Insomnia seems to be a frequent reason for clients wanting to try CBD. However, it could be one of the reasons people give up on CBD.

A recent client came in seeking relief from insomnia, arthritic pain and restless leg syndrome. She was taking 2.5mg of CBD daily following the "start low and go slow” mantra used widely with cannabis therapeutics.

But was this dose helping her insomnia? We looked at the science.

Many clients try CBD and report they continue to experience wakeful nights or insomnia. This may be in part due to the fact that CBD can be alerting and may enhance wakefulness in small doses.

However, CBD can also provide more relaxing effects in larger doses. For sleep and pain studies show that using full spectrum products which contain both CBD and THC can provide more effective results referred to as the “Entourage Effect.”

It’s important to note that full spectrum hemp CBD is recommended to help achieve sleep and relaxation.

What’s full spectrum CBD? Full spectrum products contain the naturally occurring cannabinoids found in the hemp plant including the federally legal allowed amount of .03% THC or less.

Based on the studies above, 25mg of CBD was the starting dosage to manage anxiety and stress with higher dosages, 60-90mg for sleep dosages. As always "start low and slow," but take caution in knowing that lower dosages in the evening hours might be what’s keeping you up at night.

Learn more from these studies: 

Cannabis, pain, and sleep: lessons from therapeutic clinical trials of Sativex, a cannabis-based medicine - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17712817/

Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326553/pdf/18-041.pdf

Disclaimer: The information provided is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, provide medical advice, or otherwise replace consultation with a qualified medical or health provider.