Does CBN hemp oil help with sleep? Many users report that they do. Should you try it?
CBN (Cannabinol) is one of many cannabinoids and terpenes extracted from the hemp plant. Examples of other cannabinoids are CBD, THC, CBG, CBC, and more. It can come in the form of oil, gummies, and others. Cannabinol rarely comes in pure form because it tends to work best when some of the other compounds are present. It is not considered to be psychoactive and has no known side effects.
The "entourage effect," an idea where the whole hemp plant and its many different medical compounds work more powerfully together than in an isolated way, is the reason CBN is not an isolate in pure form. The thought is that the other cannabinoids and terpenes work synergistically to improve the effects of CBN.
CBN is the abbreviation for Cannabinol. It is one of many cannabinoids and terpenes extracted from the hemp plant. Examples of other cannabinoids are CBD, THC, CBG, CBC, and more. Cannabinol rarely comes in pure form, is not considered to be psychoactive, and has no known side effects.
The reason CBN is not sold in an isolated form is that it is believed that it works more effectively in combination with CBD due to a theory called the "entourage effect." The idea is that the whole hemp plant and its many different medical compounds work more powerfully together than in an isolated way.
Like we mentioned before CBN and CBD are cannabinoids that are extracted from the hemp plant. They are similar chemically but do not necessarily have the same effects. CBN is a product of oxidation (THC degrades to CBN) and because of this, no strains of cannabis contain high levels of CBN.
Both CBN and CBD are known to interact with the body's endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is an extensive system of receptors and chemical communications that help regulate mood, memory, learning, pain, immune system, and more. Neither of these will likely produce the high associated because THC is considered the only psychoactive compound of cannabis. (That may not be true with some sensitive people).
Many people use CBN because it has a sedating effect, which may help people sleep. The research on CBN as a sedative at this point is lacking and is mostly anecdotal.
CBN is not considered to be psychoactive, but there are some reports of it having a mild psychoactive. Pure cannabinol by itself does not have a sedating effect. However in combination with other cannabinoids and terpenes, cannabinol is reported to have a relaxing, sedating effect, but the science backing that up is lacking. CBN oil is also considered to have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and improves appetite.
Research on CBN is more sparse than CBD but some potential benefits have been reported that show promise:
Sleep
Pain relief
As an antibiotic
Glaucoma
Neuroprotection
Bone stem cell stimulant
Fights cancer
Appetite stimulant
The timing of when to take CBN depends on the form you take. Ingestion of CBN takes the longest, but holding it under the tongue for about 15 seconds will have it working quicker. For me, I did not find it to work best to take it right before going to sleep. Instead, I found it to work best when I took it about an hour before falling asleep.
The CBN dosage will depend on each person because of size, weight, and other factors. The general recommendation is to start with a small amount and increase from there to find out what your ideal dosage is. Once you have found your sweet spot for your dose, then have sweet dreams. Some people report becoming sensitized taking it every night. You may want to experiment with not taking it one night a week to avoid that if that happens.
My trouble with sleeping is not falling asleep but staying asleep. I commonly wake up in the middle of the night and then struggle to get quality sleep after that. This has to do with my sleep apnea where I am chronically exhausted and then am awoken in the middle of the night from cortisol spikes.
What I found using CBN oil for sleep was that I stayed asleep longer and woke up later. I felt like even if I did wake up in the middle of the night, it was usually later and I had a much easier time falling asleep again. My wife, who has restless leg syndrome, also reported sleeping better with CBN.
Even if the research isn't there yet, this is worth trying if you are like many people who struggle to sleep. You owe it to yourself because there are many health benefits of proper sleep, including a better quality of life.
You can buy CBN online in the United States in the form of oil tinctures, gummies, and more. Different countries have different rules and regulations, so be sure to check the legality in your country if you live elsewhere. There are many quality brands but I trust the brands I post on here.
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This depends on what country you live in. At the time of writing this, hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC are legal federally in the United States but still illegal under some state laws. Make sure you understand what the laws are in your state so you don't run into trouble.
Cannabis-derived CBD products, on the other hand, are illegal federally but legal under some state laws, such as Colorado. This is not something you want to mess with. Be sure to check local legislation, especially if you have plans to travel out of your state.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved nonprescription CBD products, which may be inaccurately labeled.
Yes, CBN oil is not considered to have any known harmful side effects to date.
CBN is not considered psychoactive, but it does not come in pure form. There are usually going to be other cannabinoids and terpenes in the oil, including some THC that could potentially make a sensitive person experience a mild high.
CBN oil contains less than O.3% THC, but there is still THC in the product. If you are in a situation where you a regularly tested for work, athletics, or any other situation, then this may not be the right product to take because there is a chance you will test positive.