SerpApi.Org
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally occurring compound found in cannabis. Unlike THC, it is not intoxicating and does not produce the “high” typically associated with cannabis. CBD interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system, which is a network of receptors involved in regulating things like mood, pain, sleep, appetite, and immune response.
People often supplement with isolated forms of CBD due to its potential benefits. Research is currently mixed, but some of the strongest evidence is on CBD’s effects on anxiety, chronic pain, and sleep.
CBD is usually ingested by vaping or swallowing it in either pill or liquid form. But a new study set out to test CBD supplementation in a unique way.
Researchers tested whether a pillow cover coated with CBD could improve sleep quality. The idea was that CBD absorbed through the skin overnight (rather than swallowed or vaped) might reduce sleep problems common among shift workers. Fifty-five shift-working nurses participated in the study.
The study ran for four weeks. Sleep length and quality were measured using a self-report questionnaire (PSQI) and a Fitbit wristband tracking actual sleep stages. They also tracked daytime sleepiness (ESS) and anxiety/depression (HADS).
The results were modest at best. The biggest changes were in subjective scores like anxiety and self-reported sleep quality. Objective sleep barely changed. Fitbit data showed only small, statistically non-significant increases in light sleep (+10 min) and deep sleep (+2 min).
The study had a number of limitations. There was no control group sleeping on pillows without CBD for a true comparison. It was only a two-week intervention as well. It’s also unclear if the CBD was even able to penetrate the skin and circulate systemically.
Overall, this pilot study offers an intriguing but far-from-conclusive look at a novel way to deliver CBD. The improvements in self-reported anxiety and sleep quality are worth noting, but the lack of meaningful change in objective sleep tracking data, combined with the absence of a control group, makes it hard to say whether the CBD-coated pillow itself was responsible for the results. Credit to the researchers for trying something unique, but more studies need to be conducted before we say anything definitive.
