Can CBD Help You Get Better Sleep?

If you’ve been following our blog, you know that we often discuss the different benefits you can get from CBD.

And I know a lot of you would want to know if CBD can or cannot help you get better sleep.

So in this article, we conducted tons of research to find it out for you.

In this article, you’ll learn how some of the factors affecting sleep quality (or lack of it), how CBD plays a role in all of this, some potential risks when using CBD and some product recommendations for you.

Let’s dig in.

Of Course, Sleep is Important

A popular saying goes like this, “The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep.” 

Good sleep de-stresses you, improves your mood and helps you think more clearly. 

Unfortunately, around 70 million Americans have chronic sleep problems. As a result, they’re more stressed and face health issues from time to time. 

When we do not get enough sleep, it elevates the cortisol – the stress hormone – levels, making us more stressed. 

Though antidepressants and sleeping pills aid sleep, they can have side effects. Perhaps this is why people turn to natural alternatives like CBD. 

Studies show that CBD can help promote sleep.

What’s more, combining it with melatonin can give a synergic effect.

But what exactly is melatonin, and what is its role in promoting sleep? We’ll discuss it below. 

What Is Melatonin? 

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, “Melatonin is a hormone that your brain produces in response to darkness.”

The hormone regulates night, day, and sleep-wake cycles. When we are exposed to light, for instance, when using smartphones at night, it inhibits melatonin production. 

As a result, we might struggle to fall asleep. 

Several over-the-counter melatonin supplements help regulate the sleep cycle.

Though melatonin plays a vital role in promoting sleep, its benefits aren’t limited to sleep. 

Here are a few other advantages of melatonin. 

• If you have insomnia due to high blood pressure, a melatonin supplement might help you sleep better. 
  
  
• If you travel across multiple time zones, you may experience a temporary sleep problem called Jet Lag Disorder.
  
  Luckily, melatonin can reduce the symptoms of jet lag, helping you sleep better. 
  
  
• Melatonin is also helpful for promoting sleep in people with DSWPD (Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder)
  
  
• The supplements can help reduce anxiety before and after surgery. 

Role of Melatonin In Sleep

Certain diseases and age factors decrease or diminish the production of melatonin. As a result, a person experiences trouble falling or staying asleep. 

Melatonin promotes the sleep/wake cycle by regulating melatonin 1a and 1b receptors – the primary melatonin receptors in humans. 

When we sleep at night, the pineal gland in our bodies produces melatonin. The US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health explains, “Melatonin serves as a time cue to the biological clock and promotes sleep anticipation in the brain default mode network (DMN).”

The research further mentions, “These effects may explain the increase in sleep propensity in circadian rhythm sleep disorders and the enhanced restorative sleep in patients with insomnia.”

Cardiovascular diseases, cognitive problems, and poor quality of life lead to poor sleep. However, melatonin supplements can improve circadian rhythm misalignments and non-restorative sleep. 

How CBD Can Help You Get Better Sleep

While melatonin plays a critical role in promoting sleep, does CBD help in this regard too?

The answer is yes, but it is not as straightforward as you might think:

Alleviate Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety is our body’s response to stress.

While getting anxious about an upcoming job interview or an exam is normal, when anxiety becomes overwhelming, you might experience an anxiety disorder. 

An anxiety disorder makes it difficult to fall or stay asleep at night. Even worse, not getting enough sleep aggravates anxiety. 

Fortunately, CBD can help alleviate anxiety symptoms, promoting sleep. 

Studies indicate that CBD can reduce discomfort and anxiety in patients with generalized anxiety disorders. 

Sleep

Various factors can contribute to poor sleep. Common reasons include an underlying health condition, stress, cardiovascular issues, chronic pain, migraine, and sleeping disorders. 

Studies show that CBD intake helps with insomnia, REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, symptoms of anxiety, and excessive daytime sleepiness. 

Therefore, CBD consumption may help you sleep better at night, no matter the cause of your sleep deprivation. 

Helps With Symptoms of Depression

Data shows approximately 17.3 million American adults experience depressive disorders. Though depression is not life-threatening, it affects our relationships and reduces the quality of life. 

A 2014 research indicates that CBD has antidepressant-like effects on our bodies. Therefore, it may reduce depression symptoms. 

A person experiencing depression is often occupied with feelings of sadness and low mood. Serotonin is the primary hormone that stabilizes our mood and feelings of well-being.

Fortunately, CBD can help in this regard. 

Note that CBD does not boost serotonin levels but affects how our brain responds to the serotonin already present in our body. 

Help Ease Discomfort

Research indicates that chronic pain affects around 50.2 million US adults. 

When you experience pain, it keeps you tired and affects your sleep cycle; you may experience trouble falling or staying asleep. 

The anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties of CBD may help reduce discomfort. 

Is It a Good Idea to Combine CBD With Melatonin?

After knowing about the many benefits of melatonin and CBD for sleep, you’ll wonder if combining both is effective. Luckily, yes, CBD and melatonin complement each other well.

CBD can work synergistically with melatonin and promote better sleep. Though both compounds are different, they offer a similar solution: assisting in a biological function that promotes sleep. 

The question is whether you should ingest individual supplements of CBD and melatonin, or are there products that combine both useful substances? 

Fortunately, some companies offer CBD oils, tinctures and softgels with melatonin. So, you get to enjoy the goodness of both all in one package. 

You can also opt for individual supplements if you prefer.

Are There Any Side Effects?

Though melatonin and CBD are generally well-tolerated, they may have side effects. 

Common side effects of melatonin include: 

• When taken in excessive amounts, melatonin might worsen depression. 
• May increase the risk of seizures.
• It can cause headaches.
• You may feel dizzy and drowsy after consuming melatonin.

Typical side effects of CBD include:

• Diarrhea
• Drowsiness
• Fatigue
• Reduced appetite

Note that these side effects are likely to occur when you are careless with the intake of both substances.

For instance, here are a few things you need to consider when taking melatonin or CBD supplements. 

• Are you pregnant or nursing? If so, avoid using CBD and melatonin.
• If you take certain medications, they might react with CBD and melatonin, causing side effects. 
• Avoid taking both supplements in high dosages. As a rule of thumb, begin with a low dose. You can always increase the quantity later on. 

Before you plan to include any supplements in your diet, it’s best to consult your doctor. Your health practitioner knows your body’s needs and would give the best advice.

Eventually, it’ll prevent you from experiencing side effects.

Can I Mix CBD Oil With Melatonin Instead? 

If you aren’t going for a product, you’re likely to get stumped by this question.

Before we answer that, we’d like to tell you that CBD or melatonin alone does not effectively aid you in sleeping. 

Simply put, taking both of these substances together has more beneficial effects than taking them separately. 

But the question remains, “Can you mix CBD oil with melatonin?”

Yes, you can mix CBD oil with melatonin, but perhaps you might not know the perfect ratio of both CBD and melatonin to help you sleep better. 

A reputable CBD brand has a team of knowledgeable and skilled researchers who mix the ingredients in the proper ratio to ensure maximum results. 

So, mixing both substances at home might not yield the desired results. And we don’t really recommend it.

If you ask us, we’ll recommend you go for a CBD and melatonin-infused product rather than buying both individually. 

Final Words

CBD – a natural compound, and melatonin may help regulate a good night’s sleep and reduce symptoms that might otherwise lead to poor sleep. 

The combined effect of both these compounds can help you sleep better, improving your life quality.

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