Why CBN and CBD Are the Perimenopause Sleep Power Duo
The years leading up to and following menopause—collectively known as the perimenopause transition—are a time of profound hormonal upheaval. For many women, this manifests as an unwelcome, persistent problem: disrupted sleep. If you're waking up in the early hours, struggling to fall asleep, or constantly dealing with night sweats, you are not alone. Research from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) indicates that up to 46% of women experience significant sleep difficulties during this phase.
As a result, many are seeking effective, natural solutions. This has put a spotlight on Cannabinol (CBN), a lesser-known cannabinoid touted for its potential sleep-promoting effects, especially when combined with Cannabidiol (CBD). This guide reviews the science, safety, and why the CBD/CBN combination offers a powerful, holistic approach to reclaiming your rest.
Why Perimenopause Steals Your Sleep
To treat insomnia effectively, it is essential to understand its underlying cause. Sleep disruption during perimenopause is complex and multifaceted, involving both direct hormonal effects and secondary symptoms.
The primary issue is the loss of restorative sleep, impacting everything from mood to mental clarity.
"Sleep helps your thinking skills stay sharp... learning new information, problem-solving, creativity, decision-making, focus, and concentration are all boosted when you get good quality sleep," says sleep expert and GP Dr. Louise Newson. "Sleep also helps your brain stabilise and regulate your emotions, so you don't overreact in certain situations."
Hormone changes during perimenopause interfere with your body's essential ability to repair and restore itself while you sleep.
Estrogen Decline: When estrogen levels drop, it makes your body less effective at controlling its temperature (poor thermoregulation). This causes hot flashes and night sweats that jolt you awake. Estrogen also helps manage brain chemicals that control when you sleep and wake up, so its decline directly messes up your natural sleep cycle.
Progesterone Decline: Progesterone naturally acts like a sedative, promoting calmness and deep sleep. When this hormone drops erratically, it becomes difficult to fall asleep in the first place (insomnia), and the sleep you do get is lighter and easily broken up (fragmented rest).
Sleep expert Dr. Fiona Baker confirms that the most common complaint in this phase is "waking up during the night and having difficulty going back to sleep."
Hormonal Fluctuations: Impairs the body’s ability to regulate temperature and maintain the natural sedative state, leading to night sweats and lighter sleep.
Anxiety & Stress: Leads to racing thoughts and hyper-vigilance, preventing the mind from relaxing into sleep.
Minor Aches & Pains: Inflammation and joint discomfort common during this phase can make it physically difficult to settle down.
These changes are often compounded by increased anxiety, stress, and racing thoughts that keep the mind hyper-vigilant during the night.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, women experience more severe depression symptoms, greater trouble sleeping at night, a higher degree of difficulty concentrating, and excessive daytime sleepiness when they're routinely missing out on sleep.
CBN, CBD, and the Science of the "Entourage Effect"
While CBD has soared in popularity for its calming benefits, Cannabinol (CBN) is the emerging star often dubbed the "sleepy molecule." CBN is formed when Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) naturally degrades after prolonged exposure to heat and light.
CBN's Mechanism: The Gentle ECS Interaction
Both CBD and CBN promote better sleep by gently interacting with your body’s Endocannabinoid System (ECS), the master regulator for mood, pain, and sleep cycles.
CBD (Cannabidiol): Primarily used to promote a sense of calm and relaxation, helping to ease the anxious mind that prevents sleep onset.
CBN (Cannabinol): Believed to specifically help you maintain sleep and reduce disturbances, offering relief from those frustrating 3 a.m. wake-ups. The link between CBN and sleep has been largely anecdotal; however, recent preclinical studies are confirming its benefits.
In 2024, scientists at the University of Sydney became the first to use objective measures to show CBN increases sleep in rats. Professor Jonathon Arnold, Director of Preclinical Research at the University of Sydney's Lambert Initiative, stated: "CBN was found to increase both NREM and REM sleep, leading to increased total sleep time, with a comparable effect to the known sleep drug zolpidem.”
The Entourage Effect: The Supercharged Formula
The most effective strategy utilizes the Entourage Effect. This theory suggests that the various compounds in the whole hemp plant—cannabinoids like CBD and CBN, plus terpenes (aromatic oils) and flavonoids—work together to produce an effect that is greater than the sum of their individual parts.
By combining CBD (for calm) and CBN (for maintenance) with calming terpenes like Linalool, the formula works on multiple fronts to address the full spectrum of perimenopausal sleep issues—from the racing mind to the physical discomfort of inflammation.
Opal & Joy's Rest Perimenopause Sleep Support
At Opal & Joy, we understand that sleep challenges—especially those linked to perimenopause, anxiety, or racing thoughts—require a targeted and potent solution. That’s why we created Rest Perimenopause Sleep Support, a clinically-formulated supplement designed to address the root causes of restless nights.
What Makes Rest So Effective?
Our Rest formula is specifically formulated to support your body's endocannabinoid system to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. It does this by combining the powerful effects of the two star cannabinoids:
Full-Spectrum CBD (25mg per serving): To calm the nervous system, ease anxiety, and promote a sense of well-being, helping your body relax into sleep. A Harvard survey indicated that 67% of perimenopausal women found cannabis-derived products like CBD helpful for sleep disturbances.
CBN (5mg per serving): Known as the "sleepy molecule," CBN is included to help you maintain sleep throughout the night and reduce disturbances, so those 3 a.m. wake-ups become a thing of the past.
Linalool Terpene: The calming linalool terpene works with the CBD and CBN to maximize the Entourage Effect, enhancing deep relaxation and the overall synergistic benefit.
Rest is formulated to support your natural sleep cycle without melatonin, which can often disrupt sleep architecture. Instead, it works with your body's own system for longer, more restorative sleep.
Safety, Dosage, and Responsible Use
A safety-first approach and professional consultation are mandatory before starting any new supplement.
Important Safety and Drug Interaction Warning
Before introducing Rest or any CBD/CBN product into your regimen, you must consult with a qualified healthcare provider or a cannabinoid specialist. Like many cannabinoids, CBD and CBN are processed by the cytochrome P450 enzymes in the liver. This means they could potentially affect the metabolism of certain prescription medications, including some for high blood pressure, cholesterol, anxiety, and depression.
Practical Guide: Dosing and Timing
The most effective strategy is to start low and go slow. The standard dose in Opal & Joy's Rest is 25 mg of CBD and 5 mg of CBN per serving. For best results, take your supplement 30 to 60 minutes before you want to be asleep. This allows ample time for the compound to be absorbed and begin interacting with your ECS as you wind down for the night.
Reclaim Your Rest Today
Tired of counting sheep and dreading the middle-of-the-night wake-up call? It’s time to stop surviving and start thriving with real, restorative rest. By harnessing the power of CBD and CBN in a synergistic formula, you can address the root causes of perimenopausal sleep disruption and regain your focus and clarity.
Click here to try Opal & Joy's Rest Perimenopause Sleep Support and get the deep, uninterrupted sleep you deserve.