If sleep is eluding you, perhaps CBD could help? It’s used by more than eight million Brits for many health issues, including lack of zzzs…
By Alison Hardinge
If you’ve ever suffered from insomnia, you’ll know that a restless night can have an immediate impact on the way you feel and function. What’s more, there is now a huge body of evidence to show that long-term sleep disruption poses a serious threat to physical and mental health.
In the short term, sleep disruption can increase your risk of mood disorders and the likelihood of developing depression. It’s also associated with cognition and memory problems and makes you more
susceptible to stress.
More worryingly, the long-term impacts are potentially lethal. A large-scale international study in the journal Sleep, which analysed data from more than 1.3 million people over a 25-year period, found that sleeping less than six hours a night increased the odds of dying prematurely by 12 per cent.
‘With a study in the journal Sleep Science showing a connection between sleepless nights and rising stress hormones, it’s easy to see how sleep disruption undermines our health,’ says Dr Attam Singh, Clinical Associate at the London Pain Clinic.
How can CBD help to improve your sleep?
A new report by lifestyle company Alphagreen, called CBD in the UK: All you need to know, shows that consumers who use CBD for sleep problems report huge improvements.
Around a quarter said they were less likely to wake in the night; 14 per cent said it helped them fall asleep more quickly; 13 per cent said they woke feeling more refreshed, while overall sleep quality scores more than doubled – severity of sleep problems fell from an average score of 6.9 out of 10 before using CBD, to 3.6 out of 10 after using it.
8.4 million … the number of Brits using CBD products over the past year, mostly to tackle sleep, pain and mood problems (cannabiswealth.co.uk)
‘Poor sleep is also associated with anxiety as well as pain problems. But, using CBD can set up a spiral of positive changes, where better sleep reduces pain or anxiety, and less pain or stress promotes better sleep,’ says Dr Singh. ‘Patients are looking towards natural remedies to mitigate and soothe pain, sleep and mood symptoms, as well as other mental and physical health concerns,’ he adds.
A 2021 survey of current or past CBD users, which was published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, looked at the reasons 387 people had or were taking CBD. Interestingly, 61.2 per cent of respondents were women, and after anxiety – the top cause of use – the next most common reason for using CBD was for sleep issues, at 42.5 per cent of respondents.
Is whole hemp better?
It’s worth adding a couple of tablespoons of organic, cold-pressed hemp seed oil (or whole hemp seeds) to your diet each day, in addition to any CBD oil. Here’s why:
- Magnesium: Hemp seeds are rich in the essential minerals magnesium, a deficiency in which can lead to increased insomnia. Taking 1-2 tbsp of hemp seed oil or 2-3 tbsp of whole hemp seeds a day gives you 39 per cent of your RDA for magnesium.
- L-tryptophan and vitamin B6: Hemp seeds also contain the amino acid L-tryptophan and vitamin B6. When paired together, B6 triggers the conversion of tryptophan into serotonin. Your body then converts this into melatonin. This is a hormone that’s vital for a healthy sleep-wake cycle.
6 CBD sleep inducers…
Body and Mind Botanicals Organic Hemp Tea (£18.50 a month) is a seriously soothing tea containing 1.5g of organic cannabis sativa plant and seeds, plus 0.5g of organic ginger per teabag.
Alphagreen CBD Oil (£30 for 10ml) is a high-potency 10% oil that contains ethically sourced, organic, CBD isolate that’s blended with vegan MCT oil to enhance bioavailability. It is THC-free and contains no parabens or sulphates.
Mission C Night+ CBD Oil (£34.99) is the new kid on the block when it comes to CBD support. This night-time oil is infused with passionflower, camomile and myrcene (a natural terpene known for anti-inflammatory properties and which is said to help sleep). All Mission C products are lab tested, organic, vegan, cruelty free and THC free.
Dreem Distillery Night Drops (£160) include a whopping 2,400mg broad-spectrum CBD oil with a range of helpful cannabinoids and a proprietary ‘super terpene blend’.
Oto 10% CBD Sleep Drops (£69) contain a, coconut-based blend of lavender, butterfly pea flower, spearmint, liquorice, lavender and cannabidiol.
Lady A Evening Tincture (from £60) is a luxury CBD nightcap, with added camomile, chocolate and mint – all in a hemp seed oil base.
