A good night’s sleep is a necessity for a healthy lifestyle and the well-being of the human body. Sufficient sleep practices help improve memory, repair tissues, and prevent sickness. Many resort to taking prescription sleep aids or natural sleep medicines to relax and fall asleep. Recently, the use of CBD has seen a rise, with many users reporting better sleep and reduced anxiety. But is consuming CBD safe? And how much research has been done on this relatively new herbal medicine?
Is CBD FDA Approved?
CBD, short for cannabinoids, is derived from hemp and does not contain the psychoactive properties that are found in marijuana. CBD is free of addictive properties, unlike THC, and has seen growing popularity in the United States.
There are only a few CBD products approved by the FDA, and these include:
- Epidiolex
- Marinol and Syndros
- Cesamet
For a long time, people have used cannabis for medicinal and recreational purposes, and of the two compounds in cannabis, CBD has shown positive results in treating health conditions.
How Does CBD Aid Sleep?
Although CBD does not directly assist in providing a good night’s sleep, recent studies have suggested that cannabinoids have a very calming effect on the nervous system. Since the substance affects the serotonin system, it does impact an individual’s mood. The effect on each individual depends on the type of CBD taken and in what dosage.
There are many other health conditions CBD helps with. Unfortunately, there is not enough research to effectively demonstrate that. Early studies show that cannabinoids help treat schizophrenia and epilepsy. However, preliminary research suggests that CBD helps with several types of sleep disorders, such as insomnia, excessive sleep disorders, and more. Individuals with chronic pain have reported the positive effects of consuming CBD on a good night’s sleep.
Although this research is in its early stages, the interesting thing about it is the impact of dosage. Low doses of CBD were found to be stimulating in early studies, while higher doses of CBD were found to be sedative.
Insomnia And CBD
To understand how CBD works, it is important to study the impact of CBD on insomnia. Individuals using CBD to treat their anxiety showed an effective rate of 80%. Of these, 65% reported improved sleep.
People suffering from insomnia develop anxiety disorders, resulting in heightened sleeplessness at night. Since there have been enough studies to suggest the positive impact of CBD on treating anxiety, many believe that it can help reduce anxiety-induced insomnia.
Further studies are needed to understand the long-term effects of CBD consumption on the human body and sleep.
Although CBD is safer to consume and does not contain psychoactive properties, it does not necessarily mean one can start its use without consulting a doctor. CBD reduces the liver’s ability to break down certain medicines. Using CBD with other herbal medicines at the same time could make the patient extremely sleepy. It is critical to consult with a doctor to determine whether CBD will interact negatively with any existing prescription drugs that a patient may be taking.
