With CBD’s popularity still on the rise, many people are turning to this natural alternative to popular medicines in an effort to finally alleviate some major symptoms. And it seems many have found some relief in using CBD to soothe pain, resolve nausea, and even catch some zzz’s at night. But how does cannabidiol even work when ingested and what could be the best CBD oil for sleep? Down below, we review the top 6 brands in 2021 and provide answers to some burning CBD questions.
The Best CBD Oil for Sleep: Top 6 Brands in 2021
1. Royal CBD
For many users out there, there’s no competition when it comes to Royal CBD — most of them believe this top-rated brand has the best CBD oil for sleep in the industry.
This brand is a trusted source for top-notch CBD products. They received the top ranking among the best CBD brands for sleep from highly-regarded publications such as LA Weekly, and Weednews.
So what makes Royal CBD so alluring? For starters, the brand opts for Colorado-grown organic and GMO-free industrial hemp, as well as supercritical CO2 extraction to ensure quality extracts. Furthermore, it dissolves the extracts in premium-quality MCT oil, which not only lets us measure the oil better but also helps with absorption. Third-party lab testing is a given, of course.
The thing we love the most about the full-spectrum Royal CBD oil, however, is how potent it is. There are four potency options available (250, 500, 1000, and 2500 mg), with the highest one providing just over a whopping 83 mg of CBD per serving! There are also a few flavors to choose from (natural, berry, mint, vanilla). The only oil that doesn’t have added flavors is the strongest one, as the brand wanted to preserve the potency as much as possible while still packing the oil in a 30 ml bottle.
Things We Love About the Royal CBD Oil:
- Quality hemp source (Colorado-grown organic hemp)
- Uses supercritical CO2 extraction
- Available in a few flavors and potency options
- The most potent option yields 83 mg of CBD per serving
- Third-party lab tested
Things We Don’t Love About the Royal CBD Oil:
- The most potent oil comes in only one flavor
- No THC-free versions
2. Gold Bee
One of the goals of the founders of Gold Bee was to raise the bar on the market and create organic CBD oil of superb quality. The brand has been successful in this endeavor, as they are recommended by many media outlets (Observer, Daily CBD, CFAH, etc.) to their readers.
In fact, for those looking for the most natural medicine alternative, the Gold Bee oil might even be the best CBD oil for sleep disorders and a general lack of zzz’s.
The Gold Bee CBD oil is a full-spectrum one, meaning that the extract contains the full spectrum of cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, and yes, even some THC. However, since the cutoff value for industrial hemp is 0.3% THC or lower, there’s nothing to worry about — THC appears in only trace amounts and doesn’t have a psychoactive effect in this case.
To ensure the quality of the oil, the brand opts for organic hemp that’s grown in nutrient-rich soil and is free from any toxic substances. The preferred method of extraction is supercritical CO2 (one of the best options). However, to stay on the safe side, the brand also tests the oils in third-party labs.
Right now, the brand only has one potency option available: 1200 mg. That may not seem like much, but it’s expected one would need a lower dose when using a full-spectrum oil. There are also two flavors to opt for, kiwi and natural.
Things We Love About the Gold Bee Oil:
- Premium organic hemp
- Uses supercritical CO2 extraction
- It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Third-party lab tested
Things We Don’t Love About the Gold Bee Oil:
- Only two flavors
- No THC-free versions
- Only one potency option
3. CBDistillery
As it turns out, one of the most versatile offerings on the market belongs to a CBD industry veteran — CBDistillery. Following the best industry practices since 2016, the company stands out as a pioneer that aims to please its whole target audience. The fact that its oils come in a full-spectrum and THC-free version speaks volumes about that.
CBDistillery’s oils contain extracts derived from non-GMO industrial hemp, and the brand highlights that it is also certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority. Furthermore, the company ensures top quality by getting its products tested in third-party labs.
Right now, users can opt for full-spectrum oils if they’re eager to experience that well-known entourage effect. Alternatively, they can opt for broad-spectrum, or CBD isolate oils, all conveniently available in CBDistillery’s offering.
But that’s not even the best part — the true versatility of the brand lies in the number of potency options it has. With full-spectrum oils, we can get anywhere from 500 mg up to a whopping 5000 mg of CBD, while the broad-spectrum oils go up to 2500 mg CBD per 30 ml. The choices also are pretty good even if we can only take CBD isolates, as the brand offers 500, 1000, and 2500 mg pure CBD oils.
