“My clinical findings are quite mixed – CBD helps sleep in some, disturbs sleep in others, and doesn’t improve or disturb sleep in the rest,” Dr. Sulak says.
“When CBD helps with sleep, it usually does so in higher doses, in products containing naturally-occurring terpenes, and in individuals with other symptoms that are disturbing sleep.”
The key to achieving successful results with CBD is using an appropriate amount, tailored to your individual needs. Furthermore, using a formulation that includes significant amounts of CBDA and/or the legal amounts of THC makes the CBD more powerful, so you’ll need less.
CBD oil for sleep
For treating and preventing sleep symptoms, CBD oil (placed under the tongue) is typically the best method of delivery. Some of the medicine can be absorbed directly through the capillaries in your mouth, and the rest that’s swallowed can be absorbed in the digestive tract. Importantly, the medicine that reaches the gut can be absorbed 4 to 5x more if it’s taken around the time of a fat-containing meal, though Dr. Sulak does not recommend eating in the hour before going to sleep.
CBD drops allow users to fine-tune their treatment to discover one’s ideal, personalized usage amount. This is particularly evident with Healer Whole Plant Hemp CBD drops which include a 6:1 ratio of CBD: CBDA. Healer brand drops are formulated so that 1 drop is equal to about 1 mg of cannabinoids, and for that reason, drops are by far the easiest to use to find your optimal dose and are also the most cost-effective method.
While CBDA tinctures or oil drops are much harder to find because few manufacturers have been able to capture and maintain CBDA, Healer’s patented extraction technology was developed expressly to do that. Healer Whole Plant Hemp CBDA is non-intoxicating and has a very high terpene and antioxidant content. Currently, CBDA in this formulated concentration can only be found in the plant itself.
CBD cream for sleep
CBD and CBDA-containing creams, lotions, salves, balms, and gel preparations can be an effective way to deliver the hemp compounds directly to specific areas of the body such as joints, muscles, and skin, to alleviate pain from muscle spasms, inflammation, and various skin conditions that prevent or disrupt sleep.
Healer Whole Plant Hemp CBD Topical (1:1 CBD: CBDA) is water-based hydrogel cream that feels less oily, dries more quickly, and is formulated with menthol and Copaiba oil for increased skin penetration and effectiveness.
Most people don’t know that CBD drops can also be applied directly to the skin as a topical or mixed with your own lotion for coverage over a greater area.
If you have localized pain that interferes with sleep, CBD cream can be a simple, effective solution.
CBD capsules or for sleep
Capsules are an ideal delivery method when used for staying asleep because their effects usually last longer than other methods. If your CBD capsules work well for staying asleep but take too long to start working and you need help falling asleep, try combining with drops, which often start working faster, or simply take the capsule earlier in the evening. If you find that capsules are not working well even in moderate to high doses, this may indicate you aren’t absorbing it well, as is sometimes the case for people with poor gut motility or other GI disorders; in that case, try switching to drops.
Both Healer Whole Plant Hemp CBD Capsules and Healer Whole Plant Hemp CBDA Capsules contain the same formulated oil as Healer CBD and CBDA Drops in vegetarian capsules, stabilized for increased absorption and to prevent leaking.
Dosing CBD Products to Help with Sleep
First, try CBD or CBDA during the morning and middle of the day for 3–5 days before trying it right before bedtime. If you find CBD or CBDA energizing and want to try it at bedtime, you may find that increasing your usage amount by 2x–4x may help with relaxation and sleep.
Be sure to check in with your body and mind before and 1 hour after taking the product so you can track its effectiveness.
How to take CBD Oil:
Administering CBD or CBDA oil sublingually ensures faster, more efficient absorption. CBD and CBDA oils are even better absorbed — resulting in a stronger effect– when taken after a meal containing some healthy fat or oil.
If you’re a beginner (have never used CBD, CBDA or have used it occasionally):
- Shake the bottle to make sure the cannabinoids and other beneficial plant compounds are well distributed for an even and consistent dose.
- Start with 5 mg placed under your tongue. Looking in a mirror can help you count the drops or administer by first placing drops on a spoon or in an oral syringe.
- Hold the drops in your mouth for as long as you can (1-5 minutes) before swallowing to allow maximum absorption.
- Increase your daily usage by 5 mg every 2 days. When you start feeling results, stop increasing and keep the same number of drops peruse.
- If you notice that the effects wear off too early in the day after taking an amount that works well for you, it’s beneficial to add more uses per day. Many people do well taking CBD for pain 2-3 times daily.
How to take CBD capsules for sleep:
To get started using CBD or CBDA capsules is simple:
- Day 1 & 2:
- Take 1 capsule by mouth 1-3 hours before bedtime
- After Day 2:
- Increase by 1 capsule each night until you experience satisfactory benefits.
- If you notice unwanted effects or fewer benefits, reduce the amount by 1 capsule each night until you find your optimal response.
- If 1 capsule is too strong or if you experience inconsistent results, switch to CBD or CBDA oil taken sublingually.