RS Recommends: How Do These CBD Products Help With Sleep

The Best CBD Products for Sleep of 2022

Are you struggling to fall asleep at night yet again?

If you’re tired of being tired, I feel ya. I’m all too familiar with the sleepless nights because of pain, anxiety, or I’m just feeling restless. Plus, the effects I feel the following morning after not getting enough sleep; I’m irritated, and I can’t focus on anything. Too many people are affected by sleep problems and sleep disorders. But, you don’t have to face these long, sleepless nights any longer.

Many people know of CBD because of its relaxing and anti-inflammatory effects. But, not many people know that CBD can help improve the quality of their sleep. With everything that goes on in our lives, worrying about getting enough sleep should be the last thing on our minds.

Are you tired of using OTC medication to help you sleep? Are you tired of not sleeping?

Whatever the case is, CBD oil can help you. But, how do you find the best CBD oil for sleep?

Pre-tax flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are often touted as the answer to high out-of-pocket medical costs, but many FSAs have “use it or lose it” rules. FSA holders lose $50 to $100 per year on average, CBS News reported, but since you’re allowed to contribute up to $2,650, you could risk losing thousands of dollars if you don’t spend your FSA money in time.

I’m here to answer all of your questions for you. Let me show you how to find the best CBD oil for your sleepy time!

Bottom line up front: Overall, I would highly recommend Nuleaf Naturals CBD oil. I found this was the CBD oil that helped me fall asleep the fastest, stay asleep the longest, and don’t leave me feeling ‘hungover’ when I woke up.

Overview hide

My Top Picks

• Best Overall – Nuleaf Naturals
• Best for Beginners – CBDfx CBD Calming Tincture
• Best Broad Spectrum CBD – Joy Organics F
• Fastest shipping – CBDPure CBD Hemp Oil

First Off – What Exactly is CBD Oil?

CBD (or cannabidiol) is a type of cannabinoid found inside cannabis plants. It’s the second most plentiful cannabinoid found inside cannabis plants.

However, a lot of people tend to get CBD and THC confused. But, THC and CBD aren’t the same things. THC is the cannabinoid found in cannabis with psychoactive properties, so when people use THC, they get high.

Instead, CBD works by activating the endocannabinoid receptors in the brain. The endocannabinoid system in the body works to improve your sleep cycles, your body’s pH levels, your body temperature, and the overall inflammatory process.

How Does CBD Help With Sleep?

CBD is a natural compound derived from the hemp plant, which was federally legalized in the United States under the 2018 Farm Bill .

Unlike its close relative, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) , CBD does not induce sleep through sedation or make the user feel tired or sleepy. However, it does help promote more natural sleep cycles.

A 2006 study revealed that CBD can actually make users feel more alert during daylight hours, preventing daytime sleepiness and promoting a balanced sleep-wake cycle . In addition, CBD helps with sleep by alleviating conditions that may be keeping people up at night, such as anxiety, stress , and pain. By promoting a balanced sleep cycle and alleviating symptoms that make it difficult to fall asleep, CBD can calm and relax the user, making it easier to fall asleep.

Why Should you use CBD Oil Instead of OTC Medication?

A lot of over-the-counter sleeping medication works by suppressing the activity in your central nervous system. Some prescription drugs that help you sleep better include Ambien, Valium, and Xanax.

All of these drugs work by triggering the GABA receptors in your brain, which shut down all of the activity going on in your brain. As a result, you feel sleepy and relaxed when taking these medications.

There are a lot of negative side-effects that people experience with OTC medications, such as:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Dry mouth
• Stomach problems
• Muscle weakness
• Difficulty focusing

Using CBD oil is a lot safer than using OTC medication. CBD oil doesn’t have the same effects on your body that sleeping pills will cause. Instead, CBD will help to provide your body with a level of support that encourages relaxation, causing you to feel sleepy.

How Much CBD Should I Take to Help me Sleep?

How much CBD you take to help you sleep depends on what type of effect you’re looking to get. Plus, how much CBD you’re talking about also depends on your body’s sensitivity to CBD. Dosages vary from person to person, so you may need to figure out your perfect dosage from some trial and error.

