Melatonin vs. CBD for Sleep

Melatonin is a hormone produced naturally in the brain’s pineal gland. Contrary to popular belief, this hormone doesn’t exactly make you fall asleep - it just tells your body and your brain that it’s time for bed, so your body can begin the different process of actually falling asleep.

CBD works within the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a bodily system that maintains homeostasis, keeping our bodies balanced and working properly. Experts believe that CBD works as a sleep aid by interacting with the ECS to reduce stress and promote feelings of peacefulness, thereby inducing sleep.

Medsana’s CBD relax blend helps people fall asleep and stay asleep. Keep reading to learn more about this natural snooze-inducing product; we’ll even discuss melatonin vs. CBD as the best sleep aid.

CBD Helps Reduce Stress, Promoting Sleep

Results from a 2019 study found that CBD could be beneficial for individuals with stress disorders who have trouble falling and staying asleep.

The study consisted of 72 adult subjects, 47 of whom presented with worry and stress and 25 of whom presented with poor sleep patterns. The subjects were given a range of CBD dosages from 25- 175 mg. Researchers found that the most effective dosage for worry and stress was 25mg, while subjects with more severe sleep problems required higher dosages.

Their research also reports that 79.2% of the subjects experienced decreased stress scores in the first month, which remained decreased during the study duration.

This is just one study that found solid ground in the claims that CBD can help sleep. To learn more about the research that inspired our CBD gel caps for sleep, contact Medsana today.

CBD Helps People with REM Sleep Disorders

Individuals with certain REM sleep disorders often experience nightmares or disruptions in sleep that cause them to wake up in the middle of the night.

Researchers have found that CBD could be used to treat these conditions and promote a full nights’ rest by decreasing REM sleep, the time when people with certain disorders experience symptoms.

A 2019 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that CBD improved the sleep quality of 38% of subjects with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by decreasing REM sleep and thereby reducing nightmares.

In other words, CBD can help individuals with serious sleep conditions feel relief and enjoy deep, restful sleep. Of course, this is just one study. Research still needs to be done on the subject, as well as comparative research on melatonin vs. CBD. 

However, the results so far are promising for many people living with these conditions.

Melatonin for Sleep

Many people take melatonin supplements or pills to fall asleep. The substance is most commonly used in special situations to adjust the body’s internal rhythm. For example, if a person flies to another time zone and experiences jet lag, they might take melatonin so their body will adjust to the new environment.

Some people take melatonin regularly (a couple of times a week or more) or when they have an occasional sleepless night. However, studies suggest that we should be cautious about frequent melatonin use (or any use at all).

For starters, it’s generally not a good idea to rely on a medication or supplement without speaking to your doctor.

Most people buy unregulated, over-the-counter melatonin without knowing its full effects or interactions (and without speaking to their doctor). It’s important to understand that melatonin use may prevent you from resolving the true cause of your sleeplessness. 

Of course, this is also true of any other sleep aid - you should always speak with your doctor before taking a new substance or supplement. 

In other words, melatonin can “mask” a health condition or other problem. For example, your sleep problem may actually be due to melancholy or a hormonal imbalance. Although melatonin may provide short-term relief, there is very little evidence suggesting it helps in the long term. 

Melatonin Side Effects

Like any other substance you put in your body, synthetic melatonin comes with potential side effects. These may be mild, and some users don’t experience any side effects. Still, they’re important to be aware of, especially if the side effects are more harmful than the sleep problem itself.

If you take melatonin, you may experience:

- Nausea

- Dizziness

- Headache

- Stress

- Despondency

- Daytime sleepiness

Daytime Sleepiness

Daytime sleepiness is a common side effect of melatonin and one which doesn’t really make sense. If you take melatonin for a good night’s rest, shouldn’t you feel energized when you wake up?

You probably should, but that’s not always the case.

That’s because melatonin pills and supplements often contain as much as 10x the suggested dose of 0.3 milligrams. A supplement containing that much melatonin causes much higher plasma melatonin levels, which in turn causes a “hangover” effect, leaving users groggy, tired, and out of it. 

That’s not ideal, especially when all you want is a good night’s sleep so you can function better the next day.

Medsana’s CBD gel caps for sleep won’t leave you feeling groggy or hungover the next day. Our CBD relax blend contains passionflower, lavender, and valerian root, natural herbs that inspire feelings of calm, peacefulness, and inspire deep sleep.

How CBD Can Help Fix America’s Sleeping Problem

Whether sleeping problems are caused by genetic conditions, stress, or late-night social media scrolling, one thing is certain - Americans are not getting enough quality sleep.

You’ve probably seen all kinds of sleep-related statistics, but for the sake of argument, we’re going to give you a few more:

- 35% of American adults do not get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep. That number increases to 40% in middle-aged adults (40-59).
- Upwards of 70 million Americans suffer from one or several sleep disorders.
- 30% of the adult U.S. population suffers from insomnia, making it the most common sleep disorder.
- 75 to 90% of insomnia sufferers are at risk for medical disorders such as hypoxemia, GSD, and pain conditions.

We’re not sleeping as long or as deeply as we should be for optimal health, but sometimes it feels like there’s no other choice. As people with busy, demanding schedules, we take the few measly hours afforded us and move through the days mentally exhausted and overstretched. That’s common, but it’s impossible to sustain over time.

Thankfully, the market offers more natural sleep aids than ever before, one of which is cannabidiol (CBD). Widely available as a natural sleep-inducer, CBD has been shown to support sleep by calming the mind, reducing pain and stress, and compelling the body to drift into a deep sleep.

After Speaking With Your Doctor, Try CBD 

More research needs to be done on melatonin vs. CBD, but studies suggest that CBD could be a healthier, more sustainable alternative to melatonin and other sleep aids. It is non-habit forming and promising for those who suffer from stress, insomnia, and other conditions affecting the quality and duration of sleep.

At Medsana, our goal is to help relieve customers of their sleepless or stress-filled nights using high-quality CBD.We believe in what our natural, science-driven products can do for people who need more rest, and we are confident that you will enjoy and find relief in our products.

As always, speak with your doctor before taking a new substance or supplement, and feel free to contact us for more information.