How to Use CBD Balm for Better Sleep
Summarize
The skin is an organ that maintains its health by regulating homeostasis, a state of balance and equilibrium. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is critical to maintaining this healthy balance in the skin and many other systems throughout the body. Also critical is getting regular, quality sleep. When you do not get enough sleep or the quality of your sleep is poor, a chain reaction of events takes place. Some of these reactions can lead to skin issues because sleep is essential for maintaining skin temperature, blood flow, and hydration. A CBD balm is specifically formulated to promote relaxation and provide soothing skin support that helps the skin maintain homeostasis through interaction with the ECS and other skin support structures.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read):
CBD balms support skin homeostasis through interaction with the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Healthy, balanced skin supports a good night’s sleep. A CBD balm also supports sleep improvement by offering potential therapeutic value as a compound that may promote calmness and relaxation, providing relief, all of which can disrupt sleep.
Making the application of CBD balm for sleep a routine can be a valuable addition to any wellness regimen that promotes restful sleep.
Table of Contents
What is a Balm?
A balm is a substance made with wax, like beeswax, and various oils. It is thicker than a salve, which has more oil than wax. Since the CBD balm is thicker than a salve, it is longer-lasting and ideal for localized application. This means CBD in balms has more time to remain active on the skin.
It is now known that the ECS plays a crucial role in skin conditions characterized by symptoms such as itching. CBD balm may provide local analgesic, antibacterial, and other benefits through cannabinoid interactions with the ECS, while other balm ingredients support epidermal health in different ways.
CBD balms act externally. It is a skin-permeable phytocannabinoid. The depth to which a CBD topical penetrates the skin is influenced by the ingredients, but balm cannabinoids do not reach the bloodstream. The skin’s outer layer absorbs CBD, which then enters the pores, helping to keep the skin supple and healthy.
Although it does not penetrate the skin’s deeper layers, it can interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) receptors in the skin and contribute to skin homeostasis.
Since balms are thicker than lotions and salves, CBD and other hemp plant compounds have time to work more intensely on the skin. When CBD is taken orally, some of it is lost through normal metabolic processes. You get the full benefits of CBD in the balm. Applying a CBD balm delivers complete targeted relief to the skin.
How CBD Balms May Support Bedtime
As mentioned, researchers have discovered that the endocannabinoid system is present in the skin. Its primary purpose is believed to be to help the skin maintain its delicate balance through healthy cell production and maintenance. This, in turn, contributes to a healthy immune system that minimizes the risks of developing skin conditions.
What does the skin’s health have to do with sleep quality? Getting regular, high-quality sleep is crucial to the health of all organs, tissues, and systems in the body. Everything in the body is connected. The skin, an organ, has ECS receptors, and this system plays a role in sleep.
Itchy Skin Relief with Topicals
Dry, itchy skin that causes discomfort can disrupt sleep. Topical endocannabinoid applied twice daily for three weeks effectively eliminated pruritus (intense urge to scratch) in 38% of clinical project participants and significantly reduced it in 52% of them. It is believed that endocannabinoids may inhibit the production of cytokines or provide an analgesic effect.
Relaxation Through Massage
CBD promotes relaxation and calm, which can significantly contribute to better sleep. Just the act of massaging CBD balm into the skin can increase feelings of calmness, setting the stage for a restful night’s sleep.
Overnight Skin Nourishment
While sleeping, CBD balm applied to the skin may deliver numerous benefits, including skin nourishment by supplying antioxidants and omega-3s and omega-9s, as well as boosting the immune system to help maintain healthy skin.
Topical CBD is a potentially therapeutic compound that can provide measurable improvements in sleep quality. Researchers reported that people using 5% or 10% CBD gel (which contains no waxes, unlike balms, but is similar in CBD content) experienced similar positive results. CBD reduced muscle activity and improved sleep quality.
Think of Sleep Support as General Wellness
Incorporating a CBD balm into your skincare routine regularly is a beneficial addition to your skincare plan. Although it has a limited ability to enter the bloodstream, many state-of-the-art CBD balms are formulated to provide specific benefits that support sleep by addressing skin health issues, as well as promoting general wellness, muscle recovery, and calmness and relaxation.
Some CBD balm options include the following.
1. Choose a CBD spectrum.
Full spectrum CBD balm contains all the cannabinoids found in the hemp plant, including THC and cannabinol (CBN). CBN forms as THC breaks down in an aging hemp plant. Research has found it may contribute to better sleep, but it does so through its various effects via the ECS. Like CBD, CBN is an antioxidant and provides soothing skin relief. Multiple studies have found that it may protect cell mitochondria, provide analgesic benefits, and act as an antibiotic.
Research is limited, but combining CBD and additional CBN may enhance the entourage effect and address factors that cause sleep disruption. An extra amount of CBN is added to the balm to make a CBN sleep balm.
A broad spectrum CBD balm is the same as a full spectrum balm except that, at most, only a trace of THC remains. The broad spectrum products go through an additional processing step to remove THC. Isolate CBD balm is infused with pure CBD.
