CBN: All you need to know about the most promising sleep-promoting cannabinoid

CBN is a prominent cannabinoid in sleep-promoting cannabis products for its sedative properties and the low psychotropic potency that induces relaxation without the strong impairment that THC results in, while research on whether CBN disrupts rapid-eye-movement sleep (deep sleep) is very limited, evidence suggests it doesn’t, which makes this cannabinoid even more promising for its therapeutic effects, as the consensus would be that it helps to fall asleep, without disrupting deep sleep as THC does.

However, CBN (cannabinol), is actually formed through the degradation of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). When THC is exposed to air and a change of temperature, it undergoes a chemical process called oxidation and transforms into CBN. As a result older or improperly stored cannabis products with higher THC content may have increased levels of CBN.

It’s required to point out that these effects of CBN which are promising for health & wellness are still undergoing clinical trials, not to mention this cannabinoid’s therapeutic potential is not as studied as CBD or THC yet.

Other properties or effects of CBN include pain relief as there is some evidence that suggests that CBN has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Similar to THC, but opposite to THCV, CBN stimulates appetite and could be beneficial for individuals dealing with appetite loss or certain conditions that affect eating habits.

But the truth is, a CBN isolated as a concentrate wouldn’t necessarily be the best option within the whole spectrum of cannabis to treat insomnia, for instance. As the so-called ‘entourage effect’, the synergy produced by full spectrum cannabis products wouldn’t be achieved, as is the case with CBD isolate products or even RSO or THC concentrates. The term ‘full spectrum’ refers to a cannabis product that contains all the phytocannabinoids normally found in the plant of cannabis sativa.

Any cannabis enthusiast or curious individuals looking to improve their sleep patterns through cannabis most likely has seen that many extracts, tinctures, edibles, vapes, and all types of cannabis-derived products may include CBN and other compounds such as melatonin to enhance sleep.

So, in retrospect, CBN is a night-time cannabinoid, unlike CBD or CBG, or even CBV, which aren’t psychotropic but instead are neuroprotectors that contain mental clarity, as well as focus-enhancing properties.

When used as a topical, there is preliminary scientific evidence that suggests that CBN has anti-bacterial properties with the potential to combat infections.

Also, even more researched, is the potential for bone health. Preliminary studies on rats suggest that CBN may support bone health by promoting the growth of new bone cells and slowing down bone loss. Further investigation are required to determine its impact on human bone health though.

While CBN topicals may not directly induce sleep, anecdotal evidence suggests that people find relief from localized discomfort or tension by applying CBD-infused creams, balms, or lotions. This relaxation may indirectly contribute to improved sleep quality, as pain, stress, and anxiety are direct sleep disruptors.

While this educational article is not any form of medical advice, our team at Green Drop Health suggests that the most effective way to consume CBN is sublingual, as an extract, tincture, or CBN oil would give this cannabinoid the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier faster than an edible, and its effects would be more accentuated than smoking or vaping a CBN-rich cannabis strain.

The results from Green Drop Health’s CBN research conclude that an effective CBN product for an adult with insomnia would contain no less than 10mg per serving, and also a similar ratio of magnesium/melatonin and other cannabinoids to secure that entourage effect without compromising the sedative properties of these compounds with the psychoactiveness of these other cannabinoids. But again, this is no medical advice, it’s essential to contact your doctor in medicine or a healthcare professional, and even doing so a ‘perfect’ personalized verdict is pretty much impossible to be ‘prescribed’ at this early stage of knowledge around CBN and taking into consideration, as individual responses vary.

The overall effectiveness of all cannabis products is influenced by factors such as tolerance, metabolism, the presence of other cannabinoids and terpenes in the product, and dosage. As with any cannabis product/cannabinoid, it’s critical to start with a low dose and monitor how it affects you before adjusting the dosage.

While we consider CBN extracts a great supplement for sleeping purposes, such as magnesium or melatonin, we advise individuals looking to improve their sleep cycle to try to do it without any supplement, and instead incorporate natural holistic practices into their routine such as viewing sunlight in the morning to regulate the circadian rhythm, exercise, management of food consumption at night time, management of other substances that affect sleep such as caffeine, management of lights, temperature and other factors in one’s bedroom and more.

Thank you for reading this article, and for your interest in CBN and endocannabinology. Any questions feel free to comment here or reach out to me at max@greendrophealth.info and please follow us on Twitter.