Using CBD for Better Sleep
Sleep is one of the most essential aspects of living a healthy, happy life. It gives your body time to rest and recover from the day’s activities, allowing you to wake up feeling refreshed and energized. Unique brain activity during sleep helps to maintain your cognitive ability and mental health. Without this restoration, it can be hard to function properly.
The Perils of Not Getting Enough Sleep
Whether it’s a noisy environment, a sleep disorder, or a general case of insomnia, the effects of a lack of sleep can often be felt the next day. When sleeplessness or poor sleep quality becomes a chronic, ongoing problem, the impact can be much more severe.
Serious repercussions of long-term sleep deprivation may include:
- Poor memory
- Physical fatigue and weakness
- Difficulty completing tasks and performing job duties
- High blood pressure
- Increased risk of heart disease and stroke
- Eye bags or dark circles
- Increased accident risk due to poor cognitive ability
- Irritability
- Weight gain
- Weakened immune system
Sleep problems impact everyone differently, with various causes and effects. Regardless, sleep is a major human health concern. For some, like those with a rare condition called fatal familial insomnia, not being able to sleep can eventually be deadly.
Searching for Solutions
More than a third of Americans say they deal with insomnia and regularly fail to get at least seven hours of sleep.¹ Improving sleep hygiene (keeping a regular bedtime, no phones before bed, etc.) can help, but many people end up turning to prescription medication or over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids. For some, these drugs are effective. However, as the body builds tolerance with nightly use, a person might need higher and higher doses.
An increasingly popular alternative to the usual sleep-inducing drugs is to use products containing cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is derived from natural ingredients and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription. Using CBD drops for sleep doesn’t create the kinds of side effects that pharmaceuticals often do, and it’s not habit forming like some sedatives (benzodiazepines like Ativan) can be.
What Is CBD Hemp Extract?
CBD hemp extract is a liquid product made from the natural extracts of the hemp plant. Hemp is a specific variety of Cannabis sativa that is legal to grow and sell as a crop in the U.S. In order to be considered legal hemp, the plant cannot contain more than 0.03% THC. With this small amount of THC, hemp products like CBD oil don’t produce a psychoactive high.
CBD oil is made by processing the full hemp plant (including the stalk and leaves) to get a raw liquid extract. This extract is then further processed and purified to carefully isolate, increase or reduce certain components. When it contains the desired amount of each ingredient, it can be used in a variety of product types. Often, it’s mixed with a carrier like coconut or hempseed oil.
Meet the Endocannabinoid System
The endocannabinoid system is an intricate network of receptors and signaling chemicals that works to maintain balance (or “homeostasis”) in the body. If an area is experiencing pain, for example, the endocannabinoid system triggers processes to help soothe and relieve the pain signals.
This system is present throughout the body and affects various areas, including:
- Central nervous system (brain, nerves)
- Cardio-pulmonary system (heart, veins, lungs)
- Immune system
- Muscles
- Skin
- Bones
- GI tract (stomach, intestines)
The word “endocannabinoid” refers to cannabinoids that are made by the body rather than those introduced from the outside. These internal cannabinoids move through the system and attach to cannabinoid receptors to trigger certain processes. When cannabinoids are introduced from external sources like CBD oil, they’re recognized, too. To put it simply, the system doesn’t care where it came from as long as it’s the right molecule! Read more about how CBD works.
The endocannabinoid system is a complex topic that still isn’t fully understood. As increasing interest in cannabis-based products pushes it further into the spotlight, there will likely be more opportunities to study it.
What Does the Endocannabinoid System Have to Do with Sleep?
Although the complexity of the endocannabinoid system is still something of a mystery, researchers have been able to identify a wide variety of bodily processes that it helps to regulate. Some of these processes relate to things that can cause sleeplessness, such as a person’s mood or their perception of pain.
Studies have shown that the endocannabinoid system also plays a role in the regulation of sleep, specifically in maintaining stability. When it is stable, a person moves smoothly through the different stages of sleep. When it is unstable, the person can switch stages erratically.
Each stage of sleep plays a unique role in the restoration process. When sleep is unstable, poor sleep quality leaves a person feeling less rested than they might have been. It’s almost like a series of computer processes that keep crashing before they can finish. The endocannabinoid system helps to prevent those crashes.
Potential Benefits of CBD Hemp Oil for Sleep
There are a few possible benefits of hemp seed oil for sleep, including:
- Physical relaxation. Hemp extract oil may help tight muscles to relax, relieving tension and discomfort throughout the body.
- Reduced pain. Even minor aches and pains can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. Less pain means less to keep you awake.
- Relief from anxiety. When all is quiet and you’re trying to fall asleep, anxious thoughts can seem awfully loud. CBD may help turn down the volume so your worries don’t keep you up.
- A pleasant overall sense of well-being. Not only can CBD combat negative feelings and thoughts, but it can also boost positive factors. Hemp extract products are often associated with general good feelings like balance and contentment.
