Let me be the first to say that I have trouble sleeping. And when I say I have trouble sleeping, I mean I’m on level Sleeping Beauty had it MADE. Let me at one of those spindle thingies! Judging by the number of sleep aids on the market, I can confidently say I’m not alone. So if you also suffer from sleep deprivation, insomnia or inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, this article is for you. Let’s take a look at a couple of sleep aid options on the market today and see how CBD compares.
According to the CDC, there are more than 8.5 billion sleep aid users in the U.S. alone, yet studies show that most of these people benefit only marginally compared to a placebo group. Furthermore, many sleep aid users report impaired function and/or drowsiness the day after taking them. But wait, isn’t the whole point of using a sleep aid so that you can be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed during the day? This is sounding a bit contradictory. There’s more: mixing so much as an over-the-counter sleep aid with other drugs or alcohol can significantly raise the stakes on worse side-effects such as dizziness that can lead to falls and injuries, dangerous accounts of sleepwalking, even death; and a study by American Journal of Public Health concluded that users of sleeping pills double their chances of being in a car accident. No thank you, not today. Sleeping aids are also highly addictive and made with all kinds of big word chemicals and compounds that are created in labs. It’s no wonder so many people are seeking natural alternatives.
Melatonin has also become widely popular as a sleep aid alternative because of its association with “natural” supplements, but what many people don’t know is that melatonin is actually a hormone. Real natural melatonin is made in the brain, by a tiny little gland known as the pineal gland. This hormone sets your internal clock and regulates when you wake up and fall asleep. The melatonin that you buy in the store or online is usually a man-made synthetic, but if you're lucky enough to find the "real thing", that stuff is made from the brain tissue of cows. Melatonin is loosely regulated because of its status as a supplement and is meant to be taken short-term or for occasional sleeplessness. Studies on its long-term effects are limited and it is not recommended for pregnant women or children.
If neither one of these options are up your alley, let me tell you about the advantages of taking cannabidiol, also known as CBD. The human endocannabinoid system inside all of us plays a large part in regulating various bodily processes including inflammation, metabolism, and hormones. The cannabidiol found in hemp binds to the endocannabinoid system’s receptors to help lower cortisol (the stress hormone) and boost production of serotonin (the happy hormone). In other words, hemp helps balance your mood. This is how hemp is able to help with so many things, like PTSD and pain. It can reduce stress on the body in order to promote calm and relaxation, which allows you to fall asleep. This is the big difference between how the CBD found in hemp boosts your body’s ability to sleep in a truly natural way, unlike sleep aids which contain sedatives. The most effective cannabidiol is full spectrum, coming directly from the hemp flower and combined with all of the plant’s other naturally occurring terpenes. You can read more about that under the Learn More tab at www.cherryridgeorganichemp.com and in past blog posts. Now get yourself some hemp and experience the serenity and rejuvenation of a good night’s sleep, the natural way.