

In a study examining the effects of cannabis on insomnia, researchers found CBD more effectively decreased symptoms of insomnia than delta-9 THC, which is the most abundant active constituent in the cannabis sativa plant that has an intoxicatingly psychoactive effect Vigil JM, Stith SS, Diviant JP, Brockelman F, Keeling K, Hall B. “CBD can suppress this dysregulated cycle of stress hormone overactivation and equalize the sleep and wake rhythm through counteracting hormones.” “Insomnia results from an overactive stress reaction that’s spilling into a rest time when we’re not trying to process conscious trauma,” he adds. CBD can help people with insomnia because it works with the hypothalamus to regulate stress, says Dr. The hypothalamus plays a role in several sleep-related functions, including regulating body temperature and synchronizing sleep patterns. In fact, CBD-which doesn’t cause the intoxicatingly psychoactive “high” associated with delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-might help people with different sleep disorders, including insomnia and restless leg syndrome, as well as other conditions known to negatively impact sleep, according to research.įor instance, CBD may help people relax by easing anxiety and pain, two factors that may make it difficult for someone to fall or stay asleep, says Dr. How Can CBD Benefit Sleep?ĬBD is the second most abundant compound in the cannabis sativa plant, and many studies suggest it may indirectly benefit sleep. Circadian rhythms are 24-hour cycles that, among other functions, help our bodies fall asleep at night and wake up in the morning, and research suggests the ECS factors into that cycle. “The hypothalamus, a peanut-sized structure buried deep in the brain, is enriched with cannabinoid receptors and governs the circadian rhythm of our sleep-wake cycle,” he says. The hypothalamus-which plays a significant role in the ECS-impacts sleep regulation, says Daniel Whitelocke, M.D., owner and CEO of Ozark MMJ Cards, an Arkansas service that helps qualified patients obtain medical marijuana cards. While the body naturally releases endocannabinoid molecules, external sources of cannabinoids, such as CBD, can affect the body via the ECS, she adds. “The endocannabinoid system is a complex neurochemical network in the body that regulates various bodily functions, including emotions, pain and sleep,” says Chantel Strachan, M.D., a board-certified internal medicine physician and headache specialist at Columbia Doctors and Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York.

The word “cannabinoid,” contained within the name of the system, refers to the active constituents of the cannabis sativa plant that impact the ECS. Understanding the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is essential to understanding the effect CBD may have on sleep. CBD For Sleep: How It Works, Benefits And Risks While we work hard to provide accurate and up-to-date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Health does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Health. Second, we also include links to advertisers’ offers in some of our articles these “affiliate links” may generate income for our site when you click on them. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market. The compensation we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers’ offers appear on the site. First, we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. This compensation comes from two main sources.
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