Start with the lowest dosage possible when you’re ready to start taking CBD for sleep. You can take around 1 mg of CBD to start off with. Each day, you can continue to increase the dosage you’re taking by 2 mg until you start feeling the CBD begin to take effect. Don’t feel afraid to play around with the CBD dosage until you find the perfect dosage for you.

How to Find the Best CBD Oil for Sleep

Now, it’s time to figure out how much CBD oil you should take for sleep. Here are some of the best tips I have to share to find the best CBD oil to help you sleep:

Find Organic Hemp

Before you invest in any CBD oil, the first thing you should do is to make sure the plants being used to make the CBD have been organically sourced. The overall quality of the CBD you’re taking depends heavily on the quality of the hemp or cannabis it’s been harvested from.

Investing in a CBD oil that comes from industrial-strength hemp ensures that you’re getting the best of the best in your CBD oil. You’ll want to stick with organic hemp specifically because organic farmers don’t use any pesticides or sprays with toxic compounds to keep off pests or help their plants grow. This means you won’t have to worry about any contamination with your CBD oil by choosing to use organic hemp.

Check for Lab Testing

Next, you’ll want to ensure that the CBD oil was tested by a third-party lab. Any lab report from the company’s test will check for contamination, terpene profiles, and cannabinoid profiles. Many companies that aren’t trustworthy tend to fake these lab reports. That’s why it’s so vital for you to do your research. You’ll want to go with a company that uses a certified lab that doesn’t have any sort of affiliation with the company you’re considering buying from.

If you can find this, know that this is what a certified third-party lab is. A third-party lab report will break down everything inside of the CBD oil you’re getting ready to ingest. No matter what brand you’re interested in buying from, always be sure to check out the third-party lab results.

Are There Other Ingredients?

Next, you’ll need to take a look at the ingredients inside of the CBD oil you’re looking at. Some CBD oils come with pure CBD, whereas others come mixed with other carrier oils. Some CBD oils will include additional ingredients inside to help support your sleep. When you’re specifically looking for CBD oils to help support your sleep, you may find some extra ingredients like:

• Passionflower
• L-theanine
• Melatonin

Selection Criteria

Now, it’s almost time for the fun part! Below, I will highlight the selection criteria I used to make the product recommendations below. But first, it’s important to highlight the criteria I’m using to make the CBD recommendations below. After all, it’s the quality of your sleep (and your overall health) that’ll be impacted by these CBD oils.

I chose these CBD oils after a lot of research and a lot of testing. All of these CBD oils are oils I’ve tested (or had close family members test out) in hopes of improving the quality of our sleep. We made sure each of these CBD oils was thoroughly tested by third-party labs to ensure there weren’t any sneaky ingredients hiding inside the CBD oil.

Best CBD Oils for Sleep

Now that you have a better idea of how I chose these CBD oils, it’s time for me to share the details behind my top favorite CBD oils for sleep. Let’s get going!

Best Overall – Nuleaf Naturals CBN Oil

NuLeaf Naturals offers a CBN oil specifically made for people who want to use CBD oil for sleep. There are several cannabinoids found inside of the oil, including CBC, CBG, and CBD. I love Nuleaf Naturals because all of the ingredients inside this CBN oil are made within the USA and are all organic.

Inside each bottle of this CBD oil, you’ll find 48 mg of CBD per ml. When you compare this CBN oil to other CBD oils on the market, you’ll notice there’s a high level of potency of CBD inside of this formula compared to other options on the market. And since there’s such a high level of CBD in this formula, you won’t have to wait around for hours trying to fall asleep.

I loved this CBD oil because it helped me fall asleep quickly. Plus, I stayed asleep too. I wasn’t tossing and turning all night long. While I wasn’t a massive fan of the taste of this CBD oil, I was able to get out of bed and feel fully rested when I got up the next morning.

Pros

• Highly potent
• Contains several cannabinoids, not just CBD
• Helps you to fall asleep and stay asleep

Cons

• Not the greatest tasting

Best for Beginners – CBDfx CBD Calming Tincture

If you’ve looked into CBD oils to help you sleep, you may find many people recommending the CBDfx CBD calming tincture. I’m here to tell you it’s not without reason that people are guiding this CBD oil to you. I know my husband enjoyed this CBD oil (more than I did). This is another CBD formula specifically designed to help encourage healthy sleeping habits.

