Many people know about melatonin – it’s the hormone our pineal gland naturally releases at night to help us with our sleep. You will often find melatonin pills at your local market or pharmacy, and these can be bought over-the-counter with no prescription. People who have trouble falling asleep, or don’t receive a deep, quality sleep, will often lean towards melatonin pills as a supplement.
So what is CBN?
Although melatonin has been proven to be quite successful in its usage, many other alternatives exist on the market. One such alternative that has been gaining track recently is CBN. Also known as Cannabinol, CBN is one of the many chemical compounds that are commonly found in cannabis and hemp plants. CBN comes from the oxidation and decomposition of THC from a hemp plant; when THC is exposed to heat and oxygen, it converts to CBN. And, as per Zoe Sigman, a principal researcher at Project CBD, “The pharmacokinetics of CBN seems to be in between 1/6 and 1/10 of the potency of the CB1 receptor (cannabinoid receptor type-1) that THC is.” A seemingly less potent compound than THC, CBN could prove milder and more effective for sleep.
What does science have to say?
Though there haven’t been extensive studies on CBN yet, the current evidence is nonetheless promising – according to Cresco Labs, “CBN can be used effectively as a sleep aid or sedative. This cannabinoid has also been shown to help regulate the immune system and works to relieve the pain and inflammation caused by several conditions… Studies show that it can be used to reduce the intraocular eye pressure caused by glaucoma. CBN acts as an anticonvulsant, so it is also beneficial to patients suffering from seizure disorders including epilepsy.” In addition, they state that research has shown CBN to be effective in relieving symptoms from rheumatoid arthritis, seizures (including epilepsy), Crohn’s disease, and chronic postoperative pain. A study of CBN and delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, another commonly found compound in many hemp products, showed promise when CBN mimicked the effects of the combination of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol; the application of these compounds improved corneal muscle reaction in rabbits, lessened irritability and aggressiveness in sleep-deprived rats, and weakened the effects of catatonia and lengthened sleeping time in field mice. In one 2019 Brazilian study, 57 patients with anxiety were given placebos, 150 mg, 300 mg, and 600 mg doses of CBN. It was found that the patients that received the 300 mg doses had significantly reduced anxiety. Though the study was small, it suggested that the allocation of specific, optimized dose sizes could potentially be beneficial to patients in the future.
What about side effects?
As is with any supplement, vitamin, or other ingestible food, there are potential side effects. CBN has been known to cause diarrhea, tiredness (though you would probably be using it to sleep anyway), and may alter your diet or weight, depending on your intake and tolerance. Though no other significant side effects have been discovered, this is simply because there have not been enough studies to give any conclusive result. Please use CBN oil with moderation.
