words Alexa Wang
The stresses of the world are finally catching up and are on the rise. According to the Mental Health Foundation’s 2018 study, a whopping 74% of people feel extremely stressed and are unable to cope with the situation. This overdriven circle of thoughts has also made anxiety extremely prevalent, with over 25.5% of people having low anxiety levels (as per an NHS report).
These mental health factors have been a major contributor to the rise of insomnia, with over 30% to 48% of adults who have insomnia.
Thankfully, with the legalization of cannabidiol products, people can dive into CBD oils or CBD gummies to relax their anxious minds. But to what degree are they helpful?
According to many, a lot. But let us deconstruct how to use CBD and help alleviate anxiety and help you sleep.
How to use CBD to deal with Anxiety?
While the FDA has yet to approve CBD-based medications as an anxiolytic, studies in 2011 and 2020 indicate that CBD may be used to curb stress. Here are some of the forms in which anxiety-ridden individuals generally take CBD products.
- Edibles: CBD gummies have become one of the favored methods to ingest CBD but now CBD comes in many edible forms including gum, mints, and chocolate
- Tinctures; CBD oils are the most acceptable way of consuming CBD. They come with small dropper bottles.
- Vapes: These are vapes filled with CBD oils that create inhalable vapor
- Flowers: Many patients ignite dried hemp flowers and smoke them.
It is up to those suffering from anxiety to determine how they consume CBD. Since there are persisting dogmatic beliefs around smoking, people generally stick with CBD edibles. PlainJane sleep gummies, for instance, are great for those looking for a low dosage of CBD. It is best for preventative care when it comes to dealing with low levels of anxiety.
Choosing the Right Dosage
To maximize the impact of CBD gummies or whatever way people consume CBD, they must first select the right dosage based on how their bodies react.
For anxiety, clinical trials have revealed that low doses are extremely helpful. For generalized anxiety sleep issues, 25 to 75 milligrams of CBD have been studied for dealing with anxiety and sleep problems.
Studies have found that doses between 40 and 300 milligrams may effectively deal with anxiety. However, much depends on a person’s symptoms and other medical conditions.
Using CBD to Sleep Better
Using cannabinoids for sleeping is not a novel concept. It has been used for ages, with cannabis entering the western medicine space in the 19th century. Early studies now indicate that CBD may help you sleep.
According to one investigation, 160 milligrams of CBD increased sleep duration, which had the same effect as 5 mg of nitrazepam.
Furthermore, some researchers observed that 300 to 700 mg of CBD oil may reduce cortisol – the stress hormone – levels in some patients.
By easing anxiety and pain, CBD promotes sleep.
How CBD helps with Insomnia
CBD impacts the hypothalamus – an organ that’s vital to sleep-related function – to regulate stress. Cannabinoids may do so by suppressing the deregulated cycle of stress hormone overactivation. That results in equalizing the sleep and wake rhythms.
CBD helps with Sleep-Wake Cycle Disorders
Circadian rhythm disorders – or sleep-wake cycle disorders – happen when the internal clock of the body is not aligned with the environment. CBD may improve sleep in this case by ensuring that the body progresses smoothly during sleep and REM stages without interruption. There are plenty of CBD gummies coupled with melatonin to add an additional potential benefit for someone with a circadian rhythm disorder.
“CBD’s action on cannabinoid receptors starts a chain reaction that leads to a more natural time of sleep in relation to the diurnal rhythm of night and day”, says Dr Whitlock, MD and the owner of Ozark MMJ Cards.
However, it is crucial to know that the research is still ongoing
The research on the impact of CBD on sleep and anxiety is still in the early stages. A three-month study also indicated that while 66.7% of patients reported improved sleep, 25% reported that their sleep had worsened. It demonstrates that while CBD can help with sleeping better in the short term, it might only be able to sustain it for a short time.
Conclusion
There are mostly positives to be had when consuming CBD for anxiety and sleep. While the research is still going on, Some results look promising. However, it is also important not to rely solely on these products to take you through your anxious phase and into sweet slumber. Couple it with a healthy lifestyle and a good time for yourself. That is what the makers of Plainjane believe. With their sleep CBD gummies, users get both CBD and melatonin, giving them the extra push they need to relax and go to sleep.
