Many people struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep, or feel refreshed upon waking. If you’re one of the millions of adults who have trouble sleeping, cannabinol (CBN) helps. CBN is a cannabis compound that differs from the more well-known THC and CBD. Early research indicates CBN has sedative effects that make it a promising sleep aid.

1. CBN shortens the time to fall asleep

Do you spend upwards of 30 minutes or longer tossing and turning before you finally nod off? If so, CBN could help you fall asleep faster. In a small study, a 10mg dose of CBN reduced sleep latency. This means it took less time for the rats to fall asleep than with a placebo. Researchers think CBN binds to CB1 receptors in the endocannabinoid system. This interaction induces sleepiness. Anecdotal evidence from human CBN users supports the theory that it reduces sleep onset latency. People report feeling drowsy within 30 minutes to an hour of taking CBN oil. Being able to fall asleep more quickly leads to longer, higher-quality sleep.

2. Improve sleep maintenance

Do you frequently wake up throughout the night and have a hard time falling back to sleep? CBN helps you sleep through the night by improving sleep maintenance. The same study that found cbn for sleep decreased latency also found higher doses increased total sleep time. Getting uninterrupted sleep is important because sleep cycles impact how restful slumber is. Waking up routinely disrupts cycles and diminishes sleep quality. If CBN helps you sustain deeper sleep better, you’ll awaken feeling refreshed.

3. Increase slow wave sleep

The stage of sleep associated with the most physical and mental benefits is slow-wave sleep (SWS). Also called deep sleep, this phase is key for body repair, immune function, brain detoxification, and memory consolidation. Lack of deep sleep increases disease risk and impairs concentration. Excitingly, early animal research indicates CBN boosts time spent in SWS. By potentially increasing crucial deep sleep, CBN could optimize sleep quality. More SWS means you’ll wake up feeling refreshed.

4. CBN act as a sedative

CBN is possibly the most sedating cannabinoid. Early research finds it has potent sedative properties that promote sleepiness. Researchers found CBN increased self-reported sedation more than THC, CBD, or a placebo. Subjects felt very drowsy after taking CBN. This sedative effect explains why CBN reduces sleep onset latency and improves sleep maintenance. By acting directly on systems that regulate sleep-wake cycles, CBN quickly induces drowsiness to help you fall and stay asleep.

5. Improve breathing during sleep

CBN shows promise for improving breathing issues that diminish sleep. Most notably, it benefits those with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes breathing to stop intermittently throughout the night, resulting in low blood oxygen. Sufferers rarely reach REM or deep sleep because awakenings disrupt sleep architecture. This leads to chronic exhaustion. By stabilizing breathing, CBN could help those with sleep apnea and other respiratory conditions sleep better. If you frequently wake up gasping or with headaches, CBN is worth exploring.