Will CBNO Help Me Sleep? A Look at CBNO vs Melatonin and Other Synthetic Sleep Aids
Sleep is essential. No one can argue with that. A deep and uninterrupted rest throughout the night is essential to our nervous system’s ability to recharge and rebuild after a demanding day. Issues arise when we aren’t able to get the sleep that we so desperately need. For a lot of people, sleep can be elusive. Luckily, there are quite a few natural remedies available that can help alleviate that issue.
Most people have heard of the most popular over the counter sleep aids like melatonin or Tylenol PM. While the melatonin can be derived naturally from animals or microorganisms, it is most commonly created synthetically. Other antihistamine derived sleep aids, like Tylenol PM and Benadryl, can come with potential side effects that can worsten with time and exacerbate other underlying health conditions.
For those looking for a naturally derived sleep aid, modern developments in the word of cannabis might provide some low-risk relief. At this point, CBD is old news. That isn’t to discount CBD’s overwhelmingly positive therapeutic benefits and qualities, but the world of hemp-derived cannabinoids is a rapidly growing one filled with promise. Especially as far as sleep-enhancing properties are concerned.
Enter CBN. CBN, or cannabiniol in non-abreviated form, is a compound that has been drumming up a lot of press in sleep-deprived communities. And there’s good reason. While CBN isn’t a new, as it was the first cannabinoid to be isolated from cannibis in 1896, products containing cannabiniol as their primary active ingredient are becoming more prevalent to help in the pursuit of quality sleep.
Melatonin vs CBNO: What’s the Difference?
Often times, when it comes to over the counter sleep aids, people tend to choose what they’ve heard of. For that reason, melatonin is the go-to choice for tens of thousands of Americans every year. With that being said, very few of those users understand how melatonin or other sleep aids affect their body.
Despite there being arguments for the more common remedies and supplements, hemp-derived solutions, like CBNO, are currently being studied for their sedative properties and are displaying promissing results.
What Does Melatonin Do?
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone which is produced in your pineal gland and plays an important role in regulating sleep cycles. The production of melatonin is directly influenced by the absence of light, meaning that most of your body’s melatonin production happens at night. As melatonin is released, it decreases your body temperature and slows respiration which promotes sleep.
With age, or the presence of other factors, your body begins producing less and less melatonin which can make sleeping more difficult and can be linked to several age-related diseases. In addition to age, low melatonin production can also be linked to high screen usage before bed. Since melatonin production is directly correlated to light sensitivity, exposure to high intensity light before bed can cause problems.
Melatonin supplements are available to counteract depleted melatonin production. There is a wide array of melatonin products available at a number of different dosages, most commonly found in pill form. While melatonin is unquestionably important in the body’s regulation of sleep cycles, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to claim that it makes a significant difference for those with insomnia.
What Does CBN-O Do?
Unlike melatonin, which is most commonly synthesized for use in supplements, CBN-O is a naturally derived compound that can have sleep-assisting properties. CBN-O is created through the cannabis fermentation process. When THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, is oxidized for extended periods it breaks down into CBN.
Unlike THC, CBN is considered to be primarily non-psychoactive. In that sense, it is much like CBD, another cannabinoid with pain relief properties, and is good for those looking for the health benefits of marijuana without experienceing a “high”. In relation to CBD, CBN-O is a rarer compound, as it is the result of a chemical breakdown of THC. For that reason, it hasn’t been studied to quite the extent of it’s more prevalent cannabinoid brother. With that being said, the studies that do exist on CBNO have yielded promising results.
How Does CBNO Effect the Body?
Unlike THC which binds primarily to the CB1 receptors in your brain, CBNO binds better to CB2 receptors. The result is CBN-Os anti-inflamatory and anticonvulsant properties. Overall, THC is the most well known cannabinoid for sleep-aid, so naturally it makes sense that CBNO, as a byproduct, is a good sleep aid as well.
Does CBNO Actually Work?
In a recent randomized control study published by the Sleep Research Society, CBNO was shown to, “improve insomnia symptoms and sleep quality in individuals with chronic insomnia symptoms” after two weeks of continued use. Although the study paints CBN-O in a good light as far as sleep promotion is concerned, more supporting evidence is needed to promise any results. With that being said, those that have used CBNO have claimed to experience increased drowsiness, especially when taken in conjunction with THC.
Does CBNO Have Side Effects?
Another appeal of CBN-O, as compared to other non-organic sleep aids, is its lack of “hangover” symptoms the following morning. Often times with benzodiazepines or antihistamines, drowsiness carries into the following day and can reduce the feeling of being well rested because of it. Pharmaceutical sleep aids can also cuase dependance issues for users over time, potentially leading to addiction and higher dosages. Since CBN-O is derived naturally from hemp, it hasn’t been show to produce any of the negative side effects associated with stronger, synthetic sleep aids.
What CBNO Products Work for Sleep?
At this point, the appeal of CBNO is undeniable as far as potential sleep benefits are concerned. With the cannabis market continually expanding, there are a ton of products out there that make a lot of big and unsubstantiated claims. When searching for the right CBNO product for you, it is important that you choose one that is sourced from high quality hemp and can be supported with reliable lab results.
Most CBNO products are ingested orally, and often come in the form of a gummy or pill. It is generally stated that somewhere between 10-25 milligrams of CBN-O yields the best sleep-inducing results for an adult. If you aren’t familiar with CBNO dosing, it is a good idea to start with a low dose and gradually build to a higher amount over the course of an evening.
CBNO is one of the most exciting cannabinoids currently available for sleep aid. Whether you have tried other over-the-counter options to no avail or are looking for a natural alternative to side-effect-prone synthetic compounds, Silver Owl provides a great CBNO solution to hopefully help you catch a few more Zs.