CBD made its way into the mainstream of culture years ago, but what about CBN? Even those who know and love CBD often overlook this cannabinoid cousin, which shares more with CBD than it doesn’t.
What, exactly, is CBN, and why should you try Colorado Botanicals CBN sleep oil if you’re in need of a good night’s rest? Discover the answers in this guide.
What Is CBN?
Cannabinol (CBN) doesn’t appear in cannabis or hemp at harvest, but it’s nonetheless one of the most abundant cannabinoids. That’s because it appears as THC oxidizes — losing its intoxicating properties, THC can become CBN due to a wide variety of different stressors, most commonly age or ultraviolet light.
For years, illicit growers of cannabis noted that the older the flower, the sleepier it made them feel. Modern scientists now believe this may be due to the higher CBN content in aged cannabis, an anecdotal benefit that has become the subject of ongoing research.
CBN vs. CBD
CBN and CBD may have different origins, but they are quite similar when viewed objectively. Neither cannabinoid is intoxicating, for instance, and both are considered to be relaxing.
In comparison to CBD, CBN is so relaxing, in fact, that most users recommend avoiding it until the nighttime hours. Accidentally nodding off isn’t usually as much of a concern with CBD, seemingly indicating CBN as the best cannabinoid for sleep.
One way CBN and CBD are entirely different is how they interact with your endocannabinoid system. CBD does not activate conventional cannabinoid receptors at all, but CBN does — just not to an intoxicating extent. If there’s any merit to the benefits of CB1 and CB2 activation for sleep, therefore, CBN may be preferable to CBD.
Is CBN Good for Sleep?
More studies continue to be proposed, but current research is inconclusive on the subject of CBN and sleep. All the theory is in place, and it’s backed up by plenty of anecdotal evidence. Until more peer-reviewed studies are published, however, it will be difficult to make any definitive determinations regarding the effectiveness of CBN for sleep.
Until that point, we must simply lean on the expert advice of individuals who have used CBN, who nearly universally indicate that this cannabinoid is not only good for sleep but that it’s even better at promoting sleep than CBD. Research indicates that there is little or no risk in adding CBN or CBC to existing CBD regimens for sleep, and countless customer reviews suggest there’s plenty of merit to this line of inquiry.
What Is CBN Sleep Oil?
There are many ways to add CBN-rich cannabis extract to finished products, but the most common option is combining CBN extract with a suitable base (such as MCT oil) to make CBN oil, also known as a CBN tincture. The epitome of simplicity whether you want to add CBN to a drink or administer it under your tongue while you lay in bed, CBN sleep oil makes it easy to choose your own dose, and most preparations have a mild flavor.
Should I Try CBN Oil for Sleep?
Just as CBD taught us that THC is far from the be-all, end-all of cannabis, cannabinoids like CBN are showing that the story doesn’t end with CBD either. All told, there are now around a dozen different cannabinoids under close scrutiny for various potential medicinal applications, a situation that would have seemed unthinkable just a few decades ago.
Nowadays, we have the luxury of choosing between cannabinoids based on our specific desires. If all you want is to get to sleep at night and stay sleeping, a cannabinoid like CBN might be just the ticket.
The beauty of cannabinoids is that they are not mutually exclusive. Unlike prescription medications, which often conflict with each other, cannabinoids are designed to work together. Therefore, it doesn’t matter as much whether CBD or CBN is the best cannabinoid to use for sleep — why not try a product that includes both?