3 WAYS TO USE CBD FOR THE BEST SLEEP EVER

3 WAYS TO USE CBD FOR THE BEST SLEEP EVER

One can take CBD in various ways. Sublingual, ingestion, and inhalation methods can be very effective when taking CBD for sleep. CBD is a compound that is extracted from a hemp plant. According to research, People use CBD to alleviate pain and inflammation, anxiety and depression, and stress. You can now use CBD to help with your sleeplessness. Also, it is a cannabinoid like the body’s endocannabinoid. That means; it binds with ECS receptors easily. In addition, CBD is processed into products like CBD oil, gummies, capsules, vapes, and tinctures for easy absorption. These products determine the method for taking the CBD product. This article will explore the best methods to take CBD for better sleep.

What is Best Sleep?

The best sleep is when you sleep uninterrupted for at least 7 hours for adults and 10 hours for children. Sleep does not happen randomly but in stages. According to research, the stages of sleep are NREM and REM. The NREM stage comprises 3 stages; N1, N2, and N3. The N1 stage is the dosing-off stage. You can easily be woken up. Brain activities begin to taper down. In the N2 stage, most activities like brain waves have slowed down; here, you can experience short bursts of brain activities. In N3 or deep sleep stage, your heartbeat rate, breathing, muscle activities, and brain waves are minimal. Most of the body functions like repairs and growth take place at N3. Rapid eye movement or REM stage is the final stage of sleep. Your brain activities pick up, blood pressure and breathing also increase, and your eyes can be seen moving rapidly.

How CBD Helps Sleep

Lack of sleep is mainly caused by sleep disorders like insomnia or sleep apnea. Sleep disorders like insomnia can be caused by pain, medications, stress, anxiety, or depression. CBD does not induce sleep but can be used to alleviate these conditions that cause sleeplessness. According to Shannon S et al. (2019),  CBD could reduce anxiety and improve sleep. Infusing CBD with melatonin can also help sleep because CBD binds with melatonin’s MT1 and MT2 receptors to reduce the chances of melatonin breaking. Melatonin is the hormone that controls the dark-light cycle, and it’s highly secreted at night. Here are the best ways to use CBD for better sleep this year;

Best Ways to Take CBD

Sublingual Method

This method tops the list because it’s the easiest to use. You can control dosage and faster absorption. The sublingual method involves taking CBD oil as a tincture. You place CBD oil drops under your tongue and hold them for at least 30 seconds for absorption. The sublingual layer is filled with capillaries and tissues that will absorb the CBD into the bloodstream. Using this method, you bypass the digestive system. You can feel the effect of CBD after 15 minutes, and it can last in the body for 40 minutes. CBD sprays can be taken using this method.

Inhalation Method

The inhalation method involves using CBD vape pens or smoking the leaves and flowers of a hemp plant or CBD concentrate. The CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream almost immediately. You can feel the effect of CBD after 10 minutes or less. This method is effective if you need a faster remedy for pain. Unlike smoking, vaping does not emit smoke. The downside of inhalation is that you are exposed to smoke that might cause lung cancer or diseases. The long-run effect of vaping is yet to be known.

Ingestion Method

If you prefer to use CBD products like CBD gummies or capsules, you will take longer to feel the effect of CBD, but the effect lasts for hours. In the ingestion method, CBD undergoes metabolism before it is absorbed into the bloodstream. You can also ingest CBD oil by adding it to your drinks like smoothies, cocktails, and meals. THIS WAY, taking CBD oil masks the grassy, earthy taste of CBD oil like CBD gummies are sweet and fruit favored. The downside of the ingestion method is that about 30% of CBD is absorbed due to the “first-pass effect.”

When to Take CBD for Sleep

The recommended time to take CBD for sleep is an hour to bed and after eating. It gives you time for the CBD to absorb so that by the time you should feel the CBD effect. Depending on the method, you can feel the effect after minutes or hours. You take CBD for sleep at night because melatonin is highly produced and secreted at night.

Side Effects of CBD

Even though the side effects of CBD are non-threatening, they can last for a few minutes. It’s better to know them and what should be done. Nausea can result from taking too much CBD or indicate that you are CBD sensitive. You can avoid nausea by taking CBD after meals and starting with a smaller dose that you will gradually increase until you find one you are comfortable with.

Another side effect of CBD is dry mouth or cottonmouth. It can result from low production and secretion of saliva after taking CBD. It will encourage saliva. You can also experience drowsiness, reduced appetite, and fatigue.

Conclusion

You can improve your sleep by using CBD products following these methods. These methods are effective because CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream within minutes except for ingestion which takes longer, but its effects last longer. For better results, take CBD for sleep before bedtime because of the high secretion of melatonin. You can experience some side effects after taking CBD, but they are not fatal. You should not use CBD products for treating or diagnosing. You should see a doctor before using any supplements.

Reference

-Shannon S, et al. Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series 2019 Jan 7

Corroon, J., & Phillips, J. A. (2018). A cross-sectional study of cannabidiol users. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 3(1), 152-161.

Walker, M. P., Liston, C., Hobson, J. A., & Stickgold, R. (2002). Cognitive flexibility across the sleep-wake cycle: REM-sleep enhancement of anagram problem-solving. Cognitive Brain Research, 14(3), 317-324.

Shannon, S., Lewis, N., Lee, H., & Hughes, S. (2019). Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. The Permanente journal, 23, 18–041. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18-041

Anastasia Filipenko
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Anastasia Filipenko is a health and wellness psychologist, dermatolist and a freelance writer. She frequently covers beauty and skincare, food trends and nutrition, health and fitness and relationships. When she's not trying out new skincare products, you'll find her taking a cycling class, doing yoga, reading in the park, or trying a new recipe.

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