The CBD in this tincture comes from hemp born and raised in good old Kentucky. Plus, you’ll find that there are several strengths available, so you can customize your potency options to fit what you’re looking for. It’s also straightforward to find the lab test results for this CBD formula on the website, which makes it a lot easier to trust this company with its formula.

My husband didn’t feel groggy after using this formula. While I felt like this formula helped me fall asleep quickly and stay asleep, I did wake up feeling a bit groggy. But, this wasn’t too big of a problem that a cup of coffee couldn’t fix.

Pros

• Specifically made for sleep
• Easy to find the test results for the third-party lab testing
• Several potencies available

Cons

• Doesn’t contain a variety of formulas

Best Broad Spectrum CBD – Joy Organics

Do you only want to use broad spectrum CBD to help you fall asleep? Joy Organics is here to save the day! This CBD oil contains broad spectrum CBD but doesn’t contain any THC. While this isn’t the most potent CBD oil on the list, it does a great job of quickly absorbing into your body and helping you feel more relaxed. I don’t feel like this CBD oil made me sleepy per se. But, it did make me feel more comfortable, which made it easier for me to fall asleep by myself.

Pros

• Free shipping available
• Test results for the third-party labs are accurate and easy to find
• Doesn’t contain any THC

Cons

• Has other cannabinoids in it, but not enough to make a massive difference in the quality of the CBD oil

Fastest Shipping – CBDPure CBD Hemp Oil

Are you desperate to get help falling asleep but don’t want to try OTC medication?

CBDPure CBD Hemp Oil is the only CBD oil company on this list that offers a fast shipping option, which I think is pretty hand. This CBD oil contains full spectrum CBD that’s completely unprocessed. So if you aren’t looking for a bunch of filler in your CBD oil, look into this CBD oil. My biggest gripe with this CBD oil is that it doesn’t have a lot of CBD. This CBD oil doesn’t have any flavor, and it comes with a 90-day guarantee.

I thought this formula was pretty good, especially if you aren’t looking to spend a whole bunch of money or need something fast!

Pros

• Full spectrum formula
• 90-day satisfaction guarantee
• Super fast shipping is available

Cons

• Doesn’t contain a lot of CBD
• No flavor, it doesn’t taste great

FAQs

Question: When to Take CBD Oil for Sleep?

Answer: To get the best results with taking CBD oil for sleep, you should take the CBD oil about one hour before you go to bed. This will give the CBD oil you’re taking plenty of time to get into your system.

If you really want to make sure the CBD oil takes effect quickly, you should make sure to place the CBD oil drops underneath your tongue. As you’re taking the drops underneath of your tongue, make sure to let the drops sit in your mouth for 30 seconds before you swallow the CBD oil. Following these tips will help you to get the most restful sleep possible!

Question: Why is CBD Oil Good for Sleep?

Answer : Research has suggested that CBD oil is good for sleep because it helps to slow the effects of cortisol in your body. Cortisol is the hormone that’s directly related to your stress levels. When your cortisol levels are elevated, it impacts your circadian rhythm. As your cortisol levels increase, it throws your circadian rhythm out of whack. This makes it most difficult for you to fall and stay asleep. Since CBD oil helps to slow the release of cortisol in your body, you’ll have an easier time falling asleep!

Question: Is it Okay to Take CBD Oil Every Night for Sleep?

Yes, it’s okay to take CBD every night to help you sleep. Taking CBD is considered safe, but it’s always a good idea to consult with your primary care physician before adding any supplement into your daily routine. Talk to your doctor before you take any CBD oil for the first time if you’re on any medications.

Conclusion

Overall, I would highly recommend the Nuleaf Naturals CBN oil for sleep. There’s 48 mg of CBD in each bottle, which means you’re going to get a hearty dosage of CBD in each drop you take. Plus, this bottle was specifically formulated for people looking to use CBD oil just for sleep. If that’s the only reason you’re looking into using CBD oil, I would highly recommend looking into this oil.

