Struggling with getting enough sleep is incredibly common. As day to day life becomes more stressful and we are constantly reminded of the demands of our responsibilities, unplugging to get adequate rest each night is an increasing challenge.
Americans face sleep deprivation at high rates– roughly one in three people aren’t getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep a night. If lack of sleep becomes routine it can lead to health problems such as a weakened immune system, cognitive decline, lower libido and premature aging. There are many different ways to set yourself up for a better night of sleep including not eating late at night and getting off your screens for a few hours before you hit the sheets. However, more and more folks are heading to the doctor’s for prescription drugs that promise better rest.
Pharmaceutical sleep aids are far from a golden ticket to sleeping well. In fact, their side-effects most likely outweigh any benefit. The New York Times recently reported that the FDA, “added a boxed warning to the prescription insomnia drugs zolpidem (Ambien, Edluar, Intermezzo, and Zolpimist), zaleplon (Sonata) and eszopiclone (Lunesta) following reports of injury and death from sleepwalking, sleep-driving and engaging in other hazardous activities while not fully awake.”
With these types of warnings it is easier than ever to explore more holistic approaches of healing oneself from sleep deprivation.
Exploring Hemp for Sleep
While many people have reported using cannabis to aid sleep, hemp-derived sleep products are proving to be widely successful in improving sleep– without the psychoactive effects that can cause mental stimulation. Various tinctures, capsules, creams and more are on the market to deliver regular doses of hemp extract to improve sleep. Research reported that from a group of patients using CBD consistently for one month, 66.7% of the group saw significant improvements in their sleep.
More research is being completed to look into other active elements of the plant that have sedative benefits. Cannabinol, or CBN for short, is a particularly sedative cannabinoid. CBN is often used in combination with other terpenes such as myrcene to create amplify the relaxation-inducing effect of the formula.
If you’re often unable to sleep due to pain or anxiety, another benefit of CBD is its ability to signal the endocannabinoid system to regulate these issues in relation to your sleep cycle, allowing you to be able to get deeper sleep. Remember, start slow as you begin to dose and give yourself time to observe your improvements.