Cannabidiol (CBD) is a derivative of the Cannabis Sativa plant – commonly referred to as hemp or cannabis. There are at least 80 different forms of CBD found in hemp, one of which has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating seizures.
CBD, specifically derived from hemp, contains trace (negligible) amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the compound responsible for the psychoactive properties of cannabis. This means that you can’t get high from CBD oil.
In recent years, CBD has proven to be an effective strategy for combating insomnia and several other sleep disorders. Its efficacy depends largely on when you take it.
This guide takes an in-depth look at when to take CBD oil for sleep to get the best results.
Why Should I Take CBD Oil for Sleep
Here are a few benefits of CBD oil if you prefer CBD gummies or would rather use a CBD pen for poor sleep issues.
Stress Relief
The most common indicator of stress is difficulty sleeping. Stress triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response, resulting in high cortisol levels. This makes it difficult to fall asleep, which is vital for cell restoration and regeneration.
CBD suppresses the production of cortisol which, in turn, reduces the feeling of stress. Lower cortisol levels in the body effectively enhance the overall quantity and quality of the deep, restorative sleep you get when you hit the sack.
Pain Relief
A 2017 study on the effects of CBD shows that it is a safe and effective treatment option for individuals suffering from acute and chronic pain conditions. Pain makes it hard to fall asleep.
Opioid receptors mediate the body’s response to drugs, neurotransmitters, and hormones and play a critical role in sensory perception. This means that they control the sensation of pain.
CBD acts as an allosteric modulator of the body’s opioid receptors. It changes how these receptors respond to pain-causing stimuli, providing pain relief.
Anxiety Relief
CBD reduces activity in the amygdala area of the brain responsible for the fear response. The amygdala is overly active in individuals who suffer from anxiety. By suppressing hyperactivity in this area, you are more likely to fall asleep and stay asleep after ingesting CBD oil.
Antidepressant Properties
Individuals diagnosed with depression usually have low serotonin levels in the body. This property helps control your mood, allowing you to fall asleep and sleep through the night. CBD acts as a serotonin receptor agonist, inducing antidepressant-like effects.
How Many CBD Gummies Should I Take for Sleep?
The precise dosage of CBD gummies for sleep can be difficult to determine. The unique body chemistry of individual users means everyone has a unique sweet spot.
It is worth noting that CBD is biphasic. The specific benefits you derive from it largely depend on how much you take. Lower doses of CBD (60 mg and below) have an energizing effect on the user. It acts as a stimulant, a little like the effect of caffeine.
In higher doses (60-300 mg), CBD has sedating effects. If you’re having trouble falling asleep, you must take higher CBD doses. The optimal dosage will vary by user and can range anywhere from 100 mg to 300 mg for each serving.
In your quest to find the optimal CBD dosage, starting low and working your way up is always better. We recommend starting with 60 mg and gradually working your way up until you find the CBD dosage that works for you. Individuals with extreme anxiety may need up to 600 mg of CBD to see any improvement in their sleeping patterns.
If you have stress, pain, anxiety, or depression, 300 mg of CBD (or higher) is usually the recommended dosage to minimize the symptoms of these conditions.
When to Take CBD Oil for Sleep
Rather than take a single high dose of the best CBD oil just before bedtime, consider dosing gradually throughout the day.
For instance, instead of taking 300 mg of CBD at night, you could take 100 mg three times a day, with the last dose just before you get into bed. This approach is more effective in relieving stress, pain, and anxiety as the day goes by.
You also need to consider the time it takes to feel the effects of CBD oil. The actual duration depends on the form in which you ingest it. Here’s what we mean:
- Ingesting CBD oil by placing a few drops under your tongue allows it to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream. You should start feeling its effects in 15-30 minutes.
- Consuming CBD oil as an edible (such as gummies) or beverage means it must first go through the digestive system. It will eventually end up in the liver, where it will be metabolized before being released into the bloodstream. This may take anywhere between 60-90 minutes.
- The same thing applies to orally-ingested CBD products such as capsules. It may take anywhere from 1-2 hours to feel the effects of CBD use.
- When inhaling cannabidiol through a vape or CBD pen for sleep, you can expect to feel the effects anywhere from 15-20 minutes.
With that in mind, you can gauge how long before bedtime you should take CBD oil to reap maximum results for a more restful sleep. Ideally, anywhere between 30 and 60 minutes should be sufficient.
Bottom Line
CBD oil has numerous verifiable therapeutic benefits for stress, pain, and anxiety relief. Its antidepressant properties also make it a viable treatment for individuals diagnosed with depression.
Having these conditions or any other sleep problem can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. By alleviating the symptoms associated with stress, pain, anxiety, and depression, pure CBD has proven to be an effective remedy in enhancing the quality of restorative sleep among healthy adults.
In the meantime, have you considered sound therapy to help you sleep better? Find out how it works here.