RS Recommends: How Do These CBD Products Help With Sleep?

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Everyone is trying to get better sleep today and there are no shortage of products that promise to help ease you into deeper slumber, from weighted blankets to fancy sound machines. But more and more people are adding CBD to their sleep checklist as well.

When Travis Barker had trouble falling asleep on tour, after a grueling schedule had him in a different city and different bed each night, the drummer started to look for more “natural ways to wind down.” That’s when he discovered CBD.

“I used to have trouble with sleep,” Barker tells Rolling Stone, “and I would take a ton of melatonin, valerian tea, Tylenol PM, or Nyquil,” he admits, “but CBD was like the best kind of result that I got.”

The immediate benefits that Barker found with CBD led him to create Barker Wellness, a new line of cannabinoid-infused products that includes a unique CBD tincture for sleep. While CBD is not a medically-approved solution for sleep, experts say a little CBD could go a long towards promoting more soothing, stress-free slumber.

How Does CBD Work for Sleep?

“CBD is a compound that supports a powerful, yet widespread network of receptors in the body called the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is known to help regulate energy, mood, sleep, and more,” explains Dr. Jason Wersland, Founder and Chief Wellness Officer of Therabody, the newly-rebranded company that now includes the popular Theragun percussion devices as well as a line of lotions and tinctures for recovery and relief. “Researchers have found that CBD, found naturally in the hemp plant, interacts with ECS receptors throughout the body much like molecules the body naturally produces.”

Experts say the best CBD products for sleep also help you wind down by addressing some of the root causes of restlessness and stress.

“Most people don’t realize the quality of sleep is closely related to stress and maintaining a strong immune system, and you need both systems properly in check if you want an optimal immune response to anything,” adds Jay Hartenbach, CEO of CBD brand Medterra. “If your cortisol levels are elevated, it can keep you awake. CBD is thought to decrease this and keep your body in a homeostasis state.”

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If you’re just easing into CBD, Hartenbach suggests finding CBD products that also contain other ingredients that work together to help you feel more restful and relaxed. “CBD, amino acids, L-theanine and 5-HTP, and relaxing herbs like passion flower, chamomile, and lemon balm have each individually been shown to help with providing a full restful night and have been expertly formulated to work together for desired results to address the most common issues,” Hartenbach says. “Proper sleep and circadian control are absolutely essential to an optimally functioning immune system. If your body lacks restful sleep, so does your immunity.”

Will CBD for Sleep Make You Drowsy or High?

The best CBD for sleep is designed to help you ease into slumber — not knock you out. And unlike THC, which may have some psychoactive effects, Wersland says “CBD is non-intoxicating and will not make you feel high.”

If you’re new to CBD, trying a CBD gummy for sleep is an easy way to test out its effects in an easy-to-take format (basically like a gummy bear or gummy vitamin). Many brands also have flavorless CBD oils (or “CBD tinctures”), which come out of a dropper, letting you control exactly how much you want to take. Wersland’s suggestion: start small and then see how the tincture affects you. “If you’d like to take one full dropper that’s 33mg of full-spectrum CBD you can,” he says, “or you can take a ¼ of a dropper which is about 8mg of CBD.”

Of course CBD is primarily meant for therapeutic benefits and is not meant to replace any doctor-recommended prescriptions if you suffer from serious insomnia. You should also see a doctor if you have a severe sleep disorder, restlessness or anxiety, as CBD is not meant to treat those issues.

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What is the Best CBD for Sleep?

If you’re looking to try out CBD products for sleep, we’re rounded up some of our favorite options below. These have all been tested by our editors for ease of use and efficacy, though CBD will affect everyone differently. All the products on our list have also been tested by independent third-party labs for quality assurance and safety but you should read the ingredient list and labels before using to find the right products for your needs.

1. evn Sleep Powder

If you’re used to a warm drink before bed to calm you down, evn’s Sleep Powder will help you ease your way into some Zzz’s. Each serving (about a spoonful) contains 20mg of full spectrum CBD which you blend into milk (of any kind), tea or hot water about 30 minutes before you go to bed.

