Quality shut-eye is equally as important as a healthy diet and exercise, but many adults struggle to meet the suggested guidelines of 7 or more hours per night, and traditional sleeping pills may do more harm than good. This has left millions of people seeking a gentler option to heavy sedative drugs. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP

According to CDC data, good sleepers usually weigh less, eat fewer calories, and have better concentration and focus than poor sleepers. Quality sleep is also linked to improved physical ability and better immune function.

According to the CDC, over 70 million Americans have sleep issues. Professionals suggest 18 to 64-year-olds should get at least seven good hours a night, but 35 percent of all U.S. adults are not hitting that goal. With so many people struggling, it is not surprising that 9 million people use prescription sleep aids.

THE PROBLEM WITH TRADITIONAL SLEEPING PILLS

Most sleep aids work by boosting the production of our GABA neurotransmitters. GABA helps quiet down neuron activity. But we are learning that prescription drugs like Ambien and others do not allow us to achieve the restorative level of sleep that translates to all the healthy benefits. 

Certain phases of the sleep cycle are more valuable than others, too. There are four stages: three non-rapid eye movement stages (the transitional period, when body temperature drops and heart rate slows, and deep sleep), and one REM dream phase. According to a Healthline article, only deep sleep and REM are considered restorative. During these phases, our bodies repair and regrow tissue, bone, and muscle.  It also strengthens our immune system. 

But heavier sleep medications interfere with deep-level REM brain waves, so you are not entering the restorative phases of rest. 

It’s why these medications often lead to grogginess and forgetfulness. People on heavy sedatives have fallen, gotten in car accidents, and had other serious injuries. It became such an issue that The Food and Drug Administration left its most serious health warning, a Black Box warning for life-threatening side effects, on these medications

NEW ALTERNATIVES

CBN FOR SLEEP

CBN is also gaining popularity. Since CBN comes from aging THC, it is not as widely available as other cannabinoids. However, as interest in minor cannabinoids grows, more options have come into the market. Melatonin has become a popular choice because people are less likely to become dependent, have a diminished response, or experience a “hangover” feeling the morning after use. This can be felt with CBN in higher doses than what is recommended. However if consumed as directed CBN may offer less grogginess and more alertness the following day due to it being a natural nighttime supplement. 

CBN can be found on the market in many forms. There are more travel friendly options like gummies and softgels as these have consistent dosing per serving. There are also many tincture options that can be great as they can be very versatile, from using under the tongue as a sublingual or dropped into a favorite night time beverage like tea.

DOES CBN MAKE YOU TIRED?

CBN’s connection to sleep first came about as cannabis lore. CBN comes from aging, oxidized THC. This combined with the anecdote that old poorly stored cannabis had a reputation for making people sleepy, CBN gained recognition as a nighttime supplement. Unfortunately, there is still little research that conclusively validates the abundance of anecdotal evidence.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR CBN TO KICK IN?

CBN doesn’t take any more or less time to take effect than other cannabinoids. Lifestyle, weight, diet, metabolism, and other innumerable factors play a role in timing. More than anything, the consumption method determines how long effects take to show up. Ingesting, smoking, and tincture all have different bioavailability rates, how quickly cannabinoids are absorbed in the blood. Vaporizing CBN offers the fastest effects, followed by CBN tincture and then gummies.

KEY TAKEAWAYS ON HOW CBN HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON SLEEP 

Many hemp fans prefer CBN as a nighttime supplement for restful, rejuvenating nights. As interest in minor cannabinoids grows, more options continue to come into the market to help catch better Z’s.

Sources:

• “Data and Statistics.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 12 Sept. 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/data_statistics.html. 
• Farah, Troy. “What Science Says about Using Sleep Medications.” Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2021, https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/what-science-says-about-using-sleep-medications. 
• Leavitt, Jennifer. “How Much Deep Sleep Do You Need?” Healthline, Healthline Media, 10 Oct. 2019, https://www.healthline.com/health/how-much-deep-sleep-do-you-need. 
• “Sleep and Chronic Disease.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 Sept. 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/chronic_disease.html.