It’s that time of year again: time to get confused over whether the clocks are going backwards or forwards and figuring out whether that means we lose or gain an hour. Unfortunately, on this occasion, it is the latter. On Sunday, March 31st at 01:00, the clocks will once again go forward marking the beginning of Daylight Saving Time (DST). That means less time in bed and a shock to our sleeping pattern in the days to follow. But is there something that can help with this disruption?

In this article, we’re assessing whether CBD could help us adjust to DST.

Daylight Saving Time, also referred to as Daylight Savings Times and Summer Time, is a practice observed in a number of countries around the world, including Canada, the USA, Australia, Chile, and across Europe. It was first suggested in the USA in 1784 by Benjamin Franklin to economise on candle usage. Several more countries considered the idea over the next century and a half but it wasn’t until the UK and other countries in Europe adopted DST in 1916.

The general idea of DST is to advance clocks in the summer months so that darkness falls later, simply to make better use of the daylight time available. But while this does give us what feels like longer days in the summer, it can take some time to get used to the change.

While one hour may not seem like it could have much of an effect on our bodies and health, there is growing evidence to suggest that many of us notice a difference in the days after we put the clocks forward. The fact is that this disruption to our sleeping pattern – no matter how minor it may seem – can cause us to feel groggy and anxious.

In fact, according to a survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), 55% of Americans experience tiredness following the switch to DST. Other data suggests that the disruption caused by DST can even lead to heightened health risks, including heart attack and stroke! Sleep disturbances are also associated with changes to our mood and elevated production of inflammatory markers. So how could CBD help?

Cannabidiol (CBD) has become an extremely popular health and wellness ingredient in recent years, with the compound now available in the form of CBD oils, CBD edibles, and more! While more clinical evidence is needed before real recommendations can be made regarding the health potential of CBD, anecdotal evidence shows that consumers are turning to CBD for a variety of reasons. 

For example, a recent study found that the two most common reasons for using CBD in the UK were self-perceived anxiety and sleep problems – both of which have been linked to DST. But could it really work?

Well, CBD is one of a number of compounds – called cannabinoids – that are able to interact with our endocannabinoid system (ECS). This receptor system, which is expressed throughout our immune system and central nervous system has been shown to influence many important processes, including mood regulation. 

In recent years, a growing number of studies have aimed to determine whether modulation of the ECS by cannabinoids such as CBD could effectively improve various conditions, including anxiety and sleep disorders. While more high-quality data is undoubtedly needed, preliminary findings are promising. 

For example, a 2015 review which aimed to determine CBD’s potential as a treatment for anxiety, concluded that “existing preclinical evidence strongly supports CBD as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.”

Furthermore, another study of individuals with sleep and anxiety concerns found that CBD use was associated with a decrease in anxiety scores in 79.2% of patients and with improved sleep scores in 66.7% of patients. With results like these, it’s no wonder a record number of people are turning to CBD drinks, drops and edibles to help manage sleep and anxiety – whether linked to Daylight Saving Time or not!