Sleep is one of those essential things in life that’s easy to take for granted until it evades you. Lately, I’ve had more trouble sleeping than usual, so I started looking for the best sleep aids to help me get sufficient rest for my body’s needs. My search led me to melatonin (which isn’t really a surprise), but then I learned that CBD also shows great promise for helping with sleep. I decided to compare and contrast both of these sleep aids and here’s what I found out.
What Are the Benefits of Melatonin for Sleep?
Melatonin is a hormone that your brain produces in its pineal gland. Its primary purpose in the body is to help manage your body’s circadian rhythm. It’s often used to help combat insomnia and other sleep-related issues.
Research shows that people who take melatonin two hours before bedtime are able to get to sleep faster and experience improved sleep quality. Surprisingly, it may also reduce seasonal depression symptoms since seasonal depression may be partially due to disruptions in the body’s circadian rhythm.
What Are the Drawbacks of Melatonin for Sleep?
Even though melatonin is a relatively safe type of sleep medication, it doesn’t come without its drawbacks. Some people report the following side effects after taking melatonin for sleep:
Dizziness
Nausea
Sleepiness
Headaches
It’s also possible for melatonin to interact with blood thinners, antidepressants and other medications. For these reasons, you should talk to your doctor before taking melatonin for sleep or any other reason.
What Are the Benefits of CBD for Sleep?
If you’ve been paying any attention over the last few years, you’ve probably noticed that CBD has become a popular medication for all types of ailments. CBD is short for cannabidiol, which is the essential active component derived from the hemp plant. Contrary to popular belief, CBD by itself can’t get you high. However, it does have a lot of medicinal properties that make it a valuable component for a variety of health conditions.
When it comes to sleep, studies show that CBD can be highly beneficial. It may calm symptoms of restless leg syndrome (which can make it almost impossible to fall asleep). It can also relax symptoms of pain and anxiety, which are two factors I have personally experienced that make it challenging to fall asleep at night.
Like melatonin, CBD can help regulate the body’s circadian rhythm so you’re less likely to wake frequently at night. By guiding the body seamlessly through the normal stages of sleep without interruptions, CBD can help you get quality sleep so you wake up feeling refreshed in the morning.
What Are the Drawbacks of CBD for Sleep?
If you guessed that there must be potential drawbacks to CBD, you’re right! CBD may increase liver enzymes in people who are taking certain medications, such as:
Anti-inflammatories (such as naproxen and ibuprofen)
Statins
Blood thinners
Some anti-hypertensive medications
Other potential side effects of CBD include dry mouth, nausea, dizziness, fatigue and changes in appetite or mood.
Which Option Is Better?
Now that you have a basic overview of the risks and drawbacks of melatonin and CBD for sleep, you’re probably wondering which one is the best option to help you get some shuteye. Well, the truth is that both options are pretty great for promoting quality sleep.
CBD may be a better choice if your sleep problems are due to anxiety or pain while melatonin may be the best option if your sleepless nights come from an altered rhythm. But, as with most things in life, sometimes trial and error is the best way to discover which of these options works best for you.
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