Many people suffer from it: sleep problems. If you have sleep problems, it can affect your life. Not only professionally but also privately. In the next blog article, we will look at what you can do about sleep problems and give you some useful tips.
The most frequently asked question we get is: does CBD help with insomnia? In times of crisis and uncertainty, more people suffer from insomnia. This can cause you to worry about the future and you can't clear your mind properly. You get stressed more easily, and tensions can arise. Everyone has experienced a sleepless night at some point. If you have an important event, have to speak in front of a large group, or are nervous about something, this can cause tension and poor sleep the night before. This type of insomnia is not a sleep disorder. If the insomnia persists, then we speak of a problem, a sleep disorder.
What is insomnia?
Insomnia, also known as sleeplessness, can occur in different forms. A mild form of insomnia often lasts only briefly. You can also suffer from chronic insomnia, which we then call a sleep disorder. Insomnia is often caused by underlying issues. Think of stress, anxiety disorders, burnout, and other phobias. If you have it, you often end up in a vicious circle. You have a heavy workload that leads to stress. Because of the stress, you sleep poorly. Since you sleep poorly, you are tired and perform worse, have less energy, and become even more stressed. At work, more pressure is put on you, and you start making mistakes. This keeps you awake at night again. You end up in a vicious circle you can't escape.
What can help against insomnia?
If you suffer from insomnia, there are several things that can help. We have listed the most important ones:
- Do not watch TV, use a tablet, or be on your phone before going to sleep
- Make sure you get enough daylight. Go outside for at least half an hour a day
- Look for the underlying cause of your insomnia
- Make a to-do list. And start the day with what you dread the most
- Eat healthily and supplement your diet with vitamins or CBD oil
- Try to exercise for half an hour every day
When you feel good, you reduce external pressure. Think of work stress or the tasks and chores you have to do privately. If you suffer from insomnia, it’s good to make a plan. Knowing what to expect and what you need to do helps you get through the day with much less stress. Eat the frog, meaning start the day with the task you dread the most. Once that’s done, you can complete other tasks with a calmer mind. This applies both privately and at work. A healthy diet and enough exercise also contribute to your body’s fitness. A healthy body can handle much more.
What many people do before going to sleep is watch TV, use a tablet, or check social media on their phone. The blue light from your phone and TV causes poorer sleep. Our advice is to put your tablet or phone away half an hour before bedtime. You can still read a book or finish up last things around the house.
What is CBD?
CBD, which stands for cannabidiol, is a compound from the cannabis plant. CBD oil is often compared to cannabis oil but is not the same. Cannabis oil contains a high amount of THC, while CBD oil usually contains little or no THC. The cannabis plants used to make CBD products are grown solely for CBD production. It is not possible to make cannabis oil or other cannabis products from them.
In addition to CBD, the cannabis plant contains other cannabinoids and terpenes. Think of CBN, CBC, CBG, and many others. When CBD is produced and not filtered, the CBD product contains all cannabinoids. This is known as Full Spectrum CBD. The CBD then also contains a small amount of THC, never more than 0.05%. Besides Full Spectrum CBD, there is also pure CBD, which consists of only CBD, and CBD THC-free. These products contain no THC but do include all other cannabinoids. In Full Spectrum CBD, the cannabinoids enhance each other's effects, creating the ‘entourage effect.’
CBD and Sleep
We previously wrote a blog about the proven benefits of CBD. Here we looked at the source research done on CBD. If you want to use CBD to improve your sleep, there is a CBD oil with melatonin. Often, if you have sleep problems, you also have underlying issues such as stress, anxiety, or panic attacks. It is therefore wise to look at the root cause of your sleep problems.
CBD with melatonin can help promote your sleep. Later in this blog article, we will discuss melatonin and how it can help with your sleep.
If you want to use CBD because you have sleep problems, it is wise to choose the right dosage. At ProHemp, we have years of experience and a team of specialists ready to help and guide you if you want to use CBD. You can request a free consultation to find the best CBD oil and the right dosage.
The right CBD dosage for sleep problems
CBD is not a miracle cure that makes you sleep like a log the first night and makes all your problems disappear. If you use CBD, it is important to use it correctly. Proper use and the right dosage are important. If you have never used CBD before, it is important to start with a lower percentage. Often, 20% CBD is recommended for sleep problems. To let your body get used to the CBD, we advise starting with 10% CBD.
