When the day is done, do you lie in your bed. With the next hundred chores running through your head?
-Slow Dance -by David L. Weatherford
It is actually a really cool and simple reason why you stare at the ceiling at night.
Our bodies were designed to recognize night and day. The way they know the difference is the rise and fall of the sun. As the sun goes down, our bodies start to rapidly release the sleep hormone “Melatonin” But these days, that whole process is thrown of by the fact we’re indoors and under light all day and night!
Even worse. The light of LED screens such as those used in our cell phone screen are extremely heavy in the blue end of the colour spectrum. THE COLOUR OUR BODY RECOGNIZES AS DAYLIGHT.
Some people never produce the right levels of melatonin at the right time. Don’t believe me? The results are all around us. Sleep disorders are one of the most common health problems facing every country, in nearly every age group.
It is simple and proven by science. Even a weekend in the great outdoors will help to reset your internal body clock and kick off melatonin production. Of course, not many people can take off for the woods for a full week or even a weekend. And some people just don’t dig camping. (especially in the winter months)
That’s OK. Camping’s nice… but it’s not a requirement.
There are other options:
We always encourage people to try alternative before using cannabinoids.
Why pay us $30-80 per months for a tincture on top of having to remember to take it everyday. When all you might need is to go for a nice walk in the evenings?
To get out in fresh air, go for a hike, play some basketball anything that gets you moving in sunlight, without a phone. Is going to help.
We love cannabinoids like CBD and CBN but we will be the first to say. Unfortunately, there is no substitution for exercise, mediation and a sense of purpose.
BUT If you are not getting a proper night sleep. Getting through the day can be a challenge.
How the heck are you supposed to have the energy to exercise.
ENTER CBN
There is a link between our endocannabinoid system and those circadian rhythms which help govern our wake-sleep patterns. Just as our circadian rhythms fluctuate, so do the levels of our endocannabinoids and the enzymes which synthesis and degrade – hence their levels may influence whether we feel awake or whether we feel ready to sleep (and can stay asleep).
For example, levels of anandamide are much higher at night, hinting that it helps us to sleep, whilst levels of 2-AG are much higher in the day (hinting that it helps us to feel awake).
This all points to the fact that cannabis and its cannabinoids (CBN) could help with sleep issues doesn’t it? And there is a long history of the use of this plant for just that purpose, especially when pain was a contributing factor.
A recent study found that about half of the recreational cannabis users questioned used the plant to help them sleep, finding it an effective sleep aid.
CBN oil for sleep.
What is CBN?
CBN is the part of the hemp or cannabis plant that makes you sleepy. It is the third most abundant cannabinoid, THC, CBD and CBN. Are the Top 3 you find most abundant in nature.
CBN is created by the oxidation of the THCA molecule, basically if you put your cannabis or hemp into open air and direct sunlight. It will dry up and taste like crap but man will it ever put you on your butt.
The presence of CBN is considered a good indication that a cannabis product is old or hasn’t been stored properly. It is actually very gently psychotropic.
CBN dosing for sleep
When CBN is ingested (rather than inhaled) the body converts it to 11-hydroxy-CBN, a molecule which binds to CB1 Receptor. Therefore, ingestion leads to an interaction with the endocannabinoid system and is, therefore, the preferred therapeutic and psychotropic route of administration for CBN.
To be completely honest, there is not much information on dosing CBN oil for sleep and depending on where you live it may be even harder to find CBN oil itself.
Its new, things can take time.
However, there is some research which shows CBD helps with sleep or insomnia.
A trial found that higher doses of CBD improved the quality and length of sleep. The dose used in this trial was 160 milligrams of CBD!
That is a extremely high dose, you don’t have to use a hammer to crack a nut when it comes to CBD.
The use of lower or moderate doses of CBD in the day will help to promote our wakefulness, and this, in turn, can actually make it more likely that we’ll enter our sleep cycle at night. This, in addition to its symptom management, does make CBD an option stress management. When you are less stressed you sleep better. CBN takes it a step further. Heavy indica strains are notorious for having higher levels of CBN.
CBN is the couch lock factor of cannabis and hemp. Not a particularly good choice if you have a busy day ahead of you with lots of things to get done.
It is however the best choice before bed due to the high amount of CBN. Another factor to consider when using cannabinoids for sleep would be to try to find a product not only high in CBN but also high in Beta-myrcene – is the most abundant terpene in cannabis plants and high levels of this terpene in cannabis plants, recreationally, is associated with a very sedating, relaxing action because it is a potent muscle relaxant. Therapeutically this means that it is calming and anxiolytic, but it also has antioxidant and analgesic activity too.
Other benefits of CBN besides sleep:
Antibacterial CBD AND CBN may prove effective against MRSA
(MRSA is horrible skin infection that is extremely resistance to antibiotics)
A potential treatment for burns.
CBN as a pain reliever. Research indicates that CBN has analgesic or pain-relieving capabilities in the body. CBN appears to influence the activity of neurons that are sensitive to capsaicin. (Capsaicin, you might know, is found in chili peppers, and an ingredient added to many topical pain relievers.) These capsaicin-sensitive nerves are important to the body’s pain signaling and perception.
CBN as an anti-inflammatory.
Like CBD, CBN appears to have anti-inflammatory capabilities. Scientists working to better understand how the human endocannabinoid system affects the immune system. Cannabinoids, including CBN, are being examined for their possible therapeutic role in treating inflammatory disease.
CBN makes you Hungry.
In a study published in 2012, a dose of CBN was given to mice and then they observed their feeding pattern. The rat on average ate more food for longer. we already know that THC effects the feeding habits of humans. CBN in the degrading of THC into CBN which could point to it working on similar path ways.
One interesting thing to note
cannabidiol (CBD) reduced food intake in line with some existing reports, supporting the need for further mechanistic and behavioral work examining possible anti-obesity effects of cannabidiol.
Is CBN the next big leap in sleep medication?
We do know CBN oil helps with sleep and we understand some of the processes it can effect within the body.
Companies that sell CBN oil often market it as a sleep aid, and indeed, there is some anecdotal evidence that CBN could be a sedative.
Many people use CBN to help them sleep, but there’s very little scientific research to suggest it can really help.
There’s only one (old AF ) study that suggests CBN is a sedative. Published in 1975, this study Trusted Source only looked at 5 subjects and only tested CBN in conjunction with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. THC may be responsible for the sedative effects.
This does demonstrate that even a old, dried up bag of cannabis or hemp could still contains some potent medical value.
If you are a healthy person not currently taking any other medications. We would recommend trying CBN oil for sleep. Make sure it is a reputable company that can provide up to date lab reports It may take some trial and error to find the best CBN oil dosage for sleep.
If you have any questions please. Email me at Aaron@earthmade.store
I would love to have a conversation and help in anyway I can.
For the most up to date information on everything Cannabiniods, hemp and wellness.
Visit Earthmade.store
References:
Cannabinol and cannabidiol exert opposing effects on rat feeding patterns
Jonathan A Farrimond, Benjamin J Whalley, Claire M Williams https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22543671/
CBD For Staph Infection
cbdinstead.com
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