Aromatherapy vs. CBD for Sleep
When aromatherapy began making waves among the public, it was likely due to its promise of many unique benefits. All you would have to do is inhale a little bit of Lavender essential oil, and it would induce relaxation and melt away your stress. Can't sleep? Well, traditionally you'd turn to Lavender again, or Roman Chamomile. And, with 50 to 70 million people in the U.S. of all ages struggling with sleep-related issues, it's no wonder you'd turn to aromatherapy of some sort to find relief.
But, what about CBD for sleep? Is there a positive link between cannabidiol and sleep disorders? Or is aromatherapy the better option?
Skeptical individuals might doubt the true ability of aromatherapy, just like they might doubt the ability of CBD-infused oil. After all, both are an alternative solution to pharmaceuticals that boast immense benefits. But, which is better? Maybe it's time to compare both, and see how they stack up against each other.
Your Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
First, you should get an understanding about your endocannabinoid system. Your ECS's main focus is creating the ideal balance within your body, often referred to as homeostasis. Your ECS releases and regulates various internal cannabinoids in response to internal or external stimuli that threatens to throw your body out of balance.
The ECS also works to regulate the cognitive and physiological processes linked with homeostasis, including:
- Mood
- Pain
- Sleep cycle
- Circadian rhythm
- Stress
- And more
So, how is this connected to CBD or aromatherapy?
CBD
CBD (cannabidiol) is one of many compounds or cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Concentrated mainly in the leaves, flowers, and stalks of the plant, it has shown huge potential for wellness and health. For quite a long time, people have been relying on hemp for paper, clothing, and as a way of supporting their emotional and physical well-being.
CBD-infused oil is fairly unique in that particularly when you use whole-plant extracts, it can contain various compounds that each have a unique effect on your ECS. Through this interaction, CBD has shown a lot of potential as an option of treatment for many health problems, including:
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Pain
- Sleep
- And more
For instance, there have been several studies conducted to study CBD for anxiety, which showed CBD as being a successful treatment for this condition, whether it helped with general anxiety, social anxiety, PTSD, or other types of anxiety.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is said to provide wellness and health benefits through the use of aromatic plant extracts (essential oils). Essential oils are the distilled, purified, and concentrated essence of a plant. However, there are other forms of aromatherapy that use whole botanicals, infusions, or decoctions.
Essential oils are used for a whole range of ailments. One essential in particular, Copaiba oil, is often compared to CBD-infused oil, although there are several others that share a similar Copaiba terpene profile, like Rosemary.
While some people do boast that aromatherapy has been the key to their health and wellness, some say it didn't do anything for them.
This is not to say aromatherapy is totally useless. In fact, aromatherapy could be a very useful component to supplement with your CBD oil routine. But, for savvy individuals, aromatherapy by itself isn't going to cure all their problems.
If it was really as simple as taking a whiff of the right scent, everyone's problems would have been solved years ago. But, those who do say it's changed their life, might want to consider the possibility that positive thinking had a little something to do with it. This is why supplementing your aromatherapy practices with CBD may prove to be more effective.
Take Advantage of the Calming and Sleep-Promoting Properties of a CBD-Infused Pillow
If you're struggling with problems sleeping or a sleep disorder (or any other health condition), a CBD pillow may help. The CBD-infused pillows contain CBD microcapsules that break when you rub your head and skin on the pillow. This releases microdoses of CBD into your system, which immediately go to work to promote better sleep (or ease your symptoms of another health condition).
You can rest assured CBD-infused pillows are high-quality, and contain no THC, so they won't make you "high." In fact, the CBD pillows come with no THC certification and CBD potency certification, which tells you they're strictly CBD. Try a CBD pillow for yourself, and see how well it helps induce a more quality, restorative sleep.