To truly get the most out of life, a person needs to be able to get a good night's sleep. Lack of sleep due to stress or insomnia has led many to seek out natural products, including CBD, to help them fall asleep and stay asleep. Is there anything behind the idea of CBD for sleep improvement? In this article, we will explore the role that CBD for insomnia can play in a healthy sleep cycle and recommend CBD sleep products from brands we trust.
Our Top CBD for Sleep Picks
Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. You can learn more about our review methodology here. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
- Best CBD Sleep Gummies - Medterra CBD Sleep Tight Gummies
- Best CBD Tincture - R+R Medicinals Organic Fresh Mint Tincture
- Best CBN + CBD Oil - CBDistillery CBN + CBD Oil
- Best CBD Softgel for Sleep - Prima Sleep Tight Softgels
- Strongest CBD Oil for Sleep - Spruce Rest Oil
- Best Organic CBD for Sleep - Cornbread Hemp Whole Flower CBD Oil
- Best CBD Bath Bomb for Sleep - Green Roads Peace CBD Bath Bomb
How We Picked the Best CBD for Sleep
We vetted the source and quality of the CBD for insomnia and sleep in this article. All recommended products were derived from industrial hemp grown in the United States and contains under 0.3% THC, which is required by law. Additionally, all products have been tested by third-party labs to ensure their quality and safety.
When reviewing CBD brands and products, we focus on six major factors:
- Value — is the brand's CBD affordable compared to similar products?
- Strength — how much CBD and what type of CBD does their product contain?
- Source — where does the company source their hemp and how is the CBD extracted?
- Flavor — does the product come in any flavors and do they flavor them naturally?
- Transparency — do they offer third-party lab test results and information about each batch of CBD?
- Customer experience — what do customer have to say about the product and purchasing experience?
Using these standards we were able to select the best CBD for insomnia and sleep. Learn more about our choices below.
The Best CBD for Sleep Products
Best CBD Sleep Gummies: Medterra CBD Sleep Tight Gummies
medterra.com
Medterra CBD Sleep Tight Gummies include 25 mg of CBD isolate and 3 mg of melatonin to promote a restful night's sleep. We also like that they are made with calming natural ingredients like chamomile and lemon balm. All of Medterra's CBD comes from Kentucky-grown organic hemp that's raised without pesticides and is tested by third-party labs for purity.
Why buy: With natural strawberry flavoring, these gummies are a great option for those who want to take CBD for sleep but don't enjoy the taste of oil tinctures. They're are also 100% THC free.
Best CBD Tincture: R+R Medicinals Organic Fresh Mint Tincture
rrmeds.com
R+R Medicinals is quickly becoming one of the most trusted and popular CBD brands by proving one thing - they make the CBD that works. Using supercritical CO2 extraction on their proprietary Cherry strain of USDA Certified Organic hemp, they yield an unparalleled profile of cannabinoids and terpenes, with all lab testing publicly posted online. At only 4.6 cents per mg of extract, you'll be hard pressed to find a better value CBD tincture on the market.
Why buy: We like their Organic Fresh Mint tincture because it boasts impressive levels of CBD, CBG, CBC, CBN, CBL, and more, so you can truly feel the entourage effect. This is a great way to add USDA organic CBD to your nightly routine.
Best CBD + CBN Oil: CBDistillery CBN + CBD Sleep Tincture
thecbdistillery.com
Why buy: We like that this oil is specifically formulated for sleep. Additionally, this brand is a good choice for a CBD consumer who wants a full spectrum oil geared toward a particular cannabinoid blend, like CBN for sleep.
Best CBD Softgel for Sleep: Prima Sleep Tight Softgels
prima.co
We love these Prima Sleep Tight softgels because they offer a doctor-formulated blend of CBD and natural botanicals, but are also melatonin-free. This makes them a great option for anyone with a sensitivity or allergy to melatonin. Each softgel serving contains 20 mg of broad spectrum CBD, as well as chamomile, passion flower, lavender, and amino acid compounds like 5-HTP and GABA, that all naturally promote sleep.
