There are two thoughts about how CBD works to aid in sleep. One is that CBD helps relieve anxiety and pain, both issues that can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. The other is that CBD interacts directly with receptors in the brain that govern the body’s sleep and wake cycle.

The stressors that we face throughout the day may lead to anxiety. Stressful situations such as demands from work, tense relationships, horrible traffic, constant distractions from social media, piling up of bills to pay, and other similar issues, are very common in our day to day life. If you struggle to turn your mind off at the end of the day, CBD might be what you are looking for.

CBD works by interacting with our bodies endocannabinoid system (ECS), a series of receptors in our body that help create homeostasis and perform other regulatory functions, such as appetite, memory, sleep, mood, and perception of pain. When we ingest CBD, it goes to work to help improve the brain’s capacity to deal with stress. The result is a calmer mind, which leads to the ability to fall asleep faster and stay asleep.

So, to put it simply: CBD helps you sleep by calming the mind.

The World Health Organization reports, that unlike THC, CBD—the second most well-known active ingredient in cannabis—does not produce a high and seems to result in less REM-sleep (that deep, restorative sleep) disruption than THC. In short, CBD may help a person fall and stay asleep by calming the nervous system. WebMD explains that CBD is known to have antipsychotic effects, but that the cause for these effects remains unknown, or at the very least, unproven. Experts believe that CBD may prevent the breakdown of a chemical neurotransmitter in the brain that affects mental function, emotional state, and pain, thus allowing for more of the sleep-promoting chemical to flow through the bloodstream and cause drowsiness.

Will CBD make me sleepy during the day?

Simply, NO. CBD works by calming the mind, not by inducing a sleepy state or creating the intoxicating effects found with THC. CBD works to increase focus and reduce anxiety by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. So, taking CBD won’t make you sleepy, but it can help you be more productive and get better sleep.

Another way to look at CBD is to see it as an adaptogen. It works with your body’s natural rhythms. If you are awake and trying to work on something that requires attention to details, CBD just might help you stay focused while your body is performing the task or activity. But when you are going to sleep after a long day, CBD will also help calm your mind for a restful nights sleep.

Putting CBD to the test

CBD can be taken in a few ways. Oil is probably the most popular, but it can also be taken in capsule form, or even as chocolate or gummy CBD-induced edibles. People who tested the effects of taking CBD to have better sleep, observed that good nights of sleep kept on coming consistently while using it. Unlike other prescribed sleeping aids that sometimes work for a few weeks and faded out its effect after a while (which can primarily be connected to its “placebo” effect), CBD is able to tame one’s racing thoughts to come to a screeching halt within an hour of taking it. When a person that takes CBD goes to bed, he would fall asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow. Even better, you will wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.

Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist and board-certified sleep specialist, explained in a 2017 HuffPost article, that there is a good chunk of research to suggest that CBD can be beneficial for rest. CBD may increase overall sleep amounts and reduce insomnia. It has also been shown to improve sleep in people who suffer from chronic pain.

In conclusion

Whether you are looking to stay focused on an important project or shut down a racing mind in the evening, CBD can help you achieve both focus and better sleep. You might want to experiment with different delivery methods to figure out what works best for you. Some people might get more benefit from a capsule, but most people get the most direct benefits of using oil.