In an effort to take better care of ourselves during a challenging year of home confinement, we've built some great routines in regards to wellness. Perhaps we've taken on a new meditation technique or mastered the art of building the perfect bath after a taxing day—however, there are still some areas that need improvement. One of the key parts of our health that has suffered consequences from lockdown is sleep, especially given the fact that stress and anxiety have been at an all-time high. If you are looking for something to up the ante on your sleep routine, perhaps it's time to consider CBN.
Uncovering CBN
CBN, or cannabinol, in short, is a cannabinoid that helps a person fall asleep. Every cannabinoid that exists is a terpene, which is the compound that gives hemp and cannabis flowers their scent. In humans, terpenes have a slew of health benefits ranging from reaching homeostasis, decreasing stress, and alleviating pain. CBN, in particular, is a special terpene: Robyn Caywood, co-founder and lead formulator at KAMU Labs, explains, "CBN is unique in that it is a sesquiterpene, which means it has more carbon and hydrogen molecules. Sesquiterpene compounds are known for their calming properties and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier," meaning that it won't become lost during digestion, the way other supplements might be.
Caywood explains, "CBN is the same compound as THC, but it has oxidized past its peak THC prime." So does this mean you'll get high? Not at all. THC is the compound in cannabis that causes a psychoactive effect that may leave you feeling like you are in a head or body high. CBN is essentially the byproduct of oxidized THC, meaning that all the THC has—for lack of a better term—died, and the byproduct is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, CBN. Founder and CEO of Sandland Josh Townsend states, "The purpose of taking a pure CBN product is to avoid the psychoactive effects."
Why CBN?
Says Caywood, "CBN is known to be the strongest cannabinoid in terms of its alignments to its benefits for sleep. It helps us achieve a deeper and longer sleep in stages three and four, which are the REM dream cycles that have exponential benefits for our health." During the REM cycle, all systems in the body repair themselves, memories are formed, and digestion happens more efficiently. CBN does not sedate the body and mind to a state of being comatose, but rather signals to the brain that it is time to fall asleep and stay asleep. And since your body is restoring itself the way it should during deep sleep, you typically wake up feeling refreshed and well rested.
This is extremely different from alternative forms of sleep assistance. Townsend reveals to Coveteur, "Prescriptive medications are traditionally called hypnotics. It does exactly what you think it does: It hypnotizes you in a way, sedates you, and it's designed to shut your mind off." By shutting the mind off, as opposed to signaling the mind to go to sleep, it puts a halt on the restorative functions that the body needs to carry out as we sleep.
And if you find that your best sleep remedy is a few glasses of wine before bed, consider switching it up to a CBN supplement. Says Townsend, "Alcohol is a depressant. If you drink too much of it, you lose your faculties, your heart rate accelerates, and [it] can lead to dehydration and hangover afterwards. [It essentially] numbs your faculties in order to induce sleep," which is why you might sleep for an extended amount of time after a night out with friends, but still wake up feeling groggy. CBN is different in that it causes your body to enter this mode of deep sleep, but does not numb you in a way where your body cannot properly repair itself.
Plus, CBN works pretty quickly to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Depending on the CBN supplement you take, you should feel the effects anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes after consumption. Townsend adds, "You are not required to take them for an extended period of time in order to accumulate the positive effects of the product. We have found these effects for sleep on the first dose. We've also not found that you would have a degradation of effectiveness over time," which means that you should not develop a tolerance to CBN over time.
Who Can Have CBN?
If we've piqued your curiosity surrounding the natural unsung hero of sleep assistance, then you'll be pleased to know that virtually everyone can take CBN. Caywood states, "All of the cannabinoids have been found to be generally safe, non-habit forming, and have low risk of negative side effects. There are no known interactions with supplements." A proper dosage of CBN is anywhere between five and 10 milligrams, but since every CBN product is different, stick to the dosage recommendations on the product packaging. And, of course, as with any new wellness supplement or routine, consult with your doctor if you have any underlying conditions or concerns.
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Top photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@leef_organics
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