There are CBD topicals that contain additional THC, but no more than the legal amount of .3%. Together, they may provide significant relief, enabling better sleep.
2. Target general skin health.
There are different ways to pursue better sleep. Some CBD balms are specifically formulated with additional ingredients that promote sleep by enhancing general skin health. For example, a CBD balm for skin softening and smoothing is infused with CBD and various essential oils that have been proven to support skin health. A wide variety of oils is used in CBD balms, including eucalyptus leaf oil, sweet basil oil, and aloe vera leaf juice.
3. Target a skin wellness need.
There are also CBD balms that cater to various skin needs, focusing on specific wellness requirements. For example, a soothing CBD balm formulated for the relief and recovery of irritated skin may contain ingredients such as a combination of lanolin, menthol, capsaicin extract, and various oils, including jojoba seed oil and sweet orange peel oil. If you are experiencing a lot of tension, your skin is likely to suffer as well. A calming CBD topical may contain ingredients that promote reduced tension, such as sunflower seed oil, chamomile, lavender, and Anthemis nobilis flower oil. Tension is reduced, and skin health is improved.
Where to Apply CBD Balm for Sleep?
CBD balm can be applied wherever there is a need to improve skin health. A CBD balm has a consistency that makes it easy to apply to targeted areas.
1. Temples
Balms may help ease head tension and eye strain, and assist in unwinding. Gentle circular massage with a small amount of the product can promote calm and make it easier to drift off.
2. Neck
It may help relieve stiffness caused by prolonged screen use and reduce points that keep you alert. Relaxed neck muscles can lower overall arousal before bed.
3. Shoulders
It may loosen tight traps and upper-back knots that contribute to tension headaches. Less muscular tightness can support a smoother transition to sleep.
4. Chest
A light layer (especially with soothing essential oils) may encourage steady, relaxed breathing and a sense of ease. Calmer respiration helps set a bedtime mood.
5. Wrists
A quick, targeted application may help alleviate soreness caused by overuse from typing or mouse work. The light aroma during slow breaths can reinforce relaxation cues. A slow hand massage signals “wind-down” to your nervous system.
6. Abdomen
Gentle circular application may reduce surface tension and promote a settled, comfortable feel. Physical comfort supports fewer midnight awakenings.
7. Lower Back
It may help alleviate common bedtime discomfort caused by sitting or poor posture, allowing you to lie down comfortably. Reducing discomfort can lessen tossing and turning.
8. Hips
Targeted rub may relax overworked areas from walking or workouts. Local relief can help your body “let go” at lights-out.
9. Calves
It may help calm restless or tight calves after a long day on your feet. Looser lower legs support a heavier, more restful feeling in bed.
10. Feet
A gentle foot rub may help relieve fatigue and discomfort, signaling a state of full-body relaxation. Many people find this the most reliable cue for sleep.
When and How to Apply a CBD Balm?
To promote sleep quality, apply the CD balm approximately 30-60 minutes before bedtime, allowing the ingredients time to take effect. CBD balm for sleep should be used on dry, clean skin. Your pores are open after a hot shower, making it a good time for application. It allows more of the CBD balm to enter the pores for maximum benefit. Slowly massage the product into the skin to promote even distribution.
Tips for Ultimate Relaxation
Using a CBD topical for relaxation is one step in promoting improved sleep. The following are some tips to make the most of the experience.
1. Since CBD balm is thicker than CBD lotions or salves, start with a small amount. More can be added, if necessary, as you assess the results.
2. Balms are available in different CBD potencies per application. If trying a CBD topical for the first time, start with a low-potency CBD balm dosage, such as 10 mg of CBD per 1 milliliter of balm, for sleep. You can increase the potency over time as necessary to achieve the desired effects.
3. Developing a CBD sleep balm routine will deliver the best results.
4. Massage the balm into the skin for maximum protection. Use your fingertips to drive the soothing balm into the skin’s pores.
5. Breathe deeply and evenly as you apply the CBD balm to promote relaxation.
6. Buy a CBD balm from a company with a reputation for selling high-quality products that get high customer ratings and makes the Certificate of Analysis (COA) available for your review.
7. Choose a CBD balm that targets the condition disrupting your sleep, i.e., tense muscles, etc.
Learning how to use CBD balm at night is easy because it follows the same process as other topicals. The difference is that the balm is designed for use on specific areas of the skin, rather than the entire body, unlike body lotion.
Soothing CD Balm
When buying a CD balm, verify that the ingredients do not contain anything to which you may be allergic. Ensure the product does not contain any botanicals that may trigger an allergy. There are many CBD balms available today, and you can find brands selling products that are artificial color-free, wheat-free, gluten-free, etc. All of the benefits CBD balms deliver are important, but there is another reason to try a balm for sleep. Pampering yourself with a soothing CBD balm before bedtime is just a nice addition to any lifestyle.
Sources
- https://academic.oup.com/ced/article/48/10/1113/7191992
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10386449/#sec4-pharmaceuticals-16-01049
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7388834/#s9
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9210160/#s0016
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26517407/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10061782/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26517407/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40732351/
- https://www.cvresearch.info/cannabinol-cbn
Share this post
0