Can CBN improve your sleep?
CBN is not as popular a hemp compound as CBD. Even so, there is a growing interest in cannabinol. The reason is clear. It is intrinsically linked to good sleep. Is cannabis really the best thing you can do to get a good night's rest?
CBN on the sidelines
Cannabidiol (CBD) has received a lot of attention in recent years, and in the form of many products such as oils, capsules, sprays, patches, lubricating gels, gelatin candies, suppositories, caring cosmetics, chewing gum, teas, and herbal mixtures or crystals and pet products, are making their way into people's daily lives. But it's far from the only cannabinoid racking up plus points. Alongside CBD and CBG, for example, it's also CBN, most commonly in droplet form. This, like CBD, has a potentially wide range of possible effects , such as pain relief, the ability to suppress inflammation or relieve intraocular pressure. However, CBN is most commonly discussed in relation to its sedative properties and its positive effect on promoting sleep.
Most of the research revolves around CBD, and the list of confirmed effects is rapidly expanding. CBN hasn't been in the crosshairs of experts and users for that long, and the information that is available so far is mostly anecdotal and based on animal tests, which may define the framework of how cannabinol works, but human clinical studies are essential.
Both cannabinoids are compounds from the cannabis plant. They can be classified as "broad or narrow". CBD falls into the first category, which can act on a range of health problems such as inflammation, infections, chronic pain, relief from depression and brain fog, or increased libido. CBN belongs to the second group and is more specific than cannabidiol, affecting mainly sleep.
There is also a difference in origin. While CBD has nothing to do with THC, CBN is formed when tetrahydrocannabinol is exposed to sunlight, THCA degrades and converts to (acid) CBNA, which is then converted to CBN by decarboxylation (CO2 splitting). Both THC and CBN can bind to the endocannabinoid system. Tetrahydrocannabinol binds to the CB1 receptor and induces sleep and, unfortunately, states of anxiety and paranoia. CBN is a partial agonist of the CB1 receptor but produces the strongest sedative effects compared to THC and CBD.
CBN and terpene aids
A study by Steep Hill Labs suggested a possible sedative effect of CBN , but later stated that the results could not be relied upon without further research. Nevertheless, it is increasingly being suggested that the positive effect of CBN on sleep is due not only to the compound itself, but also to terpenes such as caryophyllene, cedrol, linalool or alpha pinene acting in synergy and potentiating the effect on the human body.
Melatonin and CBN
Insomnia affects up to twenty percent of the population (unofficial figures speak of 60%). The numbers are steadily increasing due to stress and poor sleep hygiene, bringing with it associated problems such as anxiety, muscle aches, lack of focus, cognitive impairment, sexual and reproductive problems, and emotional instability. Sleep is essential for physicaland mental health and represents a time when the body can regenerate and eliminate toxins.
Melatonin is the most widely used dietary supplement to support the quality of sleep and ensure that it is smooth and deep. It is a hormone that is produced in the pineal gland (pineal gland) and ensures a proper sleep biorhythm. Unfortunately, the human body cannot produce enough melatonin to have a positive effect on the body. And a high dose of synthetic melatonin (in the form of a dietary supplement) can produce negative effects strikingly similar to hangovers. Thus, combining melatonin with CBN could be an ideal way to positively affect sleep while not burdening the body with dietary supplements that can have a variety of side effects. Unfortunately, this is only an assumption and this combination has no scientific basis yet. Always consult your doctor about its use. Dietary supplements with melatonin should not be sold in the Czech Republic at all. SÚKL (Institute for Drug Control) considers such products illegal and only allows melatonin for selected drugs.
CBN, of course, does not have to be taken only in conjunction with melatonin. On its own, it can have sufficient sedative effects and restore balance in sleep. Beyond that, studies suggest other potential benefits that are also typical of CBD, for example.
CBN and its effects on the body:
- Chronic pain relief
- Alleviation of inflammation
- Suppression of spasms
Summary
CBN has the strongest sedative effects of all cannabinoids. Unfortunately, however, research has passed cannabinol by, and so far only sketchy information and animal test results are available.
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