CBD is great for sleep, but will it make you tired during the day?

It’s no secret, CBD has a close association with marijuana. So it’s perfectly natural that people wonder, “will CBD make me sleepy?” When it comes to sleep, one study showed that nearly 80% of Americans have trouble sleeping at least once per week. While 30-35% of Americans have symptoms of insomnia. Studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that CBD can help with sleep. So, what about taking CBD during the day? Will you suddenly get tired and go in search for a dark corner to take a nap?

In order to understand this better we need to look at exactly what CBD is, as well as THC. Then we will look at how CBD actually aids in sleep, and whether or not it will actually make you sleepy or not during the day. The answer will likely surprise you.

What is CBD and THC

THC is the active component of the marijuana plant, and what is known for causing the “high” associated with smoking it. Medicinal marijuana patients often seek after indica strains of marijuana to aid in sleep because of its sedentary properties. Individuals struggling with insomnia often see benefits from indica strains of marijuana.

CBD on the other hand, is non-psychoactive, and contains loads of therapeutic benefits. It’s also known to be a great sleep aid that is legal in most states without a perception or medical marijuana card. CBD has also been the primary focus regarding medicinal benefits surrounding cannabis.

How Does CBD work as a sleep aid?

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.

Anxiety is one of the many causes of sleep issues. If you struggle to turn your mind off at the end of the day, CBD might be what you are looking for. Stresses throughout our day, such as demands from work, tense relationships, horrible traffic, and constant distractions from social media are very common in todays society. For some, all these stresses pile on and lead to anxiety.

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, the cannabinoid goes to work to help improve the brains 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.

What if I don’t struggle with Anxiety, will CBD still help me sleep? Despite the lack of research, anecdotal evidence suggests that most people taking CBD experience better sleep. This is mostly due to the relaxing effects brought on when taking CBD.

So will CBD make me sleepy during the day?

Simply put, no. As we have already seen, CBD works by calming the mind, not by inducing a sleepy state, or creating the intoxicating effects found with THC.

CBD can actually help you focus and be more alert: Another way to look at CBD, is to see it as an adaptogen. It works with your bodies natural rhythms. If you are awake and trying to focus on writing a blog post about CBD, it just might help you stay focused, but when going to sleep after a long day, CBD will help calm your mind for a restful nights sleep.

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.

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 though 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 from using an oil.

It’s also important to experiment with your dosages as well. Some people might need as little as 10mg per day. Others might need 30mg twice daily, or even more. Be sure to check out our, “How much CBD oil should I take” guide.

You may also want to check out my post about, “How long does it take for CBD oil to work.” This will help give you an idea of when you can really start to see results.