Why buy: We recommend these Prima softgels because they provide a plant-based sleep aid without THC or melatonin, and they come in sustainable and recycled packaging.
Strongest CBD Oil for Sleep: Spruce Rest Oil
takespruce.com
Spruce CBD is a family-owned and operated brand, and all of their tinctures are full-spectrum, made in the United States, lab grade, organic, contain no pesticides, and are third-party tested. Spruce Rest is specifically made to help you fall and stay asleep, with a powerful combination of CBD and CBN. Each bottle contains 1,200 mg of CBD and 150 mg of CBN for a potent sleep aid, and comes in a natural vanilla flavor.
Why buy: We like that this oil contains high concentrations of CBD and CBN for extra strength relief from sleeplessness. This CBD for insomnia product is best for those with experience using CBD oils.
Best Organic CBD for Sleep: Cornbread Hemp Whole Flower CBD Oil
cornbreadhemp.com
Cornbread Hemp offers a whole flower CBD oil that is USDA organic, vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and third-party lab tested. It contains higher levels of naturally-occurring cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and fatty acids than more processed oils, providing you with more of the healthy plant compounds that can help you sleep. The 375 mg and 750 mg bottles contains 25 mg of CBD per serving, and the 1500 mg bottle contains 50 mg of CBD per serving.
Best CBD Bath Bomb for Sleep: Green Roads Peace CBD Bath Bomb
greenroads.com
The Green Roads Peace CBD bath bomb is a perfect way to relax and destress before bedtime. Made with 150 mg of CBD isolate, meaning it contains no THC. We like that this bath bomb also includes lavender for a luxuriously calming experience. These bath bombs use CBD from hemp grown on American farms and were developed with no animal testing. All Green Roads products do undergo third-party lab testing to ensure potency and quality.
Why buy: We recommend this CBD bath bomb as a way to start a naturally calming routine before bed, especially for those who prefer not to ingest CBD oils or capsules.
Can CBD Improve Your Sleep?
What is the science on CBD and sleep? Research shows that CBD, or cannabidiol, can help treat chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia, and may help users both fall asleep and stay asleep.
According to research in a 2019 study published in The Permanente Journal on behalf of the National Institutes of Health, CBD was examined for its efficacy in not only treating anxiety problems and post-traumatic stress disorder but also sleep disorders. The results of the study displayed that patients treated through the use of CBD over the course of three months saw an improvement in their sleep cycles, as well as a lessening of their anxiety and other mental anguish. Administered in doses of 25 mg of CBD, the cannabidiol was well received. Side effects were minimal and typically related to daytime sleepiness on higher doses of CBD.
It is believed that CBD for insomnia can improve sleep processes because it triggers the body's endocannabinoid system, a biological system that is comprised of receptors and enzymes that regulate a variety of bodily functions, including sleep, memory, appetite, and mood.
Phytocannabinoids, like CBD and CBN, have the potential to interact on an indirect basis with cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system, thereby encouraging the body to sleep by helping to manage anxiety, pain, and stress hormones that contribute to sleep loss.
Why is Sleep Important?
According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, an estimated 50 to 70 million people in the United States spanning all ages and socioeconomic classes suffer from sleeplessness. Both men and women are impacted by sleep disturbances, and according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society, adults aged 18-60 years old need at least seven hours of sleep each night to realize optimal health and well-being.
Sleep plays an important role in your mental and physical health. When you have a healthy sleep cycle, your body and mind are able to engage in many restorative processes including healing and repairing cognitive and cardiac functions. During sleep, your body is actively working by boosting your immune system, fighting inflammation, regulating digestive processes, and so much more.
When a person does not get the sleep they need, they run the risk of developing many chronic health conditions, including:
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Mental health issues
Insomnia is a serious sleep disorder that can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). Right now, one in four Americans develops insomnia annually, according to Science Daily. Insomnia can cause a person to have problems falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking far too early. This can drastically impact your energy level, your work performance, your quality of life, and has the potential to cause negative physical and mental health outcomes.
