According to the American Sleep Association, 50-70 million American adults experience a sleep disorder, with insomnia being the most common.
While some continue to look to melatonin and other sleep aids for relief, more and more are turning to CBD oil.
In fact, a recent Consumer Reports survey found that “10% of Americans who reported trying CBD said they used it to help them sleep, and a majority of those people said it worked.”
Aside from the proclaimed benefits of CBD oil, like easing anxiety and pain which indirectly improves sleep, there is growing research into CBD’s efficacy for treating specific sleep disorders.
What Our Customers Say About CBD and Sleep
We asked customers on Facebook to share their personal experiences using Laura’s Homestead Alternatives CBD for sleep. A number shared positive stories below, ranging from general “it helps me” to one person specifically saying CBD is the difference maker for easing their insomnia.
How Can CBD Oil Help With Sleep?
Though research into the ways in which CBD may affect sleep is still quite new, researchers point to the body’s endocannabinoid system, a series of receptors that run throughout the body and brain, and which regulate many functions.
Specific to sleep, there are emerging studies that suggest CBD could help with excessive daytime sleepiness, as well as with REM sleep behavior disorder.
The latter is characterized by nightmares and active behavior that occurs while dreaming. Those with the disorder unfortunately do not currently have highly promising options for therapy, so research into the potential role that CBD could play is likely to continue.
CBD at high doses has been associated with sedation, but a recent trial showed that 300 milligram doses of CBD did not interfere with sleep cycles in healthy participants.
Based on these observations and those showing that, unlike some drugs that are used to treat anxiety and depression, CBD appears to lack dangerous side effects, researchers have suggested CBD may pose a useful alternative therapy for a variety of sleeping disorders.
Should You Use CBD Oil For Sleep?
Before trying CBD oil for sleep disorders, we encourage you to speak with your physician. This is especially necessary if you’re taking additional medications for sleep disorders or other medical conditions.
Beyond potential interference with certain medications, CBD poses few side effects. The most common side effects are fatigue, diarrhea, and changes in appetite and weight.
Can CBD Be Mixed With Melatonin?
We’re not aware of studies confirming mixing CBD and melatonin has a positive or negative impact. As shown in the customer reviews above, some mix the two without adverse effects.
How Much CBD Should I Take for Sleep?
While there isn’t a universally-recommended dosage, our customers tend to start at 25mg per day and adjust from there until desired benefits are realized. There is some research indicating a dosage as high as 160mg/day may be needed to impact sleep; however, lower doses may effectively ease anxiety.
Ultimately, it’s safe to experiment with varying doses for a few days at a time until you find what works best for you.
How Often Should I Take CBD Oil for Sleep?
You should take CBD oil daily at a consistent dosage to realize the maximum benefits. Some people report it can take a few days, a week, or even more for the CBD to build up in their system and relief to set in.
What Time of Day Should I Take CBD for Sleep?
For those taking CBD to help with sleep, shortly before bed is most sensible. You can also split doses if you’re taking CBD oil for pain relief during the day and for sleep at night.
How Do You Find A High Quality CBD Oil?
1) Research and Get To Know The Company
The most important consideration is what company you’re purchasing from. There are many “fly by night” CBD companies pushing products that aren’t high quality or even labeled correctly.
Laura’s Homestead Alternatives CBD is extracted in a GMP-certified facility and third-party lab tested for label accuracy.
Know that when you shop with Laura, you’re buying from someone you can trust. Laura has 35 years of experience in the natural foods and health and wellness spaces as the founder of Laura’s Lean Beef. Read more about Laura’s story.
2) Understand Where The Company Sources Their Hemp
Laura’s Homestead Alternatives CBD is extracted from USDA certified organic hemp grown by us here at Laura’s Mt. Folly Farm in Winchester, Kentucky. Certified organic means the hemp is grown in rich soil without use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers.
You’ll find that many companies, even those who would be considered industry leaders, don’t know the farmers who grow their hemp. Even fewer companies are able to claim the USDA certification and those who do claim it often can’t provide the proof.
We make our USDA organic certification public for all to see. View it here.
We also know foods grown organically in rich soil have higher nutritional values. We expect the same is true with hemp — that hemp grown organically yields stronger cannabinoids, which help us feel better.
Do your homework, research how the company sources their hemp, and double check the CBD is from USDA certified organic hemp.
3) Seek Companies That Are Vertically Integrated
The highest quality CBD products come from companies that are vertically integrated. Because we grow the hemp ourselves, we can guarantee the quality of the farming environment and methods.
We then work very closely with a GMP-certified facility to extract the CBD. Because our supply chain is local (every step happens within 35 miles), our Quality Assurance team is able to make regular visits to meet with the Plant Managers and ensure our hemp is processed with the customer always in mind.
Finally, we work with local third-party labs to ensure our CBD products are true to the label and safe for consumption. We test for cannabinoid profile, microbials, heavy metals, and more, to make sure you receive the highest quality product possible.
Read more about the key considerations when buying CBD oil, and find more frequently asked questions.