Can Full Spectrum Hemp help with sleeplessness?

Sleep is essential for your mind, body and mood. We spend up to 1/3 of our life asleep. To put that into perspective, that’s 26 years on average! So, what’s so special about sleep?

Getting enough sleep helps our bodies by boosting mental health, immunity, weight regulations, and even fertility.

Surprisingly, we also spend 7 years on average trying to get to sleep. Almost 80% of Americans say they have trouble sleeping at least once a week. Insufficient sleep has been linked to many medical conditions such as stroke, seizures, inflammation, obesity, depression and anxiety, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. And that’s just a few. According to Mayo Clinic, insomnia can be caused by:

• Mental health disorders, such as anxiety, PTSD, and depression
• Medications, which can disturb the sleep-wake cycle of your body
• Physical conditions, like chronic pain and restless leg syndrome
• Caffeine and alcohol
• Environmental factors, such as loud noises or an uncomfortable sleep environment

Numerous people who suffer from sleeplessness turn to over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids. Doctors warn their patients about the side effects of prescription sleep aids and how addictive they can be. If your insomnia is being triggered by any of the related conditions mentioned above, Hemp (cannabidiol) may help by treating the underlying cause of your insomnia.

Hemp acts on natural systems in our bodies, specifically on receptors found in our endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system affects many physiological processes, including hormones, the immune system, pain, and (the reason you’re probably reading this) circadian rhythms. Basically, this means that Hemp aids in keeping our bodies in balance, helping to control homeostasis.

Here are 3 ways that Hemp can help improve sleep

1. Reduce Anxiety

As mentioned above, anxiety and stress are common causes of insomnia. Some research suggests that hemp can treat anxiety, and help control levels of cortisone (a stress hormone) in our bodies, leading to improved sleep.

Research published in 2019 looked at whether hemp could reduce anxiety and promote better sleep. A total of 72 adults had concerns with anxiety (n = 47) or were experiencing sleeplessness (n = 25). Adults were given hemp extract to ingest daily, and monthly documentation of anxiety and sleep quality was charted. Anxiety scores decreased within the first month in 57 patients (79.2%) and sleep scores improved within the first month in 48 patients (66.7%).

2. Ease Pain

Pain can cause tremendous discomfort, which can cause sleep problems. Pain can be alleviated by hemp, which can lead to better comfort and improved sleep. In 2018, a review in Frontiers in Pharmacology noted that more than 10,000 scientific abstracts were evaluated and established that there is conclusive or substantial evidence for the use of hemp derived cannabinoids in treating chronic pain in adults, and moderate evidence that cannabinoids are effective in improving short-term sleep outcomes in patients with chronic pain (NASEM, 2017).

3. Relax muscles

Some people suffer from REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), which is characterized by the loss of muscle strength during REM sleep associated with nightmares and/or active behavior during dreaming. Parkinson’s disease patients and Huntington’s disease patients may benefit from hemp by mitigating muscle tremors. More studies are needed, but some have shown that hemp can be a promising treatment for movement disorders.

How to use hemp for sleep

There are a number of ways to take hemp-derived products, including:

• Oils and tinctures
• Edibles
• Flower

If your looking for hemp products that will improve your sleep, first determine what works for you! 

Oils are easily ingestible and good for prolonged use. For information about how to pick your dose check out this blog! 

Edibles are a go to way to get your daily dose on with ease. Each of Best Buds Gummies are made in batches in a lab controlled environment meaning that you can trust the dose of every gummy every time! 

CBD Flower is a great option for people looking for versatility in their hemp! Flower can be brewed, cooked with, vaped or simply rolled into a doobie and smoked before bed time!

Picking the right product for you can be intimidating at first, but Best Buds is here to help! Dive into our blog where we cover a variety of hemp products and how to use them to the best of your benefit OR simply contact us today! Best Buds is your friend in cannabis, and we are here to help you on your cannabinoid journey any way we can!