How much sleep do you get on average? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average adult needs at least seven hours of sleep a night. Chances are, many of you reading this won't be hitting that benchmark.
The struggle to get a good night's sleep in today's chaotic world is why many have turned to alternative solutions, like CBD for sleep.
The interest in CBD for sleep is not without scientific merit. There is a growing body of research investigating this non-intoxicating, non-sedating compound for its powers over the sleep-wake cycle, REM sleep behavior, and sleep onset.
The Full Spectrum Sunnyside Botanicals Sleep Tincture
The Sunset Solution for Sleep
The implications gleaned from this scientific literature are one reason we developed what we like to call the Sunnyside Botanicals Sunset Formula. It's a CBD tincture boosted with a few synergistic compounds including soothing terpenes, valerian root, and passionflower.
Available in both full-spectrum and THC-free formulas, both options are notably melatonin-free.
Wait, What About Melatonin?
Although it's the darling of the conventional sleep-aid world, we know that many people would prefer not to rely on melatonin every single night.
It can be quite the sedative, but that's also part of the problem: It can make you quite sleepy. Melatonin also comes with a lengthy list of known side effects, including many drug-drug interactions.
So, in our development of the Sunset Formula, we wanted to offer a different option, a gentle CBD-driven sleep aid that was melatonin-free and safe for long-term use.
The Benefits of CBD for Sleep
Most of the scientific study done to date on CBD for sleep has worked with animal models. As highlighted in a recent review, these preliminary studies demonstrate that CBD could improve sleep-wake cycles and REM sleep latency, which is the length of time it takes you to fall asleep and hit the REM cycle.
Interestingly, CBD has proven helpful (at least in a scientific setting) for sleep disturbances related to specific conditions, like Parkinson's and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Cannabidiol also offers sleep support in relation to anxiety levels, according to the 2019 study "Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series." This investigation worked with 72 adults who reported anxiety-related sleep issues. Most participants received a daily dose of 25 mg of CBD for three months.
Following monthly assessments, the authors reported that anxiety scores decreased for the vast majority of patients for the entire course of study. For sleep, 66 percent of participants reported improved sleep within the first month, but the authors did find that these results fluctuated a bit thereafter.
The general consensus is that CBD is valuable for improving many aspects of your sleep cycle, but that it often has a dose-dependent effect. Low doses of CBD seem to promote wakefulness, while mid to large doses promote sleepiness.
Keep this in mind as you self-titrate with CBD. Try tweaking the dose if you aren't getting the results you are looking for.
The Sunnyside Botanicals CBD Sleep Tincture (thc-free)
Working with Sleep-inducing Terpenes
It's not just CBD that could help you get to sleep faster and sleep longer. Cannabis and hemp produce other compounds that may also help.
Specifically, these are linalool and myrcene, the two most predominant terpenes you'll find within our Sunset Sleep tincture. These compounds both have known gentle, relaxing effects.
Firstly, linalool, a terpene most associated with lavender's fragrant scent, is a famously soothing aroma. Widely used in spas, meditation centers, and other areas of relaxation, linalool's effects have also been tested from a scientific approach.
As per one in-depth summary from 2020, "Studies found that linalool caused sedation, relaxation, and reduced aggression and hostility." The report described how both linalool and lavender essential oil stimulated sedative-like effects through work with renal and parasympathetic nerves.
Myrcene is another calming terpene linked to sedative effects. Although it's one of the most prolific cannabis-derived (or in our case, hemp-derived) terpenes, you'll also find it in mangos and lemongrass.
Researchers have investigated this sweet, somewhat clove-like aromatic compound for anxiety relief and sleep promotion.
A Botanical Boost for Sleep
Instead of relying on melatonin for additional sleep support, the Sunset formula has tapped into other botanicals for their relaxing and sedative properties.
In our CBD sleep tincture, you'll find an ingredient called valerian root. Valeriana officinalis is a flowering plant used in traditional medicines across Europe and Asia over the last 2000 years.
The root of this plant contains an active botanical compound called valeranic acid, which researchers have discovered acts on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) chemical transmissions in our bodies.
The levels of GABA in the brain are associated with insomnia. Much like other common pharmaceuticals like Valliaum, valerian inhibits GABA molecules from breaking down. This promotes feelings of calmness.
In one of the most extensive meta reviews to date, encompassing a total of 60 robust studies, researchers concluded, "Valerian could be a safe and effective herb to promote sleep and prevent associated disorders."
Another beneficial herb for sleep is a family of plants known as passionflower. While there are hundreds of different varieties, a species called Passiflora incarnata is thought to help reduce anxiety and improve insomnia. This herb was used among many indigenous cultures across North and South America.
While less studied compared to valerian root, several early-phase publications are available, including, "A double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of the effects of Passiflora incarnata (passionflower) herbal tea on subjective sleep quality," published in 2011.
In this trial, 41 participants drank a cup of prepared tea containing passionflower for a week, recording effects in a sleep diary.
At the end of the study period, the authors reported, "These initial findings suggest that the consumption of a low dose of Passiflora incarnata, in the form of tea, yields short-term subjective sleep benefits for healthy adults with mild fluctuations in sleep quality."
A Gentle Approach to Getting More Sleep
With more than 30 percent of Canadians struggling to fall asleep or get enough sleep every night, we need all the help we can get when it comes to our bedtime routines. Which is likely why so many people are already working with CBD for sleep.
According to one recent cross-sectional study, insomnia and other sleep-related conditions were the fifth most common reasons patients reported using CBD.
So why not make CBD's known benefits for sleep better? Our CBD Sleep tincture containing passionflower, valerian root, and specific calming terpenes has a very specific goal in mind: a better night of sleep.
We've created this synergistic combination to promote relaxation, tranquility, and sleep, but without the heavy sedative effects common with pharmaceuticals. It's also an alternative to the many melatonin sleep aids currently on the market. This is a unique herbal alternative and completely melatonin-free.