It is estimated that numbers reaching 30 million Americans suffer from poor sleep each year, causing sleep troubles to be one of the top health concerns nationwide. Although we know that regular, adequate, restful sleep is absolutely critical to human health, from regulating metabolism to memory function, it is not fully understood why humans need to sleep for our bodies to perform these necessary functions. Studies have shown that poor quality of sleep directly correlates with poor health, and with so many people suffering from poor sleep, we can deduct that the quality of sleep in America is enough to cause a widespread health concern. Poor sleep quality or sleep deprivation has both short term and long term side effects that negatively affect both health and quality of life.
Some of the short-term effects of sleep deprivation:
Daytime sleepiness
Forgetfulness
Clumsiness
Impaired alertness
Poor performance at work
Sugar cravings
Anxiety
Some of the long-term effects of sleep deprivation
Increased blood pressure
Weight gain
Heart attack
Stroke
Mood disorders
As well as an array of health benefits, full-spectrum CBD oil has shown promise when it comes to addressing poor sleep, as full-spectrum CDB is thought to promote relaxation and diminish anxiety and pain which may disturb sleep, as well as regulate sleep patterns. With prescription sleep aids causing a laundry list of potentially dangerous side effects, more and more people are searching for gentler, more natural alternatives.
Cannabis has been used as a sleep aid in medical texts dating as far back as 1200A.D. More recently, clinical studies on CBD oil as a sleep aid have shown promise for those who need a gentle and non-habit-forming short-term solution, however, the dosage varies widely between studies and most researchers believe a higher dose is needed in order to reach the desired effect.
Although the Cleveland Clinic classifies certain sleep disorders as the most high-priority of sleep disorders, there are more than 70 recognized sleep disorders. Below are some of the sleep disorders that full-spectrum CBD has shown clinical or anecdotal evidence to address.
Insomnia
Insomnia is a sleep disorder where sufferers have difficulties falling asleep and staying asleep. Insomnia can be caused and worsened by a variety of issues. These include depression, anxiety, poor sleep habits, a sedentary lifestyle, chronic illness, trauma, and side effects of prescription medications.
What are the signs and symptoms of Insomnia?
Difficulties falling asleep/staying asleep at night
Early waking
Inability to focus
A general feeling of unrest
Irritability, mood swings, depression
Memory problems
Feeling tired all day
What causes Insomnia?
Insomnia has a wide variety of causes, but the most common include depression, anxiety, poor sleep habits and a sedentary lifestyle. Insomnia is often cyclical, especially when caused by depression and anxiety. This is because a lack of sleep worsens symptoms of depression and anxiety, which, in turn, causes insomnia to get worse.
What might full-spectrum CBD do to provide some relief for insomnia?
CBD is being clinically researched as a treatment for anxiety and depression, which can be a cause of insomnia, as well as make it worse. It has also been shown to act against pain and inflammation, and anecdotal reports have said that it helps those with poor sleep habits or schedules fix their circadian rhythm.
Restless Legs Syndrome
Restless Legs Syndrome is a disorder that often causes those suffering from the condition to have difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep. People with Restless Legs Syndrome have a strong urge to move their legs, occasionally affecting their arms as well. Usually, this occurs when they are trying to rest or relax, which is why it causes difficulties in sleeping. This can cause a domino effect, with the lack of sleep causing daytime sleepiness, low energy, depression, anxiety, and irritability. Restless Legs Syndrome causes low energy because people who suffer from the condition tend to get little or low quality sleep.
Some people have reported that the symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome can be helped with CBD.
Let’s look at the symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome that CBD may have an effect on:
Depression
Anxiety
Irritability
Trouble sleeping
Muscle spasms
Low energy
What are the signs and symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome?
Urge to move the legs
“Pins and needles” in the legs
Leg pain
Tossing and turning, difficulty getting comfortable at bedtime
What causes Restless Legs Syndrome
In most cases, doctors are unsure of the causes of restless legs syndrome. However, factors that may worsen symptoms include pregnancy, prescription medications, and certain chronic diseases (always consult with your doctor before supplementing with CBD).
What might full-spectrum CBD do to alleviate some of the symptoms of RLS?
CBD has been shown to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, muscle spasms, and sleep disorders. Anecdotal reports show a positive response in people who have used CBD to help alleviate side effects and symptoms of restless legs syndrome.
Narcolepsy
Narcoleptic people are overwhelmingly drowsy during the day, often falling asleep suddenly – especially during repetitive, relaxing, or routine tasks. There is no known cause of narcolepsy, however, what we do know is people with type 1 narcolepsy have low levels of Hypocretin, a chemical that helps regulate REM sleep and wakefulness.
What are the signs and symptoms of narcolepsy?
Extreme tiredness during the day
Sleep paralysis
Memory issues
Hallucinations
What causes Narcolepsy?
There is currently no known cause of Narcolepsy, however, many sufferers have low levels of Hypocretin.
