Most of Big Pharma’s sleeping pills are a pathetic failure. They just don’t work. In fact, recent studies show that if you take one of these sleep aids, you might get an additional 30 minutes of shut-eye. Another study underwritten by the National Institutes of Health found popular prescription sleeping pills only give you about 11 minutes of extra sleep. Just 11 to 30 minutes — and in exchange, you expose yourself to a host of serious side effects.
I’m talking about memory loss, rapid heartbeat, depression, and muscle cramps, among others. And did I mention many of these prescription sleep aids are also quite addictive? Patients trying to get off them experience “rebound insomnia.” Their sleep problems end up worse than whatever drove them to take the pills in the first place.
Then there’s the latest sleep drug approved by the FDA. This one belongs to a class of drugs known as dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORA). These pills are marketed as better than other insomnia medications because they don’t cause sleepiness, confusion, or cognitive impairment the next day.
But the exact opposite is true. A recent study found that volunteers who took a DORA felt so tired the next day they had to stop driving immediately. Others reported getting into an accident. Additional participants reported hallucinations or sleep paralysis.
Despite their dangerous side effects, most of Big Pharma’s sleeping aids only provide a measly few minutes more sleep each night. Studies found that those who slept less than six hours developed a:
48% increase in the incidence of coronary heart disease
30% increased risk of dementia
15% increase in the incidence of stroke
17% higher risk of diabetes
95% increase in depression
750% higher risk of obesity
For a long time, we didn’t understand how lack of sleep could age us so much. Now we know it’s connected to our telomeres. Those are the little caps on the ends of your chromosomes. Each time your cells divide, these telomeres get a little shorter, and your cells get closer to the end of their life. Short telomeres are also associated with most chronic diseases we associate with aging... from cancer to heart disease.
But a good night’s sleep keeps your telomeres long. Harvard researchers measured telomere length in 4,117 women. Compared with women who got the most sleep, those who slept six hours or less per night had a 12% decrease in telomere length. That change is equivalent to 9 years of biological aging!
You Don’t Need Big Pharma’s Addictive Sleep Meds
There are plenty of safe, natural sleep-aid alternatives that are quite effective. I frequently recommend CBD for my sleep deprived patients. It works so well that it might put Big Pharma’s pill mills out of business.
But CBD has a powerful “cousin” that doesn’t get the attention it deserves... I’m talking about cannabinol, or CBN. This newly discovered cannabinoid is proving to be a powerful sleep agent because it interacts with special receptors in your body that cause sedation.
In a brand-new study researchers studied the sleep cycles of rats — including REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM (NREM) sleep. They found that CBN increased both REM and NREM, leading to increased total sleep time and improved sleep quality.
The results were as effective as the Big Pharma sleep aid Ambien, but without the dangerous side effects. As you know, Ambien can cause dizziness, headache, depression, and anxiety. It can lead to suicidal thoughts, memory loss, and hallucinations. Some people report sleepwalking, and even unconscious sleep-eating or sleep-driving. And because the drug stays in their system longer, elderly patients have increased risks, including cognitive and balance issues, next-day drowsiness, drug dependence, and dementia.
CBN is a byproduct of THCA, which is a precursor to THC. But CBN does not produce intoxicating effects. It works by binding to CB1 receptors but at only one-tenth the strength of THC.
A friend of mine who tried it said it worked so quickly he couldn’t even get upstairs to bed and ended up sleeping peacefully on the living room couch all night. I tried it, and I agree it works faster than anything I’ve taken before. But unlike my friend, I was able to get into bed before it kicked in. While the participants in the study I mentioned took 20 mg, I recommend taking 10 mg about an hour before bed. If it’s not enough, take another 10 mg.
CBN’s Benefits Go Far Beyond Sleep
Sleep isn’t the only health benefit of cannabinol. Research shows CBN:
Can Relieve Serious Pain: Research indicates CBN blocks sensory neurons that transmit pain impulses to the brain. A study found CBN provides analgesic relief for chronic muscle pain and fibromyalgia.
Protects The Brain: Recent research shows CBN offers neuroprotective properties when it comes to disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and traumatic brain injury. A study by researchers at the Salk Institute found that CBN-based compounds protected the brain against neurodegeneration as well as aging.
Acts As A Powerful Antibiotic: Early studies show CBN has antibacterial properties. In one study, less than 2 micrograms per mL of CBN could effectively prevent the spread of the gram-positive bacteria MRSA. It was especially effective at stopping the bacteria from growing on hard surfaces.
May Stop Cancer Growth: Promising research indicates CBN has the ability to slow or stop the growth and spread of cancer cells. It works by stopping production of cytokine signaling molecules in the immune system. CBN was also found to reduce tumor size in one type of lung cancer.
Build New Bone: Research suggests that CBN can stimulate the formation of new bone by activating stem cells that generate bone cells.
Reduces Risk Of Glaucoma: CBN may help lower intraocular pressure (IOP), a key factor in the development of glaucoma. Early research also suggests CBN may offer neuroprotective benefits by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the optic nerve.
4 More Natural Aids To Help You Fall Asleep And Stay Asleep
CBN is a great natural product for helping sleep soundly and deeply all night long. But if you need help falling asleep fast, I recommend adding a couple of natural sleep aids that work together with CBN:
Take A Tiny Amount Of Melatonin: Melatonin helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle. Unfortunately, most people take way too much of this hormone. A study shows you only need 0.3 mg for restful sleep. The usual dosage recommendation is 10 times that amount. And taking too much causes receptors in the brain to become unresponsive. I suggest using a liquid or spray about half an hour before bed.
Get More Magnesium: Many people diagnosed with sleeping disorders are deficient in this mineral. Magnesium promotes better sleep by helping to regulate the nervous system and promote muscle relaxation. It does this by activating GABA receptors, which calm the nervous system. Studies on older adults found that magnesium supplementation improved sleep efficiency and reduced early morning awakening. I recommend supplementing with 1,000 mg a day. The most absorbable forms are magnesium citrate, glycinate, taurate, or aspartate.
Try L-Tryptophan: It’s one of the most effective natural sleep aids I know of. Your body uses it to help make melatonin and serotonin. The FDA banned it for a time in 1990 based on an erroneous link to a rare disorder that was actually caused by a manufacturing contamination, not the supplement itself. I suggest a starting dose of 250 mg half an hour before bedtime. If that doesn’t produce good quality sleep, increase the dose to 500 mg.
Fight Insomnia With This Mushroom: Consuming reishi mushrooms can help you reach deep, restful sleep in as little as three days. Researchers determined that the mushrooms “significantly increased total sleep time and non-rapid eye movement sleep”. Reishi has an incredible ability to calm the nervous system and promote a state of deep relaxation. I recommend 1 to 3 grams taken about 30 to 60 minutes before bed.
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