CBD Oil for Insomnia

If you toss at night, glowering at the clock in frustration, you’re not alone. About 60 percent of Americans have insomnia a few nights per week, if not more often. This can be caused by stress, illness, medicines, or other factors and is more likely to affect females and those aged 65 and older. While there are many ways to treat insomnia, some people are turning to CBD oil for relief. You may have wondered if it’s worth a try, so let’s take a look at CBD for insomnia.

What Is CBD?

CBD is made from either marijuana or industrial hemp plants—usually the latter—but does not contain any of the psychoactive chemical THC, which is what produces marijuana’s “high” sensation. Web MD reports that CBD is legal in the 30 states where medicinal or recreational marijuana is legal, and 17 more states have laws specifically covering CBD. Check to see the status in your state here.

Why Is CBD Good for Insomnia?

CBD oil is being used to treat a variety of health concerns, such as anxiety, pain, restless legs, and depression. Fixing any of those could certainly help someone also deal with insomnia. There are also some specific ways CBD may also help with insomnia.

1. For Insomnia Related to REM Sleep Issues

In a 2014 study, CBD oil was used to successfully treat Parkinson’s patients with REM sleep disorder, or RBD. During REM sleep, the body is supposed to be mostly paralyzed, except the eyes, which are moving rapidly. Patients who have disordered REM instead act out their dreams, moving about physically like shouting or punching into the air, which disturbs their sleep and that of those around them. In this study, “Four patients treated with CBD had a prompt and substantial reduction in the frequency of RBD‐related events without side effects.”

2. To Treat Excessive Grogginess

Unlike THC, CBD doesn’t tend to make people overly sleepy, which is a good thing according to some researchers. In a 2006 study, CBD was shown to have some interesting waking properties. “It might be considered to treat sleep disorders such as excessive somnolence. This common sleep disturbance is defined as trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. It can cause sleepiness or fatigue during the day, may affect mood, and result in trouble focusing on tasks," the researchers concluded. “We now could consider the use of CBD, the non‐psychoactive constituent of C. sativa, to treat somnolence.”

3. For Insomnia Related to PTSD

In one case study, a young girl in Colorado was successful treated for insomnia related to PTSD using CBD oil. The oil was administered via under-the-tongue spray or capsules. She began sleeping better, her mood improved, she was able to sleep in her own room, and started handling school better. Gradually, the doctor planned to transition her from the CBD oil, tapering her off that and into lifelong coping skills such as yoga and meditation. “This case study offers evidence that CBD is effective as a safe alternative treatment to traditional psychiatric medications for reducing anxiety and insomnia,” he wrote.

Is It Safe?

A review published in the journal Surgical Neurology International says that CBD “has a better safety profile compared to other cannabinoids, such as THC.” However, it also notes that there are 850 brands of marijuana-derived CBD products and 150 brands of hemp-derived CBD brands on the market, so finding a universal dose to recommend is nearly impossible. Talk to your own health care provider to see what's right for you, and sweet dreams.