CBD For Sleep: the Ideal Dosage
Sleeping problems affect a lot of people in the US and the world.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a third of American adults have difficulty sleeping or do not get enough sleep.
While research suggests CBD might help, there is still no agreement on the ideal CBD oil dosage for sleep.
Sleep is essential; it serves to protect your mental and physical health. It affects almost every part and system in your body from the brain, lungs, heart, metabolism, mood to your immune function.
Without enough of it, you will not only be groggy and grumpy throughout the day, but it will also put you at risk of serious health problems including diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke.
It is no surprise that the quality of sleep has a direct impact on your mental health.
Sleep disorders such as insomnia are a common symptom of most mental illnesses, including anxiety and depression.
Sleep deprivation, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, can also cause an anxiety disorder.
While it may seem easy to solve the problem by taking over the counter drugs, this can become a habit and can develop into an addiction.
Plant-based alternatives like CBD oil are preferred by most people as they have no side effects and are not addictive.
What Dose of CBD Oil for Sleep is Appropriate and Does It Work?
In this article, we look at whether CBD oil works for sleep, how it can help, and most importantly, how much you should take.
But first, can CBD help you sleep?
Potentially, yes.
A big chunk of recent studies and anecdotal evidence suggests that CBD can be used to treat sleep problems- confirming that it is not another passing trend or a ploy to get money out of your pocket.
However, keep in mind that not all CBD is made equal. Buy from reputable sellers only to ensure you get the best quality.
Most producers will display the concentration of CBD in the product on the label. Some will even go further and suggest a dosage.
However, there are other factors that determine the amount that will be effective for you.
How Does CBD Oil Help with Sleep?
To understand how CBD can help with your sleep, you have to understand what is causing your poor sleep first, and there are a lot of things that might be at play. Here are some:
- Mental health disorders such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression are known to cause insomnia
- Physical conditions such as pain
- Discomforts
- Medication – some prescriptions may affect your sleeping pattern.
CBD may help improve your sleep in several ways.
CBD, especially in higher doses, can cause sleepiness. It also may help improve the underlying condition that is causing poor sleep.
CBD has numerous benefits, including pain relief. It can also improve sleep by reducing anxiety.
This means you can sleep better and find relief for your pain and anxiety at the same time and without taking multiple over-the-counter drugs.
Several research studies have shown the potential of CBD in sleep improvement.
This review, published in 2017, attempts to summarize research on cannabis, cannabinoids, and sleep done up to 2014.
The study found that CBD may have therapeutic potential to treat insomnia. THC, on the other hand, was found to decrease sleep latency, but it could also interfere with sleep quality in the long term.
A 2019 study on CBD in anxiety and sleep corroborates on the findings.
In the study, 72 subjects, 25 with poor sleep and 47 suffering from anxiety, were given 25 mg of CBD in capsule form per day. In the first month, the sleep score for 48 patients had improved, while 57 recorded lower anxiety scores.
Another study from 2014 found that CBD improved the symptoms of REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) in patients with Parkinson’s disease. RBD is a disorder associated with nightmares and poor sleep.
Many researchers believe CBD improves sleep by tackling the root cause of insomnia. More research is, however, still needed so we can understand its long term effects on sleep.
How Much CBD Should You Take for Sleep?
There is no correct answer to this question. People react differently to CBD as their bodies are different.
Since CBD is not yet approved by the FDA for the treatment of sleep disorders, there is no universal dosage or prescription.
Different factors determine how many drops of CBD for sleep are required. They include your body weight, metabolism, tolerance, and the severity of the condition you are treating.
Since all those are very individual, you may require more or less CBD than another person.
This means you have to find what works for you.
Alternatively, you might have a doctor recommend a dosage for you. If that happens, you must stick to that amount.
If your doctor doesn’t provide a recommendation, it’s best that you start with a small amount and increase it gradually till you reach your ‘sweet spot.’
For example, you can start with 20 mg, if the improvement is not satisfactory, you can increase it by 5 mg after a week until you are satisfied with the results.
This means you have to track the amount, the symptoms, and improvements. You can write this down on paper or your phone for easy access.
How to Calculate CBD Dosage for Sleep?
While taking excess CBD oil will not harm you, it is important to find the right dosage to avoid wastage, and in turn, save money.
All CBD products have the concentration indicated on the labels. From there, it is your responsibility to work out how much CBD you are taking in each serving.
For example, this Green Roads CBD terpenes oil contains 300 mg CBD in 15ml oil. This means there is 20 mg in every 1ml you take.
If you take 1 drop (assuming it is 1.5ml), then your CBD intake is 25 mg per serving.
If you want more accurate dosing, you can purchase CBD oil in the form of capsules.
These CBDFX Gel Capsules contain 25mg CBD each. This way, you do not have to worry about how many drops of CBD for sleep you are taking.
When to Take CBD Oil for Sleep
This depends on how you are going to take your CBD. How you administer CBD has a direct effect on the time it takes before you can start experiencing its effects.
The fastest way to feel the effects is by vaping or inhalation. The effects usually kick in within 10 minutes.
If you swallow CBD, it will take longer to feel the effects as it will have to go through your digestive system, and it will be metabolized by the liver.
It will, therefore, take between an hour to two for the effects to kick in. So if you are swallowing the oil or a capsule, do so at least 2 hours before going to bed.
You can also take CBD by placing a few drops under the tongue and letting it stay there for up to 60 seconds.
CBD administered sublingually is absorbed directly into the bloodstream. It will take between 15 to 30 minutes for the effects to kick in.
This way, you can take it about 20 minutes before going to sleep.
The Best CBD Oil for Sleep
This hemp tincture from Blue Hemp is formulated for better absorption and efficiency.
Since it is absorbed faster, you will experience the effects instantly, and you will not have to stay long before going to bed.
This tincture comes in three flavors and six strengths. The flavors are berry, natural, and peppermint. The strengths are 125mg, 250mg, 500mg, 1000mg, 2000mg and 3000mg.
Pick one at the Great CBD Shop at between $10.35 and $105.80.
Going at a discounted price of $24.15, this broad-spectrum CBD oil from Green Roads will help you get to sleep in no time.
It’s infused with terpenes from the Tange OG hybrid strain, ensuring that you not only enjoy the taste but also get the most benefit possible from this product.
It comes in a 15 ml bottle with a dropper to help you measure the correct dosage. The CBD strength is 300 mg, and the recommended dosage is 0.5ml -1ml administered sublingually.
This product is available for purchase at the Great CBD Shop online store.
Take Away: The Ideal Dose of CBD Oil for Sleep
There is no doubt that CBD has a lot of benefits.
Recent research and anecdotal evidence suggest that it can help improve sleep quality and quantity.
However, there is no universal dosage, as there are many variables involved.
Before you start using CBD for sleep, you should seek advice from your doctor about how you should take it and how much you should take.
If your doctor doesn’t provide a recommendation, you can start with a small amount and increase it gradually until you achieve your desired results.