Things We Love About the CBDistillery Oil:
- A great range of potency options
- Full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate oils
- Extracts derived from non-GMO naturally grown industrial hemp with CO2 extraction
- Third-party lab tested
Things We Don’t Love About the CBDistillery Oil:
- No flavored options available
- The hemp isn’t certified organic
4. CBDPure
A reputable company such as CBDPure makes sure its products are always up to standard, so it is no wonder some users claim it has the best CBD oil for sleep. Though rather inconspicuous in packaging design, the oil is available in three potency options and offers the full spectrum of cannabinoids.
One of the main focuses of CBDPure is making sure its oils are well made, so the brand opts for Colorado and Washington certified non-GMO organic-standards hemp. Furthermore, it utilizes CO2 extraction to get the purest and most potent extracts. Not leaving anything to chance, the company also tests its products in independent third-party labs.
But how sure is the brand in its products? The 90-day satisfaction guarantee speaks volumes about that, as it shows the company believes its product works and will help many users. The only trouble is that the potency range is a bit limited. The oils are available in three variants: 300, 600, and 1000 mg.
Things We Love About the CBDPure Oil:
- Derived from top-quality Colorado and Washington hemp
- The brand uses CO2 extraction
- The 90-day money-back guarantee gives some peace of mind
- Third-party lab tested
Things We Don’t Love About the CBDPure Oil:
- Only one flavor available (natural)
- Limited potency range
- Only full-spectrum oils
5. NuLeaf Naturals
Ever since 2014, NuLeaf Naturals has been one of the pioneers of the CBD industry, gracing users with top-quality products. The brand itself says that it is committed to creating the purest and most potent CBD goods. As many reviews attest to this, it has certainly succeeded at that, with some users saying it offers the best CBD oil for sleep on the market.
NuLeaf Naturals’ oil contains a whole-plant extract that was obtained using both sub- and supercritical CO2 extraction. As a result, the blend is more potent than some of its competitors’. The extraction method might even make it the best CBD oil for sleep for those who worry about brands using solvents and hazardous chemicals in production.
Furthermore, the company ensures quality by opting for organic, Colorado-grown hemp. Of course, it doesn’t just rely on its products to be the best — it tests them in labs as well to gain proof of how incredibly potent and pure they are.
Right now, the company has a somewhat limited selection of products. Still, the oil is available in quite a few sizes, offering anywhere from 300 up to 6000 mg of CBD per bottle.
Things We Love About the NuLeaf Naturals Oil:
- Quality organic Colorado-grown hemp
- Sub- and supercritical CO2 extraction
- Good selection of bottle sizes
- Lab-tested for potency and purity
Things We Don’t Love About the NuLeaf Naturals Oil:
- Only full-spectrum oils
- A bit expensive in comparison to other brands
6. Hemp Bombs
Finally, we cannot talk about the best CBD oil or sleep without mentioning Hemp Bombs, a true pioneer and a company that pretty much has everything CBD-related we could ever want. From oils, gummies, and lollipops up to its bubble bombs, lotions, and other topicals — this here is a CBD heaven!
Sourced from premium industrial hemp grown on American farms (it sourced from Europe before), Hemp Bombs’ oils are a combination of quality, flavor, and potency, all wrapped in gorgeous packaging. The oils aren’t only meant to help us, but they also have flavors that are rather difficult to find elsewhere, like Acai Berry, Watermelon, Peppermint, Chocolate Mint, and Orange Creamsicle.
Still, for most users, it’s the potency options that help Hemp Bombs leave a lasting impression. Offering six options in total, we can get 125, 300, 750, 1500, 3000, and 5000 mg oils. The company, however, focuses on pure CBD extracts, which may be a downside for those looking to catch that entourage effect.
Things We Love About the Hemp Bombs Oil:
- A fantastic range of potency options
- Delicious flavors
- Quality domestically grown industrial hemp
- Third-party lab tested
Things We Don’t Love About the Hemp Bombs Oil:
- No full-spectrum options
- Artificial flavors used in the oils
Sleep 101: Causes and Potential Risks
Losing a night or two of sleep because we wanted to binge-watch a TV show isn’t much of a concern. However, when that behavior starts disrupting our sleep pattern and transforms into full-blown sleeplessness, it’s time to worry.
There are lots of things that could cause sleep issues, including aging, stress, work schedules, worry, too much stimulation or caffeine, or even too much excitement. If there is also a lot of noise (our partner may be snoring) or the bed is uncomfortable, we may find ourselves lying awake for hours on end.
