A restless night can mess up your whole day. It’s not surprising that many people are always on the lookout to have a more restful sleep. However, there are many people who would rather avoid sleeping medications. Many people are looking for more holistic forms of sleep aids. Are there options for people who fall under this category? Research recently has been suggesting that cannabidiol (CBD) may be able to help people fall and stay asleep when used with melatonin.
Definitions are always a good thing to have when talking about things like this. Let’s start with CBD.
CBD is a compound that’s found in cannabis plants, like hemp and marijuana. It is a member of a specific class of chemical compounds known as cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are a large group, with over 100 different members that can be found in cannabis. There is another cannabinoid that is more famous than CBD and is often conflated with it. That cannabinoid is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
If you’re interested in using CBD, you should know the difference between it and THC. THC produces what is known as a psychoactive effect. That means that it makes the inebriation, more recently thought of as a high associated with marijuana use. Because they are both cannabinoids, many people falsely believe that CBD and THC are the same. However, that is not the case. CBD is not psychoactive. It isn’t a high-causing cannabinoid.
Most CBD products are made by extracting the cannabinoid from hemp, rather than marijuana. There are a few reasons for this. One of the biggest differences is that hemp has very little THC and a lot of CBD, but marijuana has a lot of THC. However, it is also because hemp is federally legal, while marijuana is still federally illegal. 2018 the Farm Bill officially legalized farmers to grow and sell hemp (however, there are some restrictions in individual states). There are some states that have legalized marijuana, but not many.
Now that we have talked about what CBD is, let’s cover the other half of this: melatonin.
The definition of melatonin is relatively simple. It is the hormone that helps you sleep. It is connected with your internal clock and is made to be released at specific times (generally when you usually go to sleep). However, it is not uncommon for the production and release of melatonin to become disrupted. This is why scientists worked on creating lab-synthesized melatonin for people to take. Melatonin products are usually taken to help people fall asleep and are often preferred by many people because they are less likely to become habit-forming, unlike other sleep aids.
All of this does raise the question, what sort of benefit could come from CBD and melatonin being mixed?
There have been many studies looking at some different effects that CBD may have on its users. In particular, there is one that could make a difference for those looking for a good night’s sleep. It is how CBD may be able to affect your state of mind.
By that, we mean its ability to help people achieve a greater sense of calm. For example, this study had test subjects with Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) participate in public speaking. A random selection of the participants were given CBD and the rest were given a placebo. The researchers concluded that those who were given CBD were able to handle the task much more confidently than those given the placebo. This study suggests that CBD may help calm those who have SAD that affect their sleep.
There was a different study that was focused on CBD’s effect on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The researchers gave the test subject a trial run of CBD before she went to bed. The test subject reported a steady increase in the quality of her sleep.
These are just some of the studies that have found positive effects that CBD may have on your state of mind. This, on its own, may be able to help many people fall asleep. However, it may not be enough for everyone. There have been many studies that have looked at how melatonin may be able to help with sleep. The mix of CBD melatonin gummies may be able to provide that little boost that you may need to fall asleep.
But CBD melatonin gummies aren’t for everyone. Some people would prefer to have the CBD without the addition. As mentioned in the studies above, that could work well, too, as CBD could have enough of a calming effect that CBD on its own may be able to help you fall asleep. If you want to find some CBD products that aren’t a melatonin mix, here are some of the forms that you may find them in.
Oils and tinctures are one of the most common kinds of CBD products. They are made by mixing CBD extract with a carrier oil. A lot of their popularity stems from their versatility. You have a few different options when it comes to taking tinctures and oils. You can use them in your cooking. This way does take a little bit longer, like the food or drink that you mix it in does need to digest before it can start working. Another way to take this particular kind of CBD product is by placing a few drops directly into your mouth. But if you want to feel the effects sooner, this is the best way as the thin skin in your mouth allows the CBD to absorb into your system quickly.
If you are looking for something a bit more pill-like, then these are what you should be looking out for. When CBD pills are in capsule form, they are usually soft gels. That means that they are made with liquid CBD extract. The benefit of this is that they digest faster and start working quicker as a result. CBD tablets are dissolvable. These are pills that you place under your tongue and allow to dissolve. Much like with oils and tinctures, the benefit in this is based on the fact that the CBD can absorb through the skin under your tongue easily, entering the system quickly.
You don’t have to stick with CBD melatonin gummies, CBD edibles are arguably the most popular CBD product available. This is likely because of what they are. They are exactly what they sound like, they are food or drink that have been made with CBD as one of the main ingredients. So, it is not hard to see why people like them a lot. They are easy to take and taste great. The one downside is that CBD edibles take the longest to start working. But they also have the longest-lasting effects, so there is a bit of a trade-off.
This is group includes a wide range of products. It boils down to anything that you use on your skin that has been made with CBD. This could include lotions, salves, balms, and hand sanitizers, and those are just a few examples of the options you have within this category. CBD topicals tend to have a more localized effect than any other product. This is because the CBD in topicals never enters the bloodstream. Instead, the CBD absorbs through the pores and does its work there. Their effects are not going to move much beyond where the topical is first placed.
There are a few different benefits that CBD may be able to provide on its own. However, research does suggest that CBD’s calming effects may be able to help people fall asleep. The mixed-effects may be able to help you sleep better.