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This article is by Scott Mazza, co-founder and COO of Buffalo’s Vitality CBD. Hailing from a background in finance, Scott is well-versed in the benefits of hemp and passionate about providing people with a natural alternative to the pharmaceutical industry. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of NY Cannabis Insider.
More people are sleeping worse than ever. About 1 in 3 adults do not regularly get the recommended amount of uninterrupted sleep required to protect their health. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sleep disorders are so pervasive that they now constitute a public health epidemic in the U.S.
In this context, scientists are investigating the sleep-positive potential of cannabidiol (CBD) – and the results are promising. A new peer-reviewed study suggests low doses of CBD are as effective as the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin in improving sleep quality. This is strong clinical evidence to back up the anecdotal claims about cannabis and sleep that have circulated for years.
Let’s discuss the study, its implications, and what consumers need to know about leveraging the compound at bedtime.
The compound
From what we know so far about CBD, it fits the bill as a potential sleep aid alternative. A recent surge in scientific publications has found preclinical and clinical evidence documenting the value of CBD in some neuropsychiatric disorders, including epilepsy, anxiety, and schizophrenia.
Evidence points toward a calming effect of CBD on the central nervous system, which can also improve the sleep-wake cycle.
It’s worth also noting that CBD does not cause physical dependence. One of the biggest issues with sleeping pills is that users can develop dependency and addiction. Worse, there are some serious side effects to consider. Research shows that people 60 and older are more likely to experience cognitive issues, psychomotor problems and daytime fatigue from sleeping pills. Some people may experience hallucinations or develop depression.
On the other hand, however, clinical evidence on the use of CBD for sleep remains limited. And even fewer studies have tested the comparative effectiveness of cannabinoid formulations found within CBD products used for sleep or how they compare to other complementary therapies such as melatonin. Until now.
The study
In a recent clinical investigation, The Journal of American Nutrition Association studied about 1800 adults experiencing symptoms of sleep disturbance. Participants were randomly assigned a four-week supply of products in capsule form. These products contained either 15 mg CBD or 5 mg melatonin, alone or in combination with minor cannabinoids.
The results revealed that all formulations demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with only 12% of participants reporting mild side effects that were not severe. Importantly, significant improvements in sleep disturbance were observed within each active product arm, indicating the efficacy of both CBD and melatonin in improving sleep quality.
Further, a clinically important improvement in sleep quality was reported by the majority of participants (56% to 75%) across all formulations. With a statistically significant “p-value” of less than .01, the study’s findings are not outliers.
Interestingly, no significant differences were found between the 15 mg CBD isolate and formulations containing 15 mg CBD and 15 mg cannabinol (CBN), with or without 5 mg cannabichromene (CBC). Similarly, no significant differences were observed between the 15 mg CBD isolate and formulations containing 5 mg melatonin, alone or in combination with 15 mg CBD and 15 mg CBN.
The findings
The researchers conclude that chronic use of a low dose of CBD is safe and may lead to improved sleep quality. However, the study did not identify any sleep benefits of CBD that surpassed those of a 5 mg melatonin dose. Furthermore, the addition of low doses of CBN and CBC did not enhance the effects of CBD or melatonin isolates.
These results suggest that CBD could be considered as a potential alternative for individuals seeking sleep improvement, but its effects are comparable to melatonin and the inclusion of minor cannabinoids may not provide additional benefits in this context.
Good sleep promotes good health – and this study furthers our knowledge in this crucial area. The findings represent an essential scientific advancement toward thoroughly characterizing and contrasting the comparative effectiveness of commonly used non-prescription sleep disorder treatments. Further, with about 8% of adults taking sleep medications most nights to help them fall and stay asleep, which is fully double compared with a decade earlier, this is timely and much-needed research.
For consumers, they can rest assured that CBD for sleep offers far more than a placebo effect. Whether applying a few drops of oil under the tongue or using a salve to relax the muscles, the compound is now proven in the lab to offer sleep benefits.
Arguably the most important element for users is to choose the right brand. CBD continues to struggle with legitimate products and producers. So, consult online reviews, third-party testing certificates and organic production techniques before buying. Your sleep and health are worth it.