Sleep aids with CBD in them have become popular lately, but they aren’t all the same.
cbdMD’s CBD PM is a sleep aid so distinctive that it picked up the first “Product of the Year” Award to be handed out to a CBD product last year. Available in tincture and capsule forms, CBD PM is based on a formula of CBD and melatonin, along with a special blend of herbs traditionally used to aid relaxation.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into all the ingredients of this award-winning formula and look at how CBD and melatonin can work together to help you get the rest you need.
Broad Spectrum CBD
For thousands of years, people have used cannabis to help them mellow out. But the downside of cannabis is that in its natural state it gets people high, which in turn has led to its criminalization in the USA and elsewhere.
The high is due to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which achieves its effects through the endocannabinoid system, a network of transmitters and receptors in the nervous system. But THC is only one of more than 100 compounds in cannabis, called cannabinoids, which interact with the endocannabinoid system.
The trick, then, is getting the mellow without the buzz. To that end, cbdMD has developed its Superior Broad Spectrum process, which gathers other cannabinoids from cannabis – starting with CBD – while keeping THC below detectable levels.
But broad spectrum CBD is only one part of the magic. The real killer combo is CBD and melatonin.
Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone that your brain secretes when it’s time for you to sleep. Generally speaking, darkness stimulates it, so it helps keep your mind and body in sync with the cycles of day and night – what scientists call your circadian rhythm.
While specialists have known about melatonin for a long time, it was only in the 1990s that it started appearing on retailers’ shelves. This emergence followed the discovery of melatonin in plants, which allowed its sale as a nutritional supplement. It is an antioxidant, so it’s probably good for you in the same way other antioxidants are, but most people take it for sleep.
The FDA has never officially approved it for that purpose, however. Research into melatonin’s uses is ongoing, but so far.
Can You Take CBD Oil and Melatonin Together?
There hasn’t been any direct research on the interaction of CBD oil and melatonin in the body, but there isn’t any reason to think they would conflict.
Both CBD and melatonin are usually well-tolerated, with no cases of abuse or damaging overdose on record. The main concern about taking CBD oil with melatonin or with other products is that it may affect the liver’s ability to metabolize certain drugs.
Without getting too deep into the technical weeds, it depends on which enzymes the liver uses to metabolize the drugs. A rule of thumb is that if you’re on medication that warns against eating grapefruit while on it, you shouldn’t be taking CBD either. But you should check with your doctor to make sure.
Melatonin, however, is metabolized by a different enzyme, so CBD is unlikely to interact with it. There is some reason to think melatonin may amplify the effects of blood-thinning drugs, so consult your doctor if you’re on those.
Herbal Extracts
Unlike melatonin, the herbs in CBD PM have been used for centuries to help people mellow out. CBD PM contains these herbs:
- Valerian
- Passionflower
- Cascade hops
- Chamomile
- Lemon balm
Valerian
Valerian is a name that’s somewhat confusingly applied to two different plants. Red valerian is popular in gardens, but the supplement comes from a plant in the honeysuckle family.
Valerian root has traditionally been used for a whole passel of reasons, so much that one of its English common names is “all-heal.” However, nowadays, most people use it to supplement relaxation and sleep.
Passionflower
Native to the American tropics, passionflower is familiar to many gardeners as a showy ornamental blossom. Though its name makes it sound like an aphrodisiac, European explorers actually named it after the older Christian meaning of “passion” because its unusual arrangement of stamens looks like a crown of thorns.
Native Americans have long used one species of passionflower, also known as maypop, for numerous purposes. It’s not legally approved for sleep issues, but many people do find it calming.
Cascade Hops
Like most other hops, cascade hops are cultivated mainly for beer. All hops are flowers of the same species of plant, which is actually related to hemp, but breeders create varieties for different flavors.
For centuries, though, beer-drinking societies have also used hops as an aid to relaxation.
Chamomile
Chamomile is also familiar to many Americans as an ingredient in herbal tea, especially those made for drinking before bed. Like other herbs on this list, it has many traditional uses which researchers are studying.
Doctors advise against pregnant women consuming it, however, because it may cause uterine contractions ahead of schedule.
Lemon Balm
A misleading name: lemon balm is actually a type of mint, just one with a mild lemony flavor on top of the mintiness.
Mints have a long history of folk uses. Lemon balm tea and essential oils are sometimes used to comfort the stomach and to ease stress.
MCT Oil Helps Infuse Our CBD, Melatonin, and Herbs
MCT oil is the carrier oil in which we infuse all of these ingredients. It doesn’t contribute to sleep, but it does have health benefits that boost the overall value of CBD PM.
MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides, which can become obtained through processing coconut or palm kernel oil. The body digests MCT oil more quickly than the long-chain triglycerides that comprise typical edible oils, so more of it turns to energy and less of it to stored fat.
As a result, MCT oil is the ideal oil for the weight-conscious. There’s also some evidence that it can reduce the build-up of lactate, which causes muscles to feel tired and sore after strenuous exercise. So if you’re working out regularly, CBD PM could be just the thing for rejuvenating sleep.
Using CBD and Melatonin for Sleep
CBD PM is a tincture, and the most efficient way to take it is under the tongue before swallowing. Fill the dropper to about half full, squeeze it out under your tongue, and hold the oil there for 30 to 60 seconds. Swallow whatever’s left.
With this method, you should start to feel the CBD oil and melatonin in about 30 minutes. It takes an hour or two if you swallow it because the substances have to go through your digestive tract first, but that can be a more pleasant way to take it. The mint flavor goes well with tea!
Melatonin typically takes effect on first use, but CBD is a little more variable depending on the person. Try taking one serving before bed every night for 30 days and monitor how you feel. If you don’t want to take that much melatonin, try using other CBD products daily and adding CBD PM when you anticipate interruptions to your regular sleep schedule, such as long-distance traveling.
CBD and Melatonin: The Capsule Alternative
While the CBD PM tincture is what won the Product of the Year award and the athlete accolades, cbdMD also has a line of CBD PM Softgel Capsules that provide a similar formula of CBD oil and melatonin in a form that might be more convenient for some.
The capsules’ advantage is that they don’t spill as easily as a bottle of oil does, and the quantity of both CBD and melatonin is precisely the same in each softgel: 16.7 mg and 3 mg, respectively. The capsules are also fortified with vitamin E and, if you’re not into the mint flavor of the tincture, these have no flavoring at all.
Otherwise, the softgels have the same herbal ingredients as the tinctures, but the total amount of melatonin is lower – 90 mg per 30-count bottle. This decrease is due to chemistry, basically – the softgels can’t preserve their proper consistency with too much melatonin in them.
Also, the CBD PM tincture is a better option if you’re a strict vegetarian because the gelatin in the softgels comes from cows.
Always consult your physician before starting a regimen of CBD oil and melatonin. As noted above, they may interact with medications you might be on.
With CBD and melatonin combinations becoming more common, doctors also increasingly have first-hand accounts from their patients that might help guide you in what regimen will work best for you.
But if you get the all-clear, CBD and melatonin in the unique CBD PM blend might just be the combo of your dreams.
Experience CBD PM Yourself
Curious to try this Product of the Year yourself? Experience the unique product that combines the best of quality and innovation and see what CBD and melatonin can do for you!
Disclaimer: The cbdMD page contains general information about health, diet, lifestyle, and nutrition. Any information provided should not be considered or treated as medical advice and always consult a medical professional before making any lifestyle changes. Products and information mentioned on the cbdMD blog are not intended to be used as a substitute for medical diagnosis, advice, or treatment. Any links to third-party websites are provided as a convenience only and cbdMD is not responsible for their content.