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If you live in the Uk, there is a big chance that you might suffer from a sleeping-related problem. Last year it was found that more than half of young people in the UK have trouble sleeping, and unsurprisingly we’ve also noticed a huge increase in interest for CBD products. According to a YouGov consumer survey, 11% of UK adults have tried a CBD product, making it one of the fastest growing supplements in the country.
Sleep related problems can have a huge impact on the quality of life we live, an issue that scientists are keen to find a solution to. For this reason, numerous studies have been conducted on CBD oil and its effect on sleep related disorders. The medical studies that have been published offer a lot of optimism for the possible benefits CBD oil might offer those dealing with sleep related issues.
In this article we’re going to take a deep dive into how CBD oil can be used before sleep, where you can find it in the UK, and why you need to pick your CBD oil carefully. Before proceeding we recommend that anyone curious about taking CBD oil for sleep issues consult their doctor to make an informed decision.
CBD Oil, Anxiety and Sleep
CBD is just one of many cannabinoids found in cannabis, and is often mistaken for being the “medicinal” cannabinoid. Research is suggesting that all cannabinoids are presenting medical properties, however CBD is arguably the most explored cannabinoid. CBD oil does not alter consciousness or trigger a high, but it does cause a feeling of relaxation. A recent study on CBD in anxiety and sleep discovered preclinical and clinical evidence documenting value for CBD in some neuropsychiatric disorders including; epilepsy, anxiety and schizophrenia. The study places weight on CBD for its calming effect in the central nervous system.
Some of the functions of sleep are recovery at the cellular, network, and endocrine system levels and energy conservation. Sleep problems can put the human body into a compromising situation and reduce overall quality of life. According to Mayo Clinic, the biggest reason for sleep problems is Stress, a finding that correlates with medical studies too. Scientists have been looking into the relationship between stress and sleep disorders for some time, and we now have a good understanding that an overstimulated brain will struggle to sleep.
When we look at brain stimulation from the perspective of cannabinoids, CBD is certainly more interesting than THC.
CBD Relaxing The Brain?
Studies show that CBD has a unique effect to reduce stipulation in our brain in a very unusual way. First we must explain the system within each human body that processes cannabinoids.
Our Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is a widespread neuromodulatory system that plays a crucial role in our CNS development. It is comprised of cannabinoid receptors, endogenous cannabinoids and enzymes. The most abundant cannabinoid receptor in the ECS is called the CB1, the less abundant but still crucial receptors are called the CB2. CB1 receptors are found in abundance in the brain, whereas CB2 receptors are located mostly beneath the neck. Due to the effect that CB1 receptors have on the brain, it is crucial for someone experiencing an overstimulated brain to maintain healthy levels of CB1 stimulation.
The agonism of CB1 receptors occurs when THC is consumed. This will induce what is known as the cannabis “high”, often this can have an impact on the quality of sleep after consumption. Interestingly though, CBD oil is a CB1 antagonist, therefore it can have an opposite effect on the ECS than THC. This effect has been observed in the following 2007 study.
CBD Oil for REM Sleep and NREM Sleep
If we want to understand the effects of CBD oil on sleep, we need to understand that there are differences in the quality of sleep. The stage of sleep called Rapid Eye Movement (REM) is of interest due to its association with various pathological, psychological, and physiological phenomena. Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) is divided into 4 stages representing a continuum of relative depth.
In a study that looked at the effects of CBD oil on sleep disruption in rats some interesting findings were recorded. They found that CBD efficiently blocked anxiety-induced REM sleep suppression, but had little effect on the alteration of NREM sleep. “Conclusively, CBD may block anxiety-induced REM sleep alteration via its anxiolytic effect, rather than via sleep regulation per se.”
Terpene Profiles That Help Sleep & Relax
Cannabis terpenes are the primary constituents of essential oils and are what gives certain cannabis strains their unique flavour profiles. They are abundant in most fruits and vegetables and have been well researched for their medicinal properties.
There’s so much more to terpenes beyond their potential to assist in reducing brain overstimulation and having potential sleep benefits. However, since we’re just talking about sleep in this article, we’re going to talk about the main terpenes most interesting to look at regarding sleep.
CaryophylleneMyrcene
Limonene
Pinene
Terpinolene
Where To Find CBD For Sleep In The Uk?
To find the right CBD oil, it’s highly recommended to proceed with caution. Firstly, it is illegal to market your product for sleep! If you see a CBD oil that says it will help you sleep, this is a big red flag. Whilst we’re constricted in what we can say, we can share the products we see bought most at our store by our customers with sleeping related issues.
First make sure you are looking for your CBD in the correct place. CBD specialists are the place to find the highest quality CBD products, unfortunately the mainstream shops carry low quality mass produced CBD products that have inconsistent quality and dose volumes. Check the manufacturing certifications to make sure the CBD oil is produced within a GMP certified facility.
Using the terpene information we provided above, identify products that have the minor ingredients that can have big impacts on the effects you’ll get from your CBD oil. We work closely with The Goods because they tick all our boxes, offer delicious extracts and keep the prices economical due to their seed to shelf production process. If extracts aren’t your thing, check out EQL, they similarly check all our quality checks and created a one of a kind cannabis terpene infused CBD oil. From personal experience, do not drink too much EQL cannabis terpene infused oil before writing an article on CBD and sleep!
There is no one dose that works well for everyone. The first few days/weeks of using a new CBD oil will involve changing the size and routine of dose until the desired effects are reached. Once you have determined how much CBD oil you need to take everyday to get the desired effects, other means of consumption can be explored. Higher concentration CBD oils are a lot cheaper per mg CBD than low concentration oils, offering cheaper year long solutions for heavy CBD users.
The CBD Product Our Team Use Before Sleep
