TUCSON, Ariz. - Steph Davis is a professional mountain climber. A hobby turned job that requires high levels of strength and concentration. So, for Steph, a good night's sleep is extremely important.
“As an athlete, recovery is really important and I know that during sleep the muscles are recovering, my body is recovering," says Davis.
But like many people, Steph found herself tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.
“I was just in this phase where I wouldn’t fall asleep right away and then I would wake up at three in the morning, and be like, ‘why am I awake," says Davis.
So, a friend recommended she try CBD.
“I took them for a couple weeks and then said, ‘hey wow, I’ve had really good sleeps in this time period," says Davis.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound that is found in both hemp and marijuana, and it doesn’t get you high. It has recently exploded in popularity because of its potential to treat health problems like pain, anxiety and perhaps sleep.
“We don’t have a ton of research on CBD and insomnia. But the research that we have suggests that CBD may reduce a person’s anxiety and possibly reduce pain," says Lisa Gill, Consumer Reports Special Investigations. "Relieving one or both of those could help a person get to sleep and stay asleep.”
If you still want to give CBD a try, always ask to see a product’s certificate of analysis, which shows how that product performed on tests checking for CBD and THC levels, and the presence of contaminants. And, talk with your doctor, especially if you take other medications, because CBD may interact with them.
If you’re interested in trying CBD, you might find that it comes in so many different forms and wonder, which do I take? Vaping might work faster, but pills, oils and edibles such as gummy bears, might help you sleep longer.
