September 14, 2021

Cannabis enthusiasts, healthcare professionals, and patients have been showing greater interest in cannabidiol (CBD) as more research and clinical trials show the benefits and efficacy of the cannabis compound.

CBD is currently used to treat various conditions, including epilepsy, pain and inflammation, skin conditions, anxiety, and depression. Can it help you sleep better? The research suggests CBD could provide sleep benefits.

Effects of CBD

CBD is still being studied to understand in greater detail and scientific backing the effects that it can have on the human body. So far, it’s been used to treat several health conditions, such as:

Minimize Epileptic Seizures

FDA-approved Epidiolex is a pharmaceutical CBD medication that got the green light in 2018 and is used to treat two forms of rare epilepsy-Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome in persons two years old and above age two years and older. Clinical evidence suggests that people experience fewer epileptic episodes using Epidiolex.

Improve Pain

Research indicates that CBD may offer pain-relieving effects, particularly chronic pain and peripheral neuropathy-related pain, by suppressing pain sensations.

Minimize Feelings of Anxiety

Studies on various anxiety disorders(GAD, SAD) and CBD indicate that CBD reduces anxiety, working similarly to anti-anxiety pharmaceutical drugs by acutely boosting fear extinction.

Other effects of CBD include: improving chemotherapy side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and pain; minimizing the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), and treating depression.

CBD and Sleeping Disorders

Based on limited but insightful research, CBD appears to have the potential to help in treating several sleep disorders by reducing symptoms of the condition. Specifically, research suggests that CBD may interact with specific receptors that impact the sleep/wake cycle and improve sleep.

Anxiety can be a trigger of sleep disorders in some people. Research showed that CBD improved feelings of anxiety in people suffering from anxiety-related poor sleep, and as a result, participants also experienced improved sleep. A case study related to poor sleep and PTSD revealed that CBD could improve both sleep quantity and quality over time. 

Side Effects of CBD

Therapeutic substances typically have some form of side effect, but not everyone may develop a reaction after the substance is administered. CBD is known to have mild to moderate side effects and not any adverse effects. The Mayo Clinic highlights several common side effects of CBD, including:

● Diarrhea

● Dry mouth

● Drowsiness

● Fatigue

● Reduced appetite

● Interact with medications like blood thinners

Although the results of research related to CBD and sleep may not be entirely conclusive, the evidence supports the potential of CBD to help enhance sleep so that you can rest better. Further research is needed on the issue of sleep disorder and the role of CBD in improving sleep. Current research is relevant and offers a launching pad to gain more conclusive results. 

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