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Healist sleep range
Healist sleep range Healist Naturals

At least seven hours of sleep is widely regarded by scientists as vital for a healthy life, but a 2016 study from the Centers for Disease Control revealed that a full third of American adults don’t get that much. Stress, overwork, excessive screen time and more can all contribute to an inability to fall asleep.

The adverse effects of sleep deprivation include impaired memory, irritability and short attention spans. In the long term, research indicates that regularly not getting enough sleep can be a risk factor for diabetes, heart conditions and strokes. Lack of sleep is also connected to an increase in the stress hormone cortisol, which can cause weight gain, acne, fatigue and headaches.

Obviously something is preventing us from getting the sleep we need, but how can we overcome it? A variety of artificial aids are on the market that promise better rest, but many pharmaceutical solutions have unpleasant side effects. In the long term, they can cause daytime drowsiness, depression and impaired motor skills.

It’s not surprising that people would seek a more natural solution for better rest. One non-­prescription substance on the market now is Cannabidiol, a chemical compound extracted from the Cannabis sativa L plant. Although cultivation of that plant was criminalized in the United States with the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937, recent years have seen a reappraisal of the benefits of cannabis and legalization in many states, as well as scientific inquiry into the plant’s many unique qualities.

The Cannabis sativa L plant is a remarkably complex organism that creates over 400 unique chemical entities. The most prevalent and most studied are THC and CBD. THC is the primary compound in marijuana that gets you “high” and boasts a number of psychoactive effects. CBD, as far as analysts can determine, does not.. Instead, the effects of CBD on its own appear to include reduction of temporary anxiety as well as increased relaxation.

Isolating the compounds within the Cannabis sativa L plant led to the discovery in the early 1990s of a set of neurotransmitters in the human body called the endocannabinoid system. Biologists are still studying this network to understand how it works, but it is believed to help regulate a number of essential functions in the body, including mood, memory, appetite and sleep. THC and CBD, along with other cannabinoids, can use that system to influence the body and brain.

Even if you don’t partake of cannabis products, the endocannabinoid system is active and functioning in your body. The euphoria called a “runner’s high” after exercise has been linked to the neurotransmitter anandamide acting on the system, for example. Many studies are now being conducted to see how chemicals like THC and CBD interact with it. Since 2012, a boom in peer-­reviewed science studying cannabinoids has widened our understanding and created a market of commercial applications for these compounds.

One of the most popular uses for CBD has been as a sleep aid. Scientists are still unraveling how the molecule interacts with neural receptors in the brain, but promising research can help explain how it appears to aid restfulness.

A 2020 study on the effects of cannabidiol in rats published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology indicates that the substance acts on the sleep-­wake cycle. The animals that were injected with CBD were asleep for significantly longer. In addition, the test group that received a moderate dose of cannabidiol saw their sleep latency -­ the amount of time before they could fall asleep -­ significantly decreased.

A similar experiment on humans conducted between 2016 and 2018 monitored 409 people with insomnia, who were treated with cannabis flower taken in several different orally combusted methods. At the beginning of the study, the average intensity of insomnia symptoms self-­reported by the subjects was 6.5. At the end of the study, that average had dropped to 2.2.

There is still a large amount of work to be done on determining exactly what the biological process that allows CBD to enable sleep is. Poor sleep can be caused by numerous factors, and the current research around CBD seems to indicate that it works on those factors, as opposed to the mechanism of sleep itself.

CBD usage is legal, under a variety of restrictions, in all 50 states. The Food & Drug Administration has not approved any commercial formulation of the substance as a sleep aid -­ in fact, there is only one approved prescription medication that uses it, Epidiolex, which mitigates seizures connected with two forms of epilepsy. That said, numerous companies are eagerly investigating its properties.

Even more importantly, most scientists believe that CBD poses little to no health risks. A report from the World Health Organization stated that CBD “exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential, and there is no evidence of public health related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.”

That has led numerous companies to enter the market offering CBD in a variety of different forms, from oil tinctures to topical ointments and edible capsules. These allow users to precisely measure the amount of cannabidiol they ingest. It’s generally considered wise to start with a low dosage and increase it until you obtain the ideal results.

That said, ensuring that the CBD products you use are held to a high standard of purity is extremely important. Because the FDA does not regulate the safety or purity of dietary supplements, you need to find a producer with unimpeachable standards of quality and triple lab test their products. Products like Sleep Drops from Healist Advanced Naturals use the highest quality U.S. organically farmed CBD broad spectrum hemp extract, blended with 1.5mg of CBN, lavender, chamomile and lemon balm essential oil, and a custom sleep terpene blend to ease the mind and promote a healthy sleep cycle.*

Getting good sleep can be life-­changing. If you are struggling with seven hours a night, it’s possible that CBD might be the answer. As with any supplement, talk to your doctor before using.

For more information about Healist sleep range products visit https://healistnaturals.com

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any diseases.