If you're having trouble getting good sleep or if you’d like to get deeper sleep, then CBD could be the natural sleep aid you’ve been looking for. Because hemp-derived CBD products have anywhere from NO THC to less than .3%, it does not provide an intoxicating effect or what many people refer to as a “high.” This lack of intoxicating effect is what makes CBD a popular natural option for many people when looking for a potential sleep aid.
****Note: If you’re very new to CBD, and want to start by learning about what CBD is first, click this link to check out this article “What is CBD? (And Why People Take It)" [COMING SOON]
Full-Spectrum CBD, Broad Spectrum CBD, CBD Isolate - Which is Better For Sleep?
The short answer as to which CBD product is best for you is - it depends.
Everyone’s body is different. At Discover CBD, we sell full spectrum CBD, broad spectrum CBD, and CBD Isolate. This allows us to cover the full range of our customers’ CBD needs. The first step to understanding which is best for you, is to understand the differences between the three:
1.) Full Spectrum CBD: A whole plant extract, with CBD being the majority cannabinoid (a milligram amount of CBD should be listed on the tincture/product). There are a small amount of other cannabinoids, terpenes including a small amount (less than .3%) of THC. This CBD option is considered to be non-intoxicating.
*This is our most popular CBD product for sleep! It is also the kind of CBD product that most people are referring to when they say that they take a “CBD Oil.”
2.) Broad Spectrum CBD: A whole plant extract, with CBD being the majority cannabinoid (a milligram amount of CBD should be listed on the tincture/product). There are a small amount of other cannabinoids except for the cannabinoid THC, and terpenes. The only difference between full spectrum and broad spectrum, is that broad spectrum has NO THC. This CBD option is also considered to be non-intoxicating.
*This is our second most popular product for sleep! It is especially popular among those who are drug tested for sports or work, and don’t want to risk a positive drug test.
3.) CBD Isolate: An extract of CBD with no other cannabinoids or terpenes (a milligram amount of CBD should be listed on the tincture/product). This is also a THC-free product. Like the other two options, this CBD is considered to be non-intoxicating.
*This is our third most popular product for sleep. It is also the most economical form of CBD because it contains no other cannabinoid or terpenes.
****NOTE: Terpenes are present in all plants are considered to be what give a plant its scent. In terms of CBD products, they also may influence the effects that a person has from taking a whole plant, CBD product. While terpenes are important, this article will focus on CBD options for sleep. If you’d like to learn more about terpenes, click here to see our article “How Terpenes Make Taking CBD Even Better!” [COMING SOON].
If you’re interested in learning more about the difference between full spectrum, broad spectrum, and CBD isolate, check out this article “What is the Difference Between Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum and CBD Isolate?”
Why Would Someone Use a Whole Plant Extract Instead of Just CBD For Sleep?
You may be asking yourself, “If CBD is the 'therapeutic cannabinoid,' why not just take the CBD alone for sleep without anything else?” It is a common misconception that many people have when they first learn about CBD, though research indicates there is merit in other cannabinoids as well.
What has been discovered is that people tend to have better results from taking a whole plant extract from the hemp plant that is of majority CBD, with other naturally occurring cannabinoids mixed in. In the CBD industry, this is referred to as “The Entourage Effect.”
Think of it like this: There is vitamin C that is isolated from an orange, and then there is a fresh glass of orange juice. Both contain vitamin C, but they will be processed and used differently in the body. In the end, whether you ingest a vitamin C powder or drink a glass of orange juice, you’ve increased your intake of vitamin C. However, the effect you experience from each will likely be very different.
It is the same concept when you are taking a CBD Isolate tincture, versus a Full or Broad Spectrum tincture. In both cases, you are increasing your intake of CBD, but each kind will likely affect you differently - and one may even work better than the other.
It is important to keep in mind that EVERYONE is different in terms of how their body uses each form of CBD. For some people, CBD Isolate works perfectly for sleep and Full Spectrum does not. Sometimes it is the opposite. And sometimes, both work just as well.
The key is to learn what works best for your body, and not assume that one will work better than another. Being open to experimentation is what we find leads to achieving the best results when using CBD for sleep.
Common Applications of CBD for Sleep
As with any sleep aid - natural or otherwise - please consult your doctor first, especially if you are taking other medications, such as blood thinners or medications with contraindications for grapefruit.
Also, please keep in mind that this article is only meant to give you a starting point. We are not medical professionals, and we don't know your individual situation. Please realize that you will have to use your best judgement, and trial and error, to find the best dosage and product for you and your situation.
In terms of products that our customers take most often for sleep, tinctures are by far the most widely used.
The tincture that is by far the most popular for sleep, is our full-spectrum tincture.
Our customers that report the most success, tend to start with a low dosage sublingually (under the tongue), held for 30-60 seconds, and generally around 5mg. From the 5mg dose, they tend to work their way up until they reach the result that they want. Some customers find that less than 5mg is enough to improve their sleep, and some find that 30mg (or even more) is what they need for sleep. This is true whether they have taken our full spectrum, broad spectrum or CBD isolate tincture, and is indicative of the fact that everyone is different and that doses vary by person.
On the side of our Active Line of CBD tincture bottles, we have approximate dropper dosages to help you as you experiment to find your ideal dose. The amount per dropper full (approximately 1 milliliter) depends on the overall CBD content of the product, as shown below.
Our 900mg bottle is on the left, with our 300mg bottle on the right. Because the 900mg tincture is more concentrated, there is more CBD per dropper full (per milliliter)
Closing Notes on CBD for Sleep
CBD has shown itself in research to have various therapeutic and medicinal benefits to the endocannabinoid system - including helping many people achieve better and deeper sleep. Through a little bit of experimentation (and maybe even an assist from your physician), you could be on your way to better quality, deeper, and more restful sleep.
