CBN: An All-Natural Alternative to Sleep Aids

Struggling to get a good night’s sleep? You’re not alone: One study found that one in four Americans develop insomnia each year. We know relief can be hard to find-- and when you do find it, it often comes with tons of unwanted side effects. Luckily, there may be a more natural solution: cannabinol, or CBN, is a naturally occurring compound in hemp that could help you sleep at night. 

What is CBN?

CBN (the handy abbreviation for Cannabinol, not to be confused with its counterpart, CBD) is a compound found in cannabis that comes from aging THC. When a hemp plant is exposed to light and oxygen over time, the THC converts into CBN.  This is actually one of the only major cannabinoids that does not occur in significant levels during the life cycle of the plant, but increases after the plant has been harvested.

Many people have realized that when they consume cannabis they’ve had lying around for a while, it doesn’t actually give them the high they’re expecting to get from THC, but rather makes them sleepy instead. 

Many people have realized that when they consume cannabis they’ve had lying around for a while, it doesn’t produce as potent of a high as when it was fresh, but instead yields a lazy or thick high.  This is because not only are the essential terpenes lost from the plant, but the THC in the plant has had time to convert slowly into CBN.  THC and CBN when dosed together have been shown to increase the sedative nature of the high.  These interactions are known to have possible sedative effects as opposed to THC’s psychoactive ones. For this reason, CBN may work well as a sleep aid. 

An all-natural sleep aid alternative 

If you struggle with insomnia, you’ve probably tested out a number of over-the-counter and prescription remedies on your search for a better night’s sleep. As it turns out, CBN could be the all-natural, non-habit-forming solution you’re searching for.

CBN’s potential effects look promising: Studies show that “2.5mg to 5mg of CBN has the same level of sedation as a mild pharmaceutical sedative, with a relaxed body sensation similar to 5mg to 10mg of diazepam (Valium).”

While many sleep medications come with the possibility of dependence and a laundry list of unpleasant side effects (memory loss, hallucination, vomiting, depression, muscle cramps, and loss of appetite are just a few of the ones that come with the popular but highly addictive Ambien, for example), there are no known side effects of CBN. This makes it an ideal all-natural sleep aid, allowing for a risk-free restful sleep.

CBD, CBN, and other natural sleep aids: Match made in heaven

While CBN may work as a sedative on its own, its benefits will likely reach their full potential when it’s combined with other cannabinoids (like broad-spectrum hemp or CBD) and melatonin. This is thanks to something known as the entourage effect, which suggests that when combined, cannabinoids and terpenes (compounds found in essential oils) have a synergistic effect-- in short, they all work together to bring out the best in each other! 

That’s why all of our products at Barker Wellness include a combination of natural extracts alongside high quality broad-spectrum CBD oil: they’re carefully crafted to bring out the optimal results of each component. Our Sleep Tincture combines CBN, CBD, melatonin, and valerian root extract to help you find the rest you need. Thanks to all these calming ingredients, especially CBN, Sleep is just a few drops away!