The Importance of Sleep to Your Overall Health - How CBD & CBDA Can Help

Posted by Flora Sophia on March 18, 2025

National Sleep Awareness Week comes around every March, so it is the perfect time to think about the role that sleep plays in our lives. Although often overlooked or taken for granted, sleep is one of the most important aspects of our overall health and wellness. Sleep is essential for everything in our bodies from immune function to skin health, and not getting adequate rest can have consequences to our well-being. In this blog we’ll take a deep dive into why sleep is so important, the science behind sleep, and how natural plant-based solutions like CBD and CBDA can support a better night’s sleep.

The Physical Health Benefits of Sleep

Sleep is critical for physical recovery and long-term health. During deep sleep the body begins important repair processes including muscle repair and tissue regeneration. Sleep has been shown to heal wounds and repair the heart and blood vessels in the circulatory system.

Sleep is also essential for immune function because your body produces cytokines during sleep, which are proteins that help fight infection and inflammation in the body. A lack of sleep can weaken the immune system, which leaves you more vulnerable to illnesses and allergens. This is why getting enough sleep can be the difference between fighting off a cold or waking up sick. Sleep is also crucial for maintaining your overall energy levels and fighting off fatigue. Without enough rest your body can struggle to stay alert and perform as needed throughout the day.

The Mental and Emotional Health Benefits of Sleep

Sleep also has a profound impact on mental and emotional well-being. Getting enough sleep improves mood stability, cognitive function, and mental clarity. During sleep the brain consolidates memories, processes emotions, and resets its neural connections. You’ve probably noticed how hard it is to focus when you are sleep-deprived, or how being tired can make you feel irritable and stressed. That’s because sleep plays a vital role in regulating your mood, cognitive function, and emotional well-being. When you don’t get enough sleep, your brain struggles to focus and your memory and decision-making abilities decline.

Sleep also impacts your mental health. Without proper rest, your emotional responses can be heightened, making you more prone to increased feelings of anxiety, stress, or depression. It’s during sleep that our brains process the day’s emotions and memories, which helps us wake up with a clearer mindset. When we don’t get enough sleep, our brain’s ability to perform these tasks is reduced, which can lead to “brain fog” and emotional imbalance.

Beauty Sleep

You’ve probably heard the term “beauty sleep,” and there’s more truth to the phrase than you might think. Sleep plays a key role in skin health by promoting cell repair and regeneration. During the night the body works to repair damaged skin cells and to produce collagen, which is the compound that helps maintain firm and youthful skin. Alternatively, chronic sleep deprivation leads to increased cortisol production (the stress hormone), which can result in acne, puffiness, and premature wrinkles. Getting enough sleep helps to reduce inflammation, increase skin elasticity, and maintain a healthy complexion.

The Science of Sleep

Sleep is a complex biological process that involves several stages. The most well-known stages are Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep and Deep Sleep, both of which offer distinct benefits to the body.

REM sleep is when the brain processes emotions, consolidates memories, and works through the emotional experiences of the day. It's essential for cognitive function and emotional well-being.

Deep sleep (also known as slow-wave sleep) is the stage where the body does the most physical repair. Muscles regenerate, growth hormones are released, and the immune system is strengthened.

Both stages are critical for the body’s overall functioning and health, and a good night’s sleep means cycling through these stages multiple times. If you’re not getting enough of either stage of sleep, your body and mind can suffer.

Sleep and Hormones

Our sleep cycles also play a role in regulating key hormones including cortisol (the stress hormone) and melatonin (the sleep hormone). Cortisol levels naturally decrease during sleep, which helps reduce stress and anxiety the following day. Melatonin, on the other hand, increases in the evening and signals to the body that it’s time to wind down and rest.

Disruptions to our sleep patterns can interfere with these cycling hormones, making it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. Balancing these hormones by getting good predictable rest is key to maintaining good sleep quality and boosting your overall health.

Consequences of Sleep Deprivation

Lack of sleep has a significant negative impact on the body and mind. Sleep deprivation can impair cognitive function, leading to memory problems, decreased attention span, and poor decision-making. It can also trigger mood swings, irritability, and emotional instability. Long-term sleep loss has also been associated with mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.

The body’s ability to fight infection is also compromised because lack of sleep weakens the immune system. Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to fatigue and an increased risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Prioritizing sleep is one of the simplest ways to maintain a healthy body and reduce your risk of long-term health issues.