Not only is the hemp organically-sourced and lab-tested, but the powder also has a “sleep-enhancing” blend of magnesium, passionflower, L-theanine, melatonin, vitamins, and minerals to give you a deeper sleep that you wake up from feeling refreshed instead of zonked. If you don’t want the “grassy” taste of a CBD oil right before you knock out, evn’s Sleep Powder has a pleasant cocoa flavor that tastes more like a pre-bed treat than a medicinal tincture. While it can take have an effective boost to your sleep quality after one night, evn recommends trying it for 2-3 nights to get the best rest possible.

BONUS: Use coupon code ROLLINGSTONE20 for 20% off your order at Evn-CBD.com.

2. Cornbread Hemp AM/PM CBD Oil Bundle

One of the easiest ways to get into CBD is with this AM/PM CBD oil bundle from Cornbread Hemp. Take a drop or two of the Distilled CBD Oil in the morning to start your day, and chill out at night with the Whole Flower CBD Oil. To use: place a few drops under your tongue and hold for 30 seconds before swallowing, or mix a few drops into a glass of water or your bedtime tea (it’s virtually tasteless and it dissolves easily).

Cornbread uses only USDA-certified organic ingredients, with no preservatives, flavors or sweeteners. Choose from an original strength or extra strength pack. What we like: the included dropper has four size markings (0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1ml) so you can easily control your dosage and work your way up (for reference, one serving is 1ml).

BONUS: Use coupon code RS20 for 20% off your purchase at CornbreadHemp.com.

3. Prima Sleep Tight Soft Gels

Take one or two of these Prime Soft Gels before bed each night as part of your wind down routine. In our experience, the easy-to-swallow capsules have worked wonders in helping us fall asleep faster — and stay asleep without waking up in the middle of the night.

While other CBD blends for sleep use melatonin to help you doze off, Prima’s formula is melatonin-free, swapping the popular sleep aid for other natural remedies, like the amino acid compounds 5-HTP and GABA (which promote relaxation and mood enhancement), plus natural herbs like passion flower, California poppy and lavender to help calm and sedate without the need for a prescription.

We woke up feeling less groggy too and the CBD capsules don’t give you that intoxicated feeling you get from cheaper generic CBD brands.

4. Sunday Scaries “Side Piece” Bundle

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by all the CBD choices out there, Sunday Scaries’ “Side Piece” bundle is one of the easiest and least intimidating ways to get into a CBD routine. The bundle includes a bottle of fruit-flavored CBD gummies for when you want to chill out, and then a bottle of CBD oil for sleep. Typically $98 when you buy each item separately, the bundle gets you both for just $43 right now (a $55 savings).

Aside from being an incredible value, both the gummies and tincture have rave reviews online. Start with one gummy (10mg of CBD) after work, while you’re watching a movie, or when you want to zone out while doing chores or housework on the weekend. The CBD tincture, meantime, can go directly under the tongue, or in your tea, water, mixed into a smoothie or even mixed into your favorite lotion. Sunday Scaries also recommends trying a few drops of the CBD oil in your bath to help you relax. One bottle for the day and one bottle for night – your CBD routine just got a whole lot easier.

5. Charlotte’s Web CBD Gummies: Sleep

We’re big fans of these raspberry-flavored CBD gummies from Charlotte’s Web, which has helped us ease into sleep with less tossing and turning (or anxious thoughts). Each gummy contains 10mg of CBD, along with other natural sleep aids like 3mg of melatonin. We’ve found that these work fast, so take them just before bed (like 15-20 minutes before you hit the sack).

Each pack contains 30 servings. Not sure how your body will react? We started by taking half a gummy, before slowly graduating to taking the full piece.

6. Terravita Sleep CBD Capsules

If you prefer the ease of a capsule, we like Terravita’s Sleep CBD Capsules. These easy-to-swallow capsules include a broad spectrum hemp extract that contains 30mg of broad spectrum CBD (that’s also THC-free).

In addition to the hemp extracts, these capsules contain natural ingredients like L-Theanine (for stress), Valerian root (to fall asleep faster), melatonin (to help regulate the sleep cycle) and chamomile (which helps you get deeper sleep). Because this comes in a capsule format (rather than say, an edible or tincture), it can be great if you’re looking for a natural sleep aid, but hate the “grassy” flavor of traditional gummies.