Example: You have been fired from your job and there is no progress with your job applications. This causes you a lot of stress and you sleep very poorly. You wake up several times during the night and when you get up in the morning, you are still tired. During the day, you have difficulty concentrating and you want to use CBD. During a consultation, you are advised to use 20% CBD oil, but you have never used CBD oil before.
You take the following steps:
- You start with a 10% CBD oil and gradually increase it
- During the first week, you take three drops three times a day
- You drop the CBD oil under your tongue and let the CBD oil sit for 90 seconds
- You wash down the CBD oil with water.
- You take the CBD oil 30 minutes before or after a meal.
- After 1 week, you increase the dosage by 1 drop. In the second week, you take 4 drops per dose.
- You continue to increase this until you reach 6 drops per dose (18 drops per day).
- You switch to 20% CBD and halve your dosage. If you use 6 drops of 10%, you can use 3 drops of 20%.
- You increase this dosage by 1 drop per week.
- During this process, you are guided by a specialist to determine the right dosage for you.
Your body needs to get used to CBD and requires a buildup phase. It is therefore important that you do not think it is not working after 2 weeks and stop using the CBD oil. The adjustment period varies per person. That is why you are always guided during this process.
How does your body absorb CBD?
It is a difficult word to pronounce, the endocannabinoid system, also known as ECS. Endo means inside or within. It is often also explained as own, because it is inside you. And when people hear cannabinoid, they often think of substances that are illegal. If we translate the endocannabinoid system nicely, it is the body’s own cannabinoid system. The ECS is a system in your body that produces body-own substances that are good for certain functions (we will go deeper into this shortly). You have it, your neighbors have it, even your pet has it; the endocannabinoid system.
But how exactly does this system work and what does CBD have to do with it?
You are riding your bike to work. There is a tree on the road blocking your way. You call the municipality to have the tree removed. A few minutes later, the municipality arrives and removes the tree. You get back on your bike and continue riding.
A simple example of how the endocannabinoid system works. The ECS is a signal sender of our body. In the story above, the road is your body and the municipality is our brain, the organization that monitors and regulates everything. Because the endocannabinoid system sends a signal, the problem can be solved and you can continue on your way.
The endocannabinoid system does not repair the defects itself, but it does detect them. The tree can represent anything in this case. This could be pain, inflammation, thoughts, or other processes in your body. The monitoring of these defects happens at the cellular level. Signals are sent that connect to two receptors: CB1 and CB2 receptors.
Cannabinoid and CB1-CB2
A cannabinoid is a substance that can bind to a cannabinoid receptor, of which there are at least 2 types, CB1 and CB2. There are endogenous cannabinoids such as anandamide and 2-AG (2-arachidonylglycerol), as well as plant-derived cannabinoids. Think of CBD and THC. THC is a drug with a psychoactive effect. Stimulation of the CB1 receptor causes an appetite-stimulating effect. CBD does not cause a psychoactive effect. (source)
The cannabinoids in your body bind to the CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are mainly found in the central nervous system and some organs. Think of motor skills, nausea, pain, and memory. CB2 receptors are mainly found in peripheral organs and in the cells of our immune system.
If your endocannabinoid system is out of balance, it may mean that signals are not properly transmitted to the brain. In this case, the tree remains on the road, preventing you from moving forward. You try to avoid the tree with some movements to continue, but the tree remains, so the problem is not solved. Think of pain in your body; you continue, but the pain remains. Your body cannot properly address the source, which may cause more pain or underlying complaints.
In many people, the ECS is out of balance, which can cause symptoms. It is important to restore balance to the ECS.
Conclusion; does CBD help with sleep problems?
After reading this article, you have probably become much wiser. We therefore hope you can start addressing your sleep problems and use the tips from the article. CBD can be a supportive factor for many issues, including sleep problems. The most important thing is to find the cause of your poor sleep and address that first.
If you want to use CBD but also take other medications, we always advise consulting your (family) doctor. At ProHemp, we are not allowed to give medical advice. If you have questions about this article, please contact us.
Source reference
CBD does not cause a psychoactive effect. (source)
What is melatonin
the proven benefits of CBD