My mind feels like it never shuts off. So much so that I'll bolt wide awake around 3 a.m. with thoughts of what I have planned for the next day. In craving a night of solid sleep [1], I was intrigued by the possibility that CBD could give me a night (or more) of complete rest [2].

Just as fall officially hit, wellness-brand TruZen [3] gave me its 10-Day Trial [4] ($13) of CBD capsules to try out. The capsules contain 25mg of CBD, which is within the average dose [5] range (25mg-175mg) given to people looking to improve their quality of sleep.

Keep reading to find out how taking CBD everyday for 10 days affected my quality of sleep.

How Does CBD Affect Sleep?

On the first two nights of taking CBD, I felt a little sleepier but still found myself waking up at least once in the middle of the night. Then on the third night, I went to bed and woke up in the morning. I was beside myself that I slept through the night. From that third night all the way through the tenth night, I kept sleeping through the night without waking up around 3 a.m. like I usually do.

The fun ended when on the eleventh night, the first night without taking the CBD, when I woke up in the middle of the night. I was a little sad that I woke up, but luckily I was able to fall asleep shortly after waking up. I was sleeping soundly when taking the CBD capsules nightly but began waking up again shortly after stopping.

The Science Behind CBD and Sleep

CBD is processed by our endocannabinoid system [6]. A study from the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health [7] explained that "elements of the endocannabinoid family participate in sleep control." The endocannabinoid system is one of the neuromodulatory (neuron-based) systems [8] in our brain. Our neuromodulatory systems are the foundation for our cognitive function. The endocannabinoid system specifically is responsible for processing endocannabinoids [9] (chemical compounds that carry signals between neurotransmitters). It's a part of several systems in our body, including the central nervous system, which influences cognitive behaviour.

Since CBD is processed by the same system that has an influence on the sleep-wake cycle, it makes sense that taking CBD on a regular basis will influence our circadian rhythm [10]. The circadian rhythm is the pattern in how our body processes everything from sleep to digestion over a 24-hour period. So there's a high probability that me noticing a shift in my circadian rhythm had to do with regularly taking 25mg of CBD.

When it comes to my quality of sleep, CBD has made a great improvement so it's definitely staying in my bedtime routine. While these were my results, know that everyone's body will respond to CBD differently. If you are curious with how CBD may affect your sleep-wake cycle or interact with any medications you are currently taking, you should speak with your doctor before taking CBD.