What might full-spectrum CBD do to alleviate some of the symptoms of narcolepsy?
Although the cause of narcolepsy is still unknown, a study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information showed that CBD may modulate the sleep-wake cycle, and supported the hypothesis that cannabinol (CBD) could be used as a wake-promoting agent.
Circadian Rhythm Disorder
Circadian rhythm disorders are disorders of the “internal clock” everyone has, usually following along with the light-dark 24-hour cycle. Patterns of hormone production, sleeping and eating, cell regeneration, and brain activity are all affected by this cycle.
What are the signs and symptoms of circadian rhythm disorder?
Daytime sleepiness
Difficulty falling asleep
Difficulty staying asleep
Waking up throughout the night
Bouts of insomnia even
Poor coordination
A feeling of fatigue upon waking
Difficulty concentrating
Weight gain
Cognitive skill decline (considered temporary)
Headaches
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)
Teeth grinding, also known as “bruxism,” is a condition where an individual grinds their teeth or clenches their jaw. (Note, this can also happen when awake!)
It is estimated that in America, a whopping twenty-five million people suffer from bruxism.
What are the signs and symptoms of teeth grinding?
Worn down, chipped, or loose teeth
Tooth grinding (some people grind their teeth so loud it wake them up!)
Tooth sensitivity
Headache in the sides of the head or temples
Jaw pain
Pain mimicking an earache (this is usually a pain in the upper jaw)
Raw skin on the inside of the cheeks from biting or chewing
What are the causes of teeth grinding?
Bruxism is thought to be caused by stress or anxiety, present during the day, that affects your sleep. It is also thought to be caused by another sleep disorder like sleep apnea.
Can full-spectrum CBD help alleviate bruxism symptoms?
While many turn to mouth guards or pharmaceutical sleep aids, studies have shown the full-spectrum CBD may help alleviate some sleep disorders. The anti-anxiety properties and relaxation-promoting properties of full-spectrum CBD may help you get a deeper, more restful sleep by alleviating some of the anxiety that is thought to cause bruxism. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory capabilities of CBD may help relieve some of the tooth and jaw pain that is caused by teeth grinding.
Sleep-Related Eating Disorder
People with sleep-related eating disorder have uncontrollable episodes of eating and drinking while asleep. People who suffer from the condition may or may not remember preparing or eating food.
What are the signs and symptoms of Sleep Eating Disorder:
Repeated episodes of eating and drinking during sleep
Sleepwalking
Finding evidence of food prepared: dirty dishes, spilled items, wrappers left out
Eating combinations of foods you would not normally eat
Waking up not feeling refreshed
Waking up with unexplained bruises or other injuries caused by hurting yourself when you are sleepwalking
A general decline in health from consuming food that might not be healthy during episodes of sleep eating
Unexplained weight gain
Cavities from eating sugary food during sleep and not brushing teeth
Missing food items
No appetite in the morning
What are the causes of Sleep Eating
Causes are unknown, however, there are factors that increase your risk of developing a sleep-related eating disorder. They include:
Having other sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, sleepwalking, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy
Having other eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia
Having other mental health disorders
Sleep deprivation
Taking prescription sleep aids
How might full-spectrum CBD help with the symptoms of Sleep Eating
CBD has been reported to help some people with sleep disorders and mental health disorders directly related to a sleep-related eating disorder. Clinical studies on using CBD to treat other sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy, show great promise.
While the effects of full-spectrum CBD oil and sleep have yet to be thoroughly clinically studied due to past legalization issues, there is strong anecdotal evidence that a high-quality full-spectrum CBD oil has the potential to help address a number of sleep disorders. By promoting relaxation, reducing anxiety, and combating inflammation, using full-spectrum CBD oil for sleep shows promise when it comes to getting an optimal night’s sleep. Full-spectrum CBD also interacts with your serotonin receptors, which are believed to regulate sleep and reduce anxiety and depression, among other things.
Full-spectrum CBD is considered safe overall, with minimal side effects for most consumers – most commonly, changes in appetite or drowsiness. Typical pharmaceutical “sleeping pills” however, have numerous side effects that can have long-lasting detriments to health.
Some of the most commonly reported side effects of pharmaceutical sleeping aids:
Tingling in limbs
Difficulty keeping balanced
Daytime drowsiness
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Changes in appetite
Burning or tingling in the hands, arms, feet, or legs
Changes in appetite
Constipation
Dry mouth
Uncontrollable shaking
Excessive tiredness the next day
Many Americans who suffer from a number of sleep disorders feel as if the side effects of pharmaceutical sleeping aids make them not worth taking and opt for a more natural supplement like full-spectrum CBD oil for sleep.
In addition to CBD, research has shown that removing lights (especially blue lights – that includes your smartphone) and televisions from the bedroom, establishing a bedtime routine, only using your bed for sleeping (not working or relaxing), and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends or when you don’t need to work.