Experts recommend seven to nine hours of sleep each night for adults. Without consistent, quality sleep, your mental and physical health may begin to deteriorate.
If you struggle with getting enough rest, you've probably tried everything from melatonin to pharmaceuticals. But have you considered CBN edibles for a better night's sleep?
CBN is a more natural way to relax your mind and get some ZZZs. Compared to pharmaceuticals, it has far fewer potential side effects and may even provide added benefits.
But what is CBN, and why should you consider it to improve your sleep? Find out in this post.
What Is CBN?
CBN is cannabinol, one of the hundreds of cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids are the chemicals that give cannabis its distinct medicinal and recreational effects. The most well-known ones are CBD and THC.
Unlike THC, CBN is non-intoxicating, meaning it won't get you high. However, this is only in small doses. When taken in large quantities, CBN acts more like THC in that you may experience mild intoxication.
CBN also shares similarities and differences to everyone's favorite cannabinoid: CBD. Learn more about CBN and CBD next.
CBD vs. CBN
You are likely more familiar with cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is one of the most abundant cannabinoids in cannabis, second only to THC. It is FDA-approved to treat seizure conditions and has moderate evidence for benefiting:
- Parkinson's disease
- Diabetes
- Multiple sclerosis
- Anxiety
- Cancer
- Chronic pain
- Insomnia
- Addiction
Unlike CBD, we do not have much research on CBN's effects. The majority of scientific studies on CBN are looking into its connection to sleep and as a potential treatment for insomnia.
Benefits of CBN
Despite a lack of research, the CBN studies we do have shown that CBN is safe and well-tolerated. It also has the potential to offer an array of benefits. Still, more research is needed to verify them.
The benefits of CBN may include:
- Pain relief
- Appetite stimulation
- Neuroprotection
- Antibacterial effects
- Anti-inflammatory effects
As mentioned, experts have done the most research on CBN's potential advantages for sleep. Learn what the science says about CBN, sleep, and insomnia below.
CBN May Help You Sleep Better
An older study from 1975 found that CBN has sedative properties. A sedative is a drug that reduces central nervous system (CNS) activity, which can help people get to sleep better and stay asleep longer.
Anecdotal evidence supports this effect. CBN levels are higher in old cannabis flowers, and people report sleepiness as a primary symptom of consuming aged cannabis.
However, a 2021 systematic review of the clinical research found insufficient published evidence supporting CBN's benefits for sleep. The researchers concluded that more human studies are needed to verify this effect.
More recent scholarly articles have shown more promising results. An upcoming randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical study will investigate the benefits of two different doses of CBN on 20 insomnia patients.
If CBN can significantly enhance sleep, the indications go beyond insomnia. Getting better sleep is also linked to improvements in mental health, physical wellness, and athletic performance.
How Better Sleep Improves Mental Health
There's a reason why people say they woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Insufficient high-quality sleep can affect your mood, memory, thinking, and stress levels.
Mood
People who consistently get plenty of high-quality sleep feel better. That's because sleep improves concentration and energy, two necessary ingredients for a positive mood.
Memory
The brain consolidates memories during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Adults require around two hours of REM sleep every night. Without it, your ability to remember information and learn new things may suffer.
Thinking
Poor sleep impacts thinking in a few ways. It prevents you from thinking quickly and completing cognitive tasks accurately. Insufficient rest can also mess with your judgment, increasing the risk of making poor decisions.
Stress
Stress and sleep have a two-way relationship. Feeling stressed out can make it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. Conversely, getting poor sleep triggers the body's stress hormones, worsening sleep deprivation.
How Better Sleep Improves Physical Health
Heart health, blood sugar, and immunity are all impacted by sleep. Here's why not getting enough sleep could be impacting your physical health.
Heart Health
When we are sleeping, the heart rate slows down, and blood pressure declines. This resting phase is essential for the heart and vascular system to repair themselves. Without sleep, this doesn't happen, which can impact heart health.
Blood Sugar
Insulin sensitivity affects sleep, but poor sleep also reduces sensitivity to insulin. Insulin is responsible for helping cells take up glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream. The result is less energy for our cells, more sugar stored as fat, and an increased risk of diabetes.
Immunity
The body produces compounds known as cytokines, but only during sleep. Without enough sleep, our bodies may become deficient in cytokines, which are crucial regulators of the immune system's ability to fight infections.
How Better Sleep Improves Performance
Good sleep is especially important for athletes and people who love to work out. Without it, your ability to recover after a hard weightlifting session and manage your weight may be compromised.
Muscle Recovery
Sleep is when the brain makes and releases growth hormones. These hormones are required for muscle repair after weightlifting. Failing to get enough rest may slow muscle gains and even increase the risk of injury.
Weight Management
Extra weight can negatively impact athletic performance and hinder aesthetic goals. Not sleeping enough may contribute to these problems, as poor sleep increases the production of the hunger hormone ghrelin and enhances cravings for sugary, fatty, processed foods.
HERO CBD+CBN Edibles: The Organic Sleep Aid You Need
CBN is a cannabinoid with interesting implications for sleep. This cannabinoid may help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, which will benefit your mental and physical health and athletic performance.
Are you tired of being tired all the time? Our CBN edibles are a natural way to combat restless nights with a unique blend of raw honey, chamomile, CBN, and CBD. Order your CBD+CBN gummies and finally get a good night's sleep.