How CBD and CBDA Can Support a Better Night’s Sleep

Cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) are both natural compounds found in hemp plants. CBD is known for its calming and therapeutic effects, while CBDA is the raw precursor to CBD that also occurs in hemp and has similar effects. Although CBDA doesn’t have the same widespread recognition as CBD, it also plays a role in supporting the body’s relaxation response.

CBD works by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which regulates various physiological processes including sleep, mood, and pain. CBD has been shown to help reduce stress, ease physical discomfort, and promote relaxation, all of which can improve sleep quality. CBD helps you unwind and prepares your body for restful sleep by calming the nervous system.

CBDA, although lesser-known than CBD, is thought to have its own unique benefits. The CBD that everyone knows and loves is actually the form that is derived when raw CBDA is heated, a process known as decarboxylation. To put it simply, CBDA is the rawest form of CBD that develops directly in the hemp plant. Many people report that consuming CBDA helps support deep relaxation and calmness in the body. While research on CBDA’s effects is still in its early stages, it may help with the underlying factors that contribute to sleep disturbances, such as stress, mood disturbances, and muscle tension.

The Entourage Effect and Sleep

When combined, CBD, CBDA, and other beneficial compounds found in hemp (like CBG, CBN, or THC) work together in what is known as the "entourage effect." This phenomenon occurs when multiple compounds in the plant work synergistically to amplify each other's therapeutic effects. “Full-spectrum” hemp products are those that contain all the trace compounds naturally occurring from the hemp plant, and they result in enhanced relaxation and a deeper, more restorative sleep.

CBD & CBDA Products for Sleep

CBD or CBDA-based products can be an excellent option to try if you're looking for a natural way to support your sleep. Our product line includes CBD gummies, tinctures, salves, and capsules that are designed to promote relaxation and support a restful night’s sleep. These products are easy to incorporate into your evening routine and provide a natural, plant-based alternative to over-the-counter sleep aids. Some of our customers favorites to assist with better sleep include our 35mg CBD+CBDA Tincture, our 60mg CBD Tincture or our 4 different CBD gummy flavors. For those who need their body aches to calm in order settle into better sleep, our Muscle, Joint, and Nerve Salve is a great sleep companion.

Herbal Ingredients for Sleep

For some, sleep may seem impossible and may require even more help beyond CBD and CBDA. Ingredients like valerian root, chamomile, and skullcap are have been used throughout history for their calming properties and aiding with sleep. Combining CBD with these herbs creates a potent and holistic, plant-based solution for those looking for better rest. These herbs are featured along with melatonin in our specifically formulated SLEEP Capsules.

Tips for Creating a Sleep-Friendly Routine

Establish a Consistent Sleep Schedule - One of the most effective ways to improve sleep is by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends. This helps regulate your body’s internal clock and improves the overall quality of your sleep.

Create a Calm Sleep Environment - You can get better sleep by keeping your bedroom cool, quiet, and dark. Consider using blackout curtains, a white noise machine, or an essential oils diffuser to reduce distractions and create a calm environment.

Avoid Screens Before Bed - The blue light emitted from phones, LED lights, and computer screens can cause interference with the sleep cycle by shifting your circadian rhythm and disrupting the production of melatonin in the brain. Put your screens away 30-60 minutes before bed time to help signal to your brain that it is time to sleep.

Stay stocked up on Flora Sophia products - Consistently incorporate your favorite CBD or CBDA product from us into your nighttime routine. Even if you have the rest of your routine dialed in, you may need that little bit of extra help - that is where we come in! While sporadic as-needed use of CBD may still help, for best results it is important to consume regularly and close to the same time every day so your body can properly adjust to the introduction of CBD.

Conclusion

Whether we realize it or not, sleep is what we rely on for nearly every aspect of our health. Sleep truly affects how we feel and function every day because it helps our body repair itself, boosts our immune system, and keeps our mind sharp. With National Sleep Awareness Week here, it’s the perfect time to pause and think about how we are sleeping. If you’re struggling to find good sleep, a natural plant-based solution like CBD could be just what you need to support better rest. Take a moment to reflect on your sleep habits, make a few adjustments, and embrace the idea that good sleep is the foundation for your health and happiness.

References

← Older Post