A Good Night’s Sleep—Essential for Full Body Restoration

When looking at the word restoration, REST is the first four letters of this essential pursuit. As clinicians treating patients with sleep disorders, we invariably look to restore homeostasis, whether it be hormone therapy, metabolic health, brain health, cardiovascular performance, musculoskeletal function, or stress/adrenal dysfunction. Research shows poor sleep is involved in many of these aspects of health, including increased risk of Alzheimer’s,¹ high blood pressure,² and diabetes.³

One of the most common reasons many of my patients are plagued by sleep disturbances is pain. In this article, we’ll look at how pain affects sleep and a protocol I use to decrease pain and inflammation and promote a good night’s rest.

How Pain Affects Sleep

Patients who suffer from pain experience sleep problems. Pain often flares up at night, and certain sleeping positions can exacerbate the pain. Being uncomfortable while sleeping leads to waking up frequently. Additionally, many patients dealing with pain are on medications that cause side effects that interfere with sleep.

The ironic thing is that getting enough shuteye can improve pain. Sleep loss, on the other hand, causes inflammation. People in pain who don’t sleep well have more intense pain and greater levels of disability.⁴

Usefulness of CBD, Beta-Caryophyllene, Melatonin, and Curcumin

In my clinical practice, I’ve found that four ingredients offer synergistic support for sleep. These ingredients are CBD, Beta-Carophyllene, Melatonin, and Curcumin.

Cannabidiol (CBD), Pain Relief and Sleep

Research has shown that CBD supports a good night’s rest by:

• Improving sleep quality,
• Reducing occasional stress to promote healthy sleep, and
• Supporting a healthy pain response.

In one study, people who received 160 mg CBD slept more and awakened less during the night compared with the placebo.⁵ Another study found similar results when investigating the effects of CBD in 103 patients.⁶ CBD enhanced sleep quality in 66.7% of participants.

CBD works through the endocannabinoid system, which promotes restful sleep by regulating your body’s internal clock.⁷ It also calms the central nervous system.⁶

CBD also can soothe stress. In a double-blind study, 57 healthy males were given oral CBD at doses of 150 mg, 300 mg, or 600 mg or a placebo before a public speaking test.⁸ Compared with the placebo, 300 mg of CBD caused a significant decline in stress during the speech. In another study, 600 mg of CBD before a public speaking test significantly reduced stress, cognitive impairment, and discomfort in speech performance.⁹

One of the most interesting aspects of CBD is that it may support a healthy and normal pain response. In one study, 53% of 97 patients reduced or eliminated opioid use within eight weeks after beginning supplementation with a CBD-rich hemp extract.¹⁰ Nearly all the patients who used CBD had improved quality of life, including improved sleep quality.

Beta-caryophyllene

Beta-caryophyllene (BCP) is a terpene that governs the activation of one of the two primary receptors in the endocannabinoid system. It is found in many herbs, including lavender, and is thought to play a role in lavender’s ability to help people sleep longer.

BCP promotes a healthy inflammatory and pain response.^11,12 This antioxidant is also calming and can promote relaxation and sleep.¹³

Melatonin

Melatonin is one of the most well-known supplements for supporting a healthy circadian rhythm. It also plays a role in the way we perceive pain.¹⁴

Melatonin levels often drop for the following reasons:

• Age
• Disease
• Exposure to light
• Problems with melatonin receptors

In older adults, 5 mg of melatonin significantly enhanced sleep efficiency during the day and night.¹⁵ Melatonin accomplished this by lengthening the duration of stage 2 non-rapid eye movement sleep and slightly reducing the amount of wakefulness during the night.

Melatonin may be beneficial for:¹⁶

• Circadian rhythm sleep disorders in the blind
• Delayed sleep phase (delayed sleep-wake phase sleep disorder)
• Reducing the time it takes to fall asleep, especially in older adults
• Jet lag, including improved alertness and daytime sleepiness
• Shift work disorder

Non-sleep-related benefits of melatonin include:¹⁷

• Antioxidant protection
• Healthy aging
• Immune support
• Defending against metabolic disorders

Curcumin Protects Against Lack of Sleep

When used together with CBD, BCP, and melatonin, curcumin is an excellent choice to support a healthy inflammatory response, reduce pain, and defend against the negative consequences of sleep loss. In several studies, curcumin prevented brain changes caused by chronic sleep deprivation in rats.^{18 19-21} In a study of mice given curcuminoids, the animals fell asleep faster and slept more deeply.

In a human study, curcumin improved sleep quality and had antioxidant actions in people with type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.²²

Enhanced Absorption

All the ingredients mentioned in this article need to be absorbed well to work effectively. For example, CBD has limited oral bioavailability because it’s fat-soluble and has extensive first-pass metabolism. CBD absorption also can vary among different individuals. I recommend a type of technology known as VESIsorb®, which improves absorption and bioavailability. A human study found CBD using VESIsorb® technology was 4.4 times more bioavailable than CBD not using the technology.²³

Sleeping Well for Better Health

Proper sleep is essential to every aspect of health. How well a patient is sleeping is an important foundational topic to bring up during an initial examination. In my clinical practice, I use a synergistic combination of CBD, beta-caryophyllene, melatonin, and curcumin to support restful sleep in patients and to reduce any pain that’s interfering with their rest. This combination effectively gives patients restful slumber and restores their well-being.

References

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