I have received dozens of first hand reports from individuals struggling to get a good nights sleep who ask about a natural sleep remedy. If you seldom drop down to a deep sleep that activates rapid eye movement, the chances of a successful recovery are limited regardless of any excellent treatment options you may have embraced.

After a long and arduous search I have at long last identified a natural sleep remedy designed to promote a restful nights sleep. My recommendation is presented next accompanied by recent research studies.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a a nonintoxicating molecule derived from the cannabis plant is garnering attention in recent studies as a natural sleep remedy.

Recent CBD (Cannabidiol) Sleep Studies

J Clin Sleep Med. 2025 Jan 1;21(1):69-80. Effects of a cannabidiol/terpene formulation on sleep in individuals with insomnia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover study

Abstract

Study objectives: Cannabidiol (CBD) is increasingly used as a health supplement, though few clinical studies have demonstrated benefits. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of an oral CBD-terpene formulation on sleep physiology in individuals with insomnia.

Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial, 125 individuals with insomnia received an oral administration of CBD (300 mg) and terpenes (1 mg each of linalool, myrcene, phytol, limonene, ?-terpinene, ?-terpineol, ?-pinene, and ?-caryophyllene) for ? 4 days/wk over 4 weeks using a crossover design. The study medication was devoid of ?9-tetrahydrocannabinol. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of time participants spent in the combination of slow-wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stages, as measured by a wrist-worn sleep-tracking device.

Results: This CBD-terpene regimen marginally increased the mean nightly percentage of time participants spent in SWS + REM sleep compared to the placebo (mean [standard error], 1.3% [0.60%]; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-2.5%; P = .03).

More robust increases were observed in participants with low baseline SWS + REM sleep, as well as in day sleepers. For select participants, the increase in SWS + REM sleep averaged as much as 48 minutes/night over a 4-week treatment period. This treatment had no effect on total sleep time, resting heart rate, or heart rate variability, and no adverse events were reported.

Conclusions: Select CBD-terpene ratios may increase SWS + REM sleep in some individuals with insomnia and may have the potential to provide a safe and efficacious alternative to over-the-counter sleep aids and commonly prescribed sleep medications.

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J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2025 Jul;47(7):102839. Cannabidiol Use and Perceptions of Effectiveness in Women With Chronic Pelvic Pain

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate cannabidiol (CBD) use in women with chronic pelvic pain and nociplastic pain, as represented by a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, including impact on pain and associated symptoms, substitutions for other medications, and side effects.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using data derived from an online survey distributed through the National Fibromyalgia Association between April and May of 2020. This secondary analysis was limited to participants with concurrent chronic pelvic pain diagnoses. Participants were asked about their history of CBD use and sub-grouped by use patterns.

Results: Of 1382 included participants, 501 (36.3%) were in the “Never Use” group, 404 (29.2%) were in the “Past Use” but not “Current Use” group and 477 (34.5%) were in the “Current Use” group. Of 477 participants in the “Current Use” group, 80.9% (n = 386) reported pain improvement. The most common indications for current CBD use were pain, insomnia, and anxiety. Participants who reported pain improvement were more likely to report improved sleep (P < 0.001), anxiety (P < 0.001), depression (P = 0.001), fatigue (P < 0.001), overall health (P < 0.001), and substitution of CBD for at least 1 other medication (P = 0.003) than those who reported no pain improvement. About half of the participants reported side effects, most of which were minor with the most common being drowsiness (n = 138, 29%).

Conclusions: Two-thirds of participants with concurrent chronic pelvic pain and fibromyalgia have used CBD. Improved pain with CBD use correlated with improvement in other symptom domains, such as sleep, mood, fatigue, and overall health. A large proportion of those using CBD reported substituting it for higher-risk medications.

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Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2025 Feb;242(2):297-308. The effect of nightly use of 150 mg cannabidiol on daytime neurocognitive performance in primary insomnia: a randomized controlled pilot trial

Abstract

Rationale: Cannabidiol (CBD) is increasingly used as a sleep aid for insomnia; yet neurocognitive and subjective state effects following daily therapeutic use are unclear.

Objectives: To measure the effect of daily CBD use on neurocognitive performance and daily subjective mood in a population with primary insomnia.

Methods: This study used a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel design incorporating a single-blind placebo run-in week followed by a two-week double-blind dosing period, during which participants consumed 150 mg CBD (N = 15) or placebo (N = 15) sublingually 60-minutes daily before bed. Attention, executive function, reasoning, information processing, working and episodic memory were assessed using the CogPro system at the beginning of the placebo run-in, after 1-week and 2-weeks of dosing. Subjective states using visual analogue scales and side effects were recorded daily.

Results: Cognitive performance was unaffected by nightly CBD supplementation (all p > 0.05). From baseline to trial conclusion, those receiving CBD reported greater experience of calmness, clear-headedness, coordination and were more likely to report side-effects of dry mouth relative to placebo (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Relative to placebo, daytime cognitive functioning following nightly supplementation as a therapeutic aid for primary insomnia was preserved under trial conditions. Results suggested an overall favourable safety profile.

Robert Rodgers PhD
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery ®
https://www.parkinsonsrecovery.com
robert@parkinsonsrecovery.com