When you arise from a good night of sleep and feel well rested, chances are you have a highly productive and enjoyable day ahead of you. More and more people suffer from sleep deprivation and average fewer than six hours of sleep per night.

With pressures from work, family, and social obligations sleep often does not get the priority position it deserves and ironically, other aspects of our lives tend to suffer.

A Harvard Study outlines six problems which may occur if sleep deprivation is a constant:

• Learning and memory tend to suffer when we compromise sleep. To score your best on that test or give an impressive presentation, make sure you get your Zzzs the night before.
• Metabolism slows down with insufficient sleep. If weight loss or maintenance is your goal, getting enough sleep should be a priority.
• Safety comes into play in many different areas, but perhaps the most obvious is driving. Dozing off at the wheel is not a good idea.
• Mood and outlook naturally improve with a good night's sleep.
• Heart health depends on a healthy lifestyle and sleep is an essential component of that lifestyle.
• A disease is encouraged by a compromised immune system.

Medications to help you sleep:

Of course, a healthy bedtime routine helps to promote a decent night's sleep. Things like herbal tea, lavender baths, and turning the television off before bedtime are all well and good, but don't always get the job done. The pharmaceutical industry is there to help you get to sleep fast, offering over-the-counter and prescription offerings.

And, for those suffering from too many sleepless nights, they seem like a good idea.

• OTC options are plentiful and easy to purchase. These medications serve a purpose for occasional use, but you run the risk of dependency if you rely on them more than occasionally. Estimations show that over 40 percent of people taking sleeping aids do misuse them.

Even drugs not necessarily associated with sleep, but may indirectly help you nod off have their drawbacks. Benadryl and other medications containing diphenhydramine heighten the risk of Alzheimer's for instance.  Additionally, NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen, which relieves pain and therefore helps with sleep possibly cause liver damage if taken habitually. 

• Prescribed medications such as Ambien require you to devote at least seven hours to slumber before taking the pill. Side-effects are numerous and include building up a tolerance, addiction, amnesia, and even sleep-walking.

Medications such as Zolpidem sometimes link to increased falls and higher cancer risks.

What is CBD oil?

CBD oil is a concentrated product made solely or mainly from extracting cannabinol or CBD from the cannabis plant. Typically, CBD oil contains no marijuana or THC making it completely legal. A cannabis plant categorizes as marijuana if it has a THC level of between .5 and 30%.

The first step in making CBD oil is selecting the proper strain of the plant. The decision whether to use the whole plant which gives a wider spectrum of cannabinoids or just the parts with a higher concentration of CBDs also comes into play.

Extraction of the CBDs from the plant is next. There are several ways in which the extraction takes place such alcohol or CO2 extraction.

Depending on the product's intended usage the oil may or may not be diluted. Flavoring the oil may be part of the production, especially for oral consumption. 

How does CBD oil work?

Whether you use CBD oil topically or ingest it orally, it works at the cellular level through the Endocannabinoid System or ECS. The ECS is made up of endogenous small molecules composed of arachidonic acid, anandamide, and 2- arachidonoyl glycerol. 

The primary function of the ECS is homeostasis or balance. When the cannabis product administers either topically or orally, it targets C1 or C2 cellular receptors depending on the ailment and strain of cannabis used.

CBD oil and sleep:

When used as part of a healthy routine, CBD oil may help promote restorative sleep. The key is in the dosage and the timing. If the dosage is too low and taken orally, it acts as more of a stimulant. The dosage depends on the weight and tolerance of the person, but it is suggested to start with a dropper full.

To achieve a good night's sleep, take the oil two or three hours before bedtime, as the main benefit derives from attaining balance.

Additionally, studies show CBD oil has been shown to help with reducing pain and anxiety, thereby promoting restful sleep.

Perhaps the most significant advantage of using CBD oil for improving sleep is that rather than adverse side-effects, it may help with other ailments and disorders.

For more information on CBD Oil, click here!