However, for those few unlucky ones, sleep issues are caused by sleep disorders. These include insomnia, restless legs syndrome, and sleep apnea, which seem to be the most common ones across the board. Other than those three, we may also develop:
- Circadian rhythm sleep disorder
- Narcolepsy
- Delayed sleep phase disorder
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Shift work disorder
What Happens When You’re Sleep Deprived?
At a single glance, these disorders may not sound so troublesome, but chronic sleep deprivation could make life so much more difficult for us all. Sleep has a restorative purpose, so we have to get a few hours of shut-eye each night, one way or another.
In general, sleeping anywhere between seven and nine hours should keep our health in check and give us enough energy during the day to go to work, do errands, etc. If we don’t get enough sleep, the consequences could be dire.
Poorer physical health and cognitive capacity, lower immune function, weight gain, high blood pressure — all of these are telltale signs we might not be getting quality sleep. But the side effects don’t end there, as we could also experience:
- A lower sex drive
- Changes in mood
- Memory impairment
- Inability to focus
Finding Solace in Sleeping Pills
When push comes to shove, most people opt to try out some sleeping pills as they are desperate to jumpstart their lives again. However, the pills mostly prescribed for sleep issues aren’t as safe as some people may think.
The usual suspects include benzodiazepines like Ambien, Xanax, and Valium, which are some of the most famous sedative-hypnotics. They work by simply “switching off the light” — they shut down neurological activity by interacting with the brain’s GABA receptors.
The problem? Though these would certainly work and would give us a chance to catch some zzz’s, they are very addictive. Soon enough, users start depending on them for sleep, but they have to keep adjusting the dosage and making it higher to produce the same effect. Furthermore, they come with a range of side effects, including:
- Stomach tenderness
- Muscle weakness
- Daytime drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Heartburn
- Migraines
- Attention and memory issues
Fortunately, there is a natural alternative to sleeping pills that could alleviate symptoms of insomnia and other sleep disorders without causing addiction or having any psychoactive effects. The best CBD oil for sleep is right around the corner!
CBD Oil: A Viable Alternative to Sleeping Pills
In just a few years, CBD has become a popular alternative to various medications as it has been shown it could help with a range of issues, like stress, anxiety, depression, and yes, even sleep. But what is it exactly, and how does it work?
CBD Tackles a Few Problems at the Same Time
Many of us are familiar with cannabis and THC, the psychoactive compound that makes us “high” when we smoke weed. CBD is the same type of compound (cannabinoid), but unlike its cousin, THC, it doesn’t have any undesirable psychoactive effects.
Instead, cannabidiol interacts with the endocannabinoid system and helps it reach homeostasis. It does that by impeding a fast breakdown of endocannabinoids and binding to endocannabinoid receptors.
More precisely, though, CBD tackles the two factors most of us lose sleep over — pain and anxiety. It can ease pain by modulating vanilloid receptors, which regulate pain caused by inflammation or heat. On the other hand, cannabidiol deals with anxiety in a few ways:
- Stimulating the 5HT1 serotonin receptors
- Binding to GABA receptors to make them more sensitive to GABA (the neurotransmitter that tackles overstimulation)
- Boosting the amount of naturally occurring endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-AG
- Stimulating the hippocampus to regenerate neurons.
On top of that, CBD tackles deep sleep issues as well. In case of maintenance insomnia, for example, people usually experience light sleep, which prevents them from waking up refreshed and restored. CBD could combat that by boosting the length of the “deep sleep” phase, which is when we regenerate during sleep. At the same time, it shortens the REM sleep phase to prevent low-quality sleep due to dreams.
Mind the Dosage, Though
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that even the best CBD oil for sleep might be a bit tricky to dose well when it comes to sleep issues. As a rule of thumb, lower doses could promote alertness, while higher ones could sedate us. But that’s not a guarantee by any means as we might be more sensitive to the compound than other people. Factors such as our weight, the condition we’re treating, and our body chemistry matter as well.
Therefore, it’s best to start off slow (1 to 2 mg of CBD) and go from there. We can keep increasing the dosage by 2 mg until we hit that sweet spot — all the benefits and little to no side effects.
Final Thoughts on the Best CBD Oil for Sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep shouldn’t be a luxury, nor should it entail relying on sleeping pills all the time. However, we must do something about sleep deprivation as it could seriously affect our lifestyle and might even disrupt our cognitive abilities and health in general.
Fortunately, we don’t have to risk addiction anymore — not when the best CBD oil for sleep is within reach. For some, Royal CBD is the company of the moment and the one they are willing to trust with their health. However, all the brands we talked about have proven the quality of their products time and time again, even going so far as to provide users with third-party lab results on their websites. That’s transparency – and peace of mind — we can all appreciate!
