CBD Sleep Study Australia
CBD is increasingly becoming popular as an aid for alleviating stress and anxiety, minimising symptoms associated with diseases such as PTSD, epilepsy and opioid addiction as well as a range of other benefits. As a result of the surge in popularity, scientists are conducting experiments to determine the effectiveness of these treatments as well as in other areas such benefits to sleep.
First, a refresher. What is CBD? CBD is short for cannabidiol. It is the non psycho-active compound found in the cannabis sativa plant. CBD is primarily extracted as an oil and mixed with an inert carrier oil such as hemp seed oil to make it more readily consumable. CBD can be found as an oil, in topical creams, in gummy lollies or inhaled as a smoke. CBD works by interacting with neurotransmitters in the endocannabinoid system. It causes cells to send signals to one another to help regulate movement, the immune system, mood and homeostasis.
The Cannabis Sleep Study
The National Institute of Integrative Medicine is conducting The Cannabis Sleep Study which is the second if its kind. Known as the CANN Sleep Study, researchers are looking for people suffering from insomnia to undergo a clinical trial across a ten week period. They are looking for people with typical symptoms of insomnia including trouble falling asleep at night, waking up frequently throughout the night and subsequently finding it difficult to return to sleep. These sleep disturbances will be explored and the impact of CBD on improving these symptoms examined. The trial is seeking to include over 400 healthy adults between the ages of 18-65 across 4 different locations in Australia. The first CBD Sleep Study which was conducted between May 2020 and May 2021 is currently being peer reviewed for publication in a medical journal.
Further Sleep Studies
There are other institutions conducting their own research into CBD sleep studies. The Woolcock Institute is testing out a new CBD formulation to see how effective it can combat the symptoms of insomnia. They will be using a medication which also features THC, the psychoactive compound within cannabis which is known to have a sedative effect. There is a ratio of 1:20 THC to CBD in their medication which will also incorporate the use of an Electroencephalogram to help detect the function of brain waves whilst sleeping and awake. Patients’ cognition and driving skills will also be tested as a means of assessing whether brain function is impeded from using the medication. The Woolcock Institute has implemented two CBD sleep studies to find the impacts of CBD on insomnia, the CANRest study which focuses on sleep improvement, and the CUPID study which also analyses daytime function as well as sleep.
University CBD Sleep Studies
Another active CBD Sleep Study in Australia is being conducted by Southern Cross University. In partnership with Ecofibre, an Australian Hemp company, researchers at SCU are looking at the efficacy of over the counter CBD products in improving sleep disturbances in healthy adults. Researchers have stated that up to 33-45% of healthy adults have reported sleep disturbances with Covid lockdowns potentially being an underlying cause. Regardless of the reasons, the study of the low dose botanical CBD soft gel in determining sleep improvement is imperative for potentially improving the lives of thousands of Australians. As researchers have noted, quality sleep is paramount in fighting off infection and improving the immune response. Poor sleep can lead to flare ups of other chronic diseases and illnesses and so determining appropriate doses of CBD for sleep improvement will offer patients, doctors and pharmacists valuable information in making progress in this space.
Swinburne University of technology is another tertiary institution looking into the effectiveness of CBD on improving sleep outcomes. Working with adults between the ages of 18-45 suffering from moderate to severe insomnia, they have conducted a clinical trial across a three week period to examine the effect on mood, cognition and general well-being.
Sleep research into the effectiveness of CBD is prevalent across a number of institutions in Australia. Their findings are important in the body of research to improve the sleep outcomes for people suffering with sleep disturbances.