Each order gets you 15 capsules. Take one at night about 30-45 minutes before bed. You can increase dosage to two capsules per day if you need something stronger.

7. Barker Wellness Sleep Tincture

Travis Barker’s new CBD line includes this easy-to-take sleep tincture. The unique formula combines CBD and CBN (another naturally occurring cannabinol said to help with insomnia), along with melatonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an amino acid believed to have stress-relieving properties. Take half a dropper to start and put it under your tongue or dissolve the drops into water. In our experience, we’ve found that a full drop under the tongue works best, though it takes an hour or so before you start feeling sleepy, so time it accordingly.

8. Zolt “Dreamy” Drink Mix

Nothing helps you unwind and get ready for bed quite like a hot, soothing drink, which is why we like these “Dreamy Mixie Sticks” from Zolt. Essentially a drink mix with CBD, each individually-wrapped pack contains 20mg of Kentucky-grown hemp, 3mg of melatonin and adaptogens (think aswagandha to help you de-stress). Natural honey, lemon and orange gives this a light citrusy flavor.

To use: pour one stick into about 8oz. of water. We like taking it with hot water about 20-30 minutes before bed. Prefer a more refreshing treat before you sleep? The Zolt drink mix blends easily into cold water too.

9. TheraOne Sleep CBD Tincture

Another easy-to-take CBD product that actually helps with sleep, from our experience, is the TheraOne Sleep CBD Tincture. Along with USDA-certified organic CBD, the TheraOne tincture also contains organic lavender, organic
lemon balm oil and organic chamomile, which the company says is “designed to help encourage deeper, more restorative sleep.”

TheraOne also touts its unique “Biosorb technology,” which it says can help increase the effectiveness of the CBD, so you can fall asleep faster — and stay sleeping more soundly.

To use: take one full dropper under the tongue, which delivers 33mg of CBD. You can also start with half a dropper to see how the formula affects you. Each bottle contains about 30 full servings.

Want the full-body experience? Get Therabody’s exclusive “Better Sleep Set,” which includes the Theragun Elite Smart Percussive Therapy device (a.k.a. a massage gun), soothing CBD Massage Oil, and a bottle of the TheraOne Sleep CBD Tincture. This all-in-one set is available for $574 at Theragun.com. It makes a great gift idea too.

10. CBDFX CBD Gummies with Melatonin for Sleep

These CBD gummies are the easiest options on our list to take, and the least-intimidating way to get into CBD for sleep. Take two of these gummies 30 minutes before bed for best effects. The lemon-flavored chews combine CBD with melatonin, which is a natural sleep aid. The company says the addition of magnesium helps to promote calmness.

Each serving of two gummies contains 50mg of broad spectrum CBD. Everything is certified vegan, all-natural and gluten-free, so it’s easy on the stomach too. A bonus: they actually taste pretty good too.

11. Terravita Relax CBD Bath Salts

Get the benefits of a bath and an ingestible with this Relax CBD Bath Salts from Terravita. The premium CBD company is known for their unique and potent formulas, which combine full-spectrum CBD with plant-based ingredients (think coconut oil, lavender oil and aloe vera in the bath soak, and hempseed oil and grapefruit in the tincture).

This CBD bath soak to help with relaxation and recovery after a long day, but the company also offers a sleep CBD tincture to help you wind down, and a bottle of sleep CBD capsules that the company says promotes better sleep.

Use each item separately or as part of your nightly wellness routine. You’ll want to start with 3-4 scoops of the CBD bath soak and let it dissolve in warm water before getting in the bath. We like using it after a workout or travel, to help detox the body.

12. NuLeaf Naturals Full-Spectrum CBN Oil

Colorado-based NuLeaf Naturals makes some of the most straight-forward and fast-acting CBD products on the market, with easy-to-take formulas that promise to help clear your mind and prepare your body for sleep. We like their full-spectrum CBN oil, which uses CBN, another cannabinoid in the cannabis plant that is said to have sleep benefits. While some CBD can have energizing effects, researchers have found that CBN is used more as a natural sedative.