CBD hemp extract oil has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration as a medical treatment for insomnia. We also do not claim that our products can prevent, treat, or cure any particular disease or condition. What we can say is that users of hemp oil for sleep continue to report positive effects, and hemp oil may help to ease insomnia symptoms when used as a supplement.
Our Founder’s Story
Reclaim Labs founder Ron Lev has experienced the benefits of CBD oil firsthand. As a teenager, Ron was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Doctors did their best to treat his symptoms with typical arthritis medications, but nothing provided true relief. When years of harsh steroid drugs began taking a toll on his body, he started looking for a better solution.
After studying the endocannabinoid system and experimenting with his own CBD products, Ron developed the formula that would become Reclaim Labs’ flagship product. Ron was able to successfully taper off the steroids he’d taken for decades, eventually managing his pain completely with CBD. Now Ron hopes his formula can help others with everything from acute pain to chronic insomnia. Read the full story of how Ron beat arthritis and prednisone addiction.
Choosing the Right Brand of CBD Oil
When you’re using any type of topical or edible product regularly, it’s extremely important to make sure you choose one that’s safe and effective.
Here are just a few reasons why Reclaim Labs hemp seed oil is the best choice:
- All of our CBD products are third-party tested to make sure they contain the right amounts of the right ingredients and have not been contaminated. It also ensures that we are compliant with all relevant laws.
- If you want to know more about the potency and safety of a product, you can request to see a Certificate of Analysis from the laboratory. We know the importance of transparency, and we always make this information readily available to our customers.
- Our company was created by someone who uses the products. Founder Ron Lev developed his own hemp extract oil to ease his arthritis symptoms, and then decided to help others by offering it widely.
- We’re the #1 selling brand of CBD for chronic pain, and we’re trusted by repeat customers across the country.
- We strive to make our products as affordable as possible and offer free shipping on all orders throughout the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re considering using CBD oil to help you sleep but want to learn more about it, take a look at the following frequently asked questions. If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, feel free to contact us for more information!
Is CBD hemp oil legal?
Yes! In 2018, the Farm Bill made it legal to grow and sell hemp and hemp products as long as they contain no more than 0.03% THC. If CBD oil meets this requirement, it is also legal for sale in the U.S. All Reclaim Labs CBD products are tested by a third party laboratory to ensure that they are compliant with this and other relevant laws.
Although it’s legal at the federal level, different states and localities have their own laws regarding the sale and use of CBD products. Make sure you’re aware of the restrictions and requirements in your area.
What is the difference between full and broad spectrum products?
The terms “full” and “broad” refer to the range of ingredients in the product. A full spectrum product has at least a small amount of every naturally occurring compound in the hemp plant. The formula will contain various cannabinoids and flavonoids, including THC (within legal limits).
A broad spectrum product, on the other hand, omits some of these compounds. An example of a broad spectrum hemp oil is one that is completely THC-free. This type of product is ideal for anyone who wants to avoid ingesting even trace amounts of THC.
Is hemp seed oil good for sleep?
Users of CBD hemp oil often report experiencing benefits that can make it easier to fall asleep and wake feeling rested. Every individual’s response to hemp oil is unique, of course, and it may work better for some than for others.
Unlike other types of sleep products, a hemp oil sleep aid doesn’t directly induce sleep by sedating you. Instead, it can help to create a relaxed, comfortable state that makes it easier to let go and fall asleep.
I’m not sure how to use hemp seed oil for sleep. What should I do?
There are a few different ways you can use CBD oil, but the two most common methods are topical application and oral ingestion. Topical CBD products are usually rubbed into the skin in the area of symptoms. These are ideal for things like itching and localized pain. Oral CBD oil can be added to food or drinks daily as a dietary supplement, making it perfect for broad, chronic issues.
Depending on what’s keeping you awake at night, it may be best to use dietary CBD drops for sleep. While topical products can affect the whole body, ingesting CBD oil makes it easier to spread through the bloodstream and may help the effects to last longer. If insomnia is a chronic issue for you, this could be a good addition to your daily routine.
When should I take hemp seed oil for sleep?
Many sleep medications and supplements are best taken right before bedtime, as they essentially force drowsiness and impair your function. CBD oil, on the other hand, won’t make you feel drowsy or high and can be taken much earlier.
The effects of orally ingested CBD oil can be felt anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours after taking it, depending on your personal metabolism. Once you have a rough idea of how long it takes for you, you can decide how long before bed you want to take it. The relaxing, relieving effects can last for up to 10 hours, keeping you covered overnight.²
Is it safe to take CBD hemp oil for sleep every day?
Absolutely. Hemp oil is well tolerated by the human body, and all of our products are lab tested for safety and purity. When taken at the appropriate dose, it’s not known to pose any serious side effects or health risks.
It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before adding any new supplement to your diet, especially if you have a medical condition that you’re concerned about.
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