Clinicians and holistic practitioners agree—consistent, restful sleep is vital to human health. Sleep provides our bodies and minds with needed “down time,” promotes physical healing, supports a resilient mood, and allows our bodies to focus on processes that are difficult to complete while we’re awake.
Unfortunately, our hectic lives don’t always support a healthy sleep-wake balance. Stress, irregular hours, and poor diet can all contribute to poor sleep. Mental illness, a history of trauma, and physical discomfort have also been linked to insomnia. Also, some medications can interfere with the body’s natural diurnal rhythms, making sleep solutions elusive.
Insomnia takes a toll not only on our health, but on our productivity at work, our mood around family, and our general alertness when performing demanding tasks.
As the quest for a restful night’s sleep continues, much attention has been focused on CBD as a potential solution. Let’s take a closer look at CBD, what it is, how it works to support sleep, and how its effects are boosted when combined with sleep-promoting herbs.
What Is Cannabidiol?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is among the principal cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids interact with receptors in our bodies’ endocannabinoid system—a complex network of intercellular communication—to help us maintain systemic balance. Called homeostasis, this balance governs our sleep-wake cycles, mood, memory, appetite, and even fertility.
Unlike its cousin, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC Delta-9), CBD is not a psychoactive substance and will not get you “high.” It does, however, contain important nutrients that support our natural sleep mechanisms. And when combined with sleep-promoting herbs, its effects are greatly enhanced.
How Does CBD Benefit Sleep?
The hypothalamus is a peanut-sized structure seated deep in the brain that serves as an essential communications link between the body’s endocrine system and nervous system. This complex array of feedback loops helps our bodies maintain homeostasis—a complex and delicate balance that affects not just our sleep, but our body temperature, metabolism, and mood.
The hypothalamus is rich with cannabinoid receptors, which bond with the body’s naturally produced endocannabinoids. That’s right, our bodies make our own cannabinoids, compounds like CBD, and because we have natural CBD receptors in the hypothalamus and elsewhere in the body, CBD supplements are naturally linked with our wellness.
Sleep is a multi-stage process that is supported by an array of bio- and neuro-chemical interactions. Circadian rhythm disorders disrupt the natural processes leading to, or maintaining restful sleep. CBD supports the sleep system by smoothing those transitions, so you get the deep sleep and the REM sleep you need.
Broad-Spectrum vs. Full-Spectrum Products
Broad-spectrum CBD products contain all the CBD, flavinoids, cannabinoids, and terpenes found in the whole cannabis plant, but contain less than detectable amounts of the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC Delta-9). So you can’t get “high” from broad-spectrum CBD regardless of dosage. Full-spectrum CBD products, derived from hemp, by contrast, do contain THC up to 0.3%, but still cannot cause a “high.”
When you use a broad-spectrum product, you’re getting not just natural CBD, but over 100 other beneficial phytocannabinoids like CBN (cannabinol), CBG (cannabigerol), and CBC (cannabichromine). These support our bodies’ endocannabinoid system, creating an array of potential benefits, from our bodies’ response to pain and inflammation, to anxiety and appetite control, to hair, skin and nail benefits.
Cannabis and The Entourage Effect
There’s been something of a divergence in the way cannabinoids are used as a supplement. Some makers, for example, prefer to isolate and refine individual cannabinoids in an attempt to create pinpoint effectiveness.
The more prevalent view, however, embraces what’s called the “entourage effect,” which proposes that ingredients contained naturally within the whole cannabis plant can work synergistically, as intended by nature, to produce uniquely beneficial effects. Use of cannabinoids obtained from whole plant extracts shows a greater overall benefit than when the compounds are used alone, similar to other natural supplements like Turmeric and Black Pepper.
HOLISTIK sleep
HOLISTIK’s sleep STIK is easy to use — just POP & POUR, or PEEL & STIR into your favorite tea or water! The STIK lets you combine proven herbal sleep support with the power of CBD — all in a convenient form you can take with you anywhere.
The ingredients in HOLISTIK sleep include established sleep aids like chamomile and melatonin. They’re combined with broad-spectrum CBD in an easily absorbed nanoemulsion that begins working within 10-20 minutes to move you gently toward a restful night’s sleep.
It is so effective, Men’s Health Magazine awarded it the Best Sleep CBD Product for both 2021 and 2022.
HOLISTIK sources all of its hemp from a single source; a Biodynamic Greenhouse in the United States, and never comes into contact with outside air or soil, which means it’s guaranteed clean, from SEED to STIK. Each sleep STIK contains 10 mg of CBD water soluble powder.
The STIK is also fully recyclable and environmentally friendly. When you’re done, simply toss your used STIK in the recycling bin. What could be easier? HOLISTIK doesn’t stop there. For each STIK sold, one water bottle (four times the plastic of a STIK) is removed from the ocean with our partners at The Impact Collective.
At HOLISTIK, we believe consumers deserve the best, most effective ingredients available. That’s why our HOLISTIK sleep is sourced from a proven vertically integrated New York State grower, assuring seed-to-shelf quality control and traceability. Our grower is in full compliance with all FDA Good Manufacturing Practices and all products are tested for purity.
Still searching for that perfect night’s sleep? Try HOLISTIK today!