Insomnia, Cortisol and CBD
Can’t sleep? Insomnia? You are not alone. Sleep eludes 35 percent of the population. Night after long night they deal with some form of insomnia.Do you struggle with these problems?
- I can fall asleep, but then wake up and can’t get back to sleep.
- I don’t easily fall asleep but when I do, I stay asleep.
- I have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.
Insomnia medication is used by many to help sleep. However, many people taking insomnia medications report experiencing effects such as nightmares and some side effects can carry on into the next day such as grogginess, headache, trouble concentrating and difficulty remembering.So – what’s a person to do to get a good night’s sleep? Let’s first dive into what may be the cause.
What Can Cause Restless Nights and Poor Sleep?
An unknown but common culprit is high cortisol level
What is Cortisol?
Cortisol your body’s main stress hormone. It works with certain parts of your brain to control mood, motivation, and fear. It stimulates the nervous system during times of stress or fear, which gives you the ‘butterfly’ or ‘fight or flight’ feeling.
How is Cortisol produced in the body?
The adrenal glands located above the kidneys produce cortisol. Cortisol wakes and arouses the body and mind. In the morning cortisol levels rise dramatically after waking and are regulated throughout the day. For some however, cortisol levels may remain high throughout the day and at night. This can be due to a busy, hectic lifestyle (moms especially can relate). High cortisol can be from having a stressful career, being in a consistent state of worry or anxiety, high intensity physical training, consistent pain or health issues. When cortisol levels remain high, the body remains in a constant state of arousal 24/7 resulting in trouble falling asleep, as well as having interrupted sleep.
How to Lower Cortisol
- Take a 10 minute walk (without talking on the phone) to quiet and clear your head.
- Take some CBD oil under the tongue or a gummy before starting your walk to help lower cortisol levels. On super stressful days, take some oil or a gummy during the day. It won’t make you tired because your body isn’t in shut down mode, but it can help take you off the bubble, which in turn helps to lower cortisol.
- Taking a warm shower or bath before bed. Epsom salt baths are great to reduce tension and stress.
- Rub CBD topicals gently along the sides of the spinal column can help calm the central nervous system before bed.
- Massage and stretch your feet before bed. Rub CBD topical lotion or balm into feet before bed, stretch them and bonus- it makes feet soft to boot!
- Working out is a great way to reduce stress, just try not to do it at least 3 hours before heading to bed. Movement is good for the body and mind, it can shake off stress and make us tired.
- Turn off the TV and phone at bed time. Get rid of the light of electronics.
- Pick up a book. Take a gummy, then grab your book or kindle, head to another room and start reading. When you start to feel drowsy head back into my bed and drift off to sleep.
Tips for taking CBD products to help sleep
Using Nature’s Gem Oil under the tongue for sleep:
- Take CBD oil 20 minutes before bedtime.
- If you have trouble falling asleep but once asleep you don’t wake up, take 1 full dropper 20 minutes before your ideal fall asleep time. If you don’t notice anything, take another dropper. All it means is that night – you may need a little extra oil to help lower cortisol.
- If you fall asleep but can’t stay asleep, take 1 full dropper before bed. If you wake up take another one-half dropper.
It’s OK to adjust your dosage. Stress levels can be different daily. You may need to increase or decrease dosage. That’s perfectly normal. Some nights you may not need it, so don’t take it.Remember we have
no THC in any of our oils so you will not get high or have a psychedelic feeling.
We recommend taking one gummy 40 minutes before bedtime. The gummy needs to go through the digestive system, which is why it takes longer than oil to get into your system.
- If you have trouble falling asleep, take one 25 mg gummy 40 minutes before your ideal fall asleep time. If you don’t notice anything after 40 minutes, take another gummy.
- If you fall asleep but can’t stay asleep, take one gummy before bed. If you wake up take another one-half or whole gummy.
Like CBD oil, it’s OK to adjust your dosage. Our bodies change daily. As a result, you may need to increase or decrease dosage. That’s perfectly normal. Some nights you may not need it, so don’t take it.Remember we have no THC in any of our oils so you will not get high or have a psychedelic feeling. Founder Lisa Baskfield has been known to take 3 gummies at night when her Fibromyalgia has flared up.
Using topicals can also be a way to reduce the body’s stress and help with sleep. If taking CBD internally is not an option, it’s a terrific option.
- Massage the calming balm (blended with lavender and CBD) on your temples and behind ears – two areas known for high absorption – to calm your system.
- Massage the balm along the sides of the spinal column. This can help calm the central nervous system thus help the body calm down.
Happy journey to a good night’s sleep. It’s not over rated!!