According to the Mayo Clinic, chronic insomnia can result in many of the health conditions we have referenced, and can also cause depression and anxiety. CBD for insomnia not only has the potential to help as a sleep aid to improve sleep quality, but it can also help to mitigate and manage anxiety and assist with chronic pain relief to help you achieve a calm and restful night's sleep.
How to Choose For You
If you are looking for the best CBD for sleep, then it is important to do your research and realize that not all CBD products are created equal.
What to Look For
In order to feel confident knowing that you purchased a high-quality CBD product, only buy from a brand that engages in accredited, third-party lab testing and subsequently publishes its lab reports on its website. You must be able to see that what is on the label of your CBD oil actually is validated through testing processes.
This also ensures that the CBD is free of toxins, including pesticides, heavy metals, microbials, and solvents, and contains the concentration of CBD, terpenes, and other cannabinoids and plant parts that it claims. Always look for brands that use CBD from hemp grown in the United States, as these products undergo more rigorous testing than in some other countries.
In addition to CBD, look for products that include other natural ingredients like lavender, chamomile, passion flower, and lemon balm that are help to promote calm and rest. Make certain that all ingredients, including any flavorings, are all natural and labeled clearly. Also consider products that contain melatonin, a natural hormone that regulates sleep alongside wakefulness. Boosting this particular hormone, which is already found in your body, can truly improve your sleep-wake cycle.
How to Read Labels
It's important to know what kind of CBD is used in the product you choose. When comparing labels, look for one of the following:
- Full spectrum CBD - contains all of the plant compounds found in hemp including THC
- Broad spectrum CBD - contains some additional plant compounds, but no THC
- CBD isolate - pure CBD that contains no additional compounds
Some people find that full-spectrum CBD offers a better experience promoting sleep thanks to the entourage effect, while others may want to avoid THC entirely.
Here are some additional pieces of information to look for on each product.
Dosage
How much CBD the product contains and how much is included, in mg, per serving. It's recommended that those new to CBD start with a lower dose and slowly increase the amount taken to identify the right dosage for your body.
Other Cannabinoids
Look for information about additional cannabinoids included, like CBN or CBG. These are naturally found in the hemp plant in certain dosages, but some products have higher amounts to help promote sleep.
Carrier Oils
Additionally, CBD oil tinctures use carrier oils, frequently olive oil, MCT oil or hemp seed oil. Make sure you know what type of carrier oil is used in case you are allergic to certain ingredients like coconut.
How to Use
Depending on the type of CBD product you choose, you will use it differently to help you sleep. Most CBD sleep products recommend use an hour or so before bed to allow it to take effect.
If you are using a CBD oil tincture, this is taken with an included dropper to place a small amount under your tongue. Keep the CBD under your tongue for 30 seconds or so, for better absorption, before swallowing. In terms of dosage amounts, the oil should come with a dropper with mL measurements. To start, take a single mL drop for a single serving of CBD. Again, it's important to start low and go slow when adding CBD to your routine.
For capsules and gummies, simply take the recommended serving (typically 1 or 2) about an hour before bedtime. Some work better when taken with food, so be sure to check the directions on the packaging.
For CBD bath bombs, you simply add one of these to a hot bath as part of your evening routine before bed.
Note that CBD typically works best by building up in your system over time, so it may take up to a month for you to experience the full effects.
Side Effects
The primary side effects associated with CBD are rare and typically mild. These can include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Drowsiness
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Dry Mouth
Should I Try CBD for Sleep?
There is no denying that we live in stressful times and that many people in the United States are experiencing problems with sleep. However, there is no need to suffer through another night tossing and turning. CBD for insomnia could help you regulate sleep cycles, promote restful sleep, and manage anxiety. Plus, with a number of different CBD products available, you can easily find the right one for your nightly routine.
Keep in mind that since CBD oil is not regulated by the FDA, you must do your due diligence. When considering CBD for sleep in your life, consult with a doctor if you have any existing medical conditions prior to beginning use.
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