikki is a driven, accomplished business woman with experience in operations, regional management, and finance. She is a solid workforce trainer that delivers top-tier management and sales professionals. Nikki has delivered a history of winning results and outstanding performance in productivity, procurement, solutions, and multi-store leadership. She is also an avid runner and has a passion for health, fitness and personal wellness. Nikki holds a MBA with a focus in finance from Portland State University and a Bachelor’s of Science in business marketing from Humboldt State University.
