Guide to Terpenes for Sleep
If you’ve ever used essential oils or a CBD product, you’ve probably come across something called terpenes. And although you might not realize it, terpenes are a part of your everyday life! These natural compounds do everything from help your food taste great to giving your garden a wonderful aroma.
And they can even help you sleep!
How terpenes help with sleep
Terpenes occur naturally in all sorts of plants—including cannabis and hemp. And some terpenes have been shown to help with sleep. Terpenes like myrcene, terpinolene, limonene and linalool are found in many natural sleep aids. But what exactly are these, and what do they do for your body?
What are terpenes?
Have you ever wondered what makes lavender smell so wonderful, or why citrus fruit has such a refreshing, crisp aroma?
Your answer is terpenes!
Terpenes are naturally occurring compounds in plants that produce those familiar scents. In addition to producing pleasant aromas, terpenes also help plants attract pollinators and repel predators. And in some cases—including the hemp plant—terpenes can be used to treat ailments like insomnia, chronic pain, and anxiety.
What do terpenes do for the body?
Different terpenes affect the body in different ways. Some terpenes are used as calming ingredients in essential oil used for aromatherapy. And others are used to treat inflammation and chronic pain.
When combined with parts of the hemp plant, some terpenes enhance the therapeutic effects of CBD. They help strengthen your endocannabinoid system, which regulates daily functions like sleep, mood, and appetite. This collaborative effort is known as the “entourage effect.”
What effects to terpenes have on sleep?
If you’ve ever suffered from insomnia or any other sleep disturbance, you know the importance of sleep. Fortunately, CBD has been shown to be an effective natural sleep aid to help you sleep well.
Some CBD products have a terpene profile designed to create a sedating effect to calm you and help you sleep. So whether your sleep issues are chronic or occasional, you can find a CBD terpene blend to help you sleep.
How terpenes enhance sleep products
Have you ever used essential oils to help you relax? Maybe you’ve added lavender to a bubble bath or put some lemon oil in your aromatherapy diffuser. The terpenes in these oils help calm you down. Similarly, you can find a sleep aid with a terpene profile from hemp and other plants to help you sleep.
Why do terpenes enhance sleep products?
Some terpenes are well known for their sedating effect. And these terpenes are often blended with other natural botanicals like CBD to produce a natural sleep aid. So if you’re searching for a natural way to get that all-important REM sleep, here are a few terpenes to look out for:
- Terpinolene
- Terpineol
- Myrcene
There’s a chance you’ve used these terpenes even if you haven’t realized it. And when these are combined with CBD and other components of the hemp plant, you have an effective natural sleep aid!
What sleep products can terpenes be paired with?
Terpenes are often added to sleep products for their calming sedative effect. And if you’re interested in adding the medicinal properties of CBD, you can easily find a CBD product for sleep that contains helpful terpenes.
Some of the most popular CBD products for sleep are CBD oils, edibles, and capsules. And if you’d rather not take CBD orally, you can also find products like CBD topicals, vape juice, and bath bombs.
What is the entourage effect, and how does it impact terpenes?
When you take a CBD product that includes natural terpenes from hemp and other plants, all of these compounds work together to strengthen your body and help you feel better. This teamwork is known as the entourage effect.
The entourage effect basically means that when you take multiple compounds together, you get a better medicinal benefit than you would if you took them individually. So research every CBD product before you try one, and make sure that the cannabidiol and terpenes will work together to help improve your sleep!
Best terpenes for sleep
One of the most frequently asked questions about CBD products to improve sleep is which terpenes are best to alleviate sleep disorders. Depending on a product’s terpene profile, it can either make you sleepy or more energetic. So it’s important to know which terpenes to take at bedtime and which are better suited for other parts of your day.
What terpenes make you sleepy?
Just like some terpenes make you sleepy, others can help boost your energy and enhance your mental focus. Three of the most common terpenes to help you relax and sleep are limonene, linalool, and myrcene. So if you’re looking for a natural sleep aid, make sure that your product contains some of these.
What is a high terpene percentage?
Each sleep aid will contain a different terpene profile. So how do you know what the percentages of CBD, terpene isolate, and other ingredients are best for you?
The answer is as unique as you are. Your reaction to cannabidiol and terpenes depends on factors like your body chemistry, weight, and tolerance to these natural compounds. So if you’re just starting out taking sleep aids, take a product that’s low in CBD and higher in terpenes that you’re more familiar with.
What strains of terpenes should you take for sleep?
The best terpene strains for sleep are the ones that help you relax and enhance your GABA functions. These include limonene, linalool, and myrcene.
Terpenes to avoid for sleep
There are different strains of cannabinoids and terpenes. And each serves its own purpose! While some strains are great for achieving that all-important restorative sleep, others are better for daytime use. And when you’re trying to find a natural remedy for your sleep problems, it’s important to know what to take and what to avoid at bedtime.
Which cannabinoids and terpenes will not help with sleep?
If you feel that your CBD product is not working, it’s possible that you’re using a product that’s designed to boost your energy rather than help you sleep.
The second thing to check is your product’s terpene profile. Limonene and linalool can help you relax and drift off to sleep. And terpenes like Pinene (from conifer trees) and eucalyptol (from eucalyptus) are often used as stimulants.
Each terpene affects each person differently. So when you’re searching for a CBD product you can use as a sleep aid, look into other users’ testimony about their favorite and least favorite terpenes. Ask your family and friends, and check online reviews for some tips!
What terpenes help with focus?
Remember the entourage effect? Well, that’s a factor in which terpenes help with focus!
Depending on the terpene profile of your product, some terpenes can either enhance focus or help you relax. For instance: terpenes like Pinene, eucalyptol, and humulene are normally used to stimulate your mind. But a terpene like limonene—which is an ingredient in some sleep aids—can improve your focus depending on what it’s mixed with.
Which terpenes will make you feel alert?
Stimulating terpenes like pinene and humulene can help you feel alert. So if you’re looking for help with your sleep disorder, it’s best to avoid these.
Instead, look for a CBD product that contain a blend of natural calming terpenes. These products are designed to relax you, keep you calm, and help you sleep.
Terpenes can help you sleep—and lead a happier and healthier life!
We believe that everyone should be able to live a great life without anxiety, insomnia, stress, and pain. And our products are made with natural components like plant-based terpenes to help you do just that!
Visit our website to find out how our custom-formulated CBD oils, gummies, and topicals can help you live your best life every day.