Fed up of being fed BS from the wellness world?
Let’s talk facts: CBD - what the science actually says
Over the last few months, we’ve shared a lot on social media about the growing ‘wellness overload’ happening across the UK from dietary advice around protein bars and powders replacing real meals, to collagen marketed as miracle fixes to our joints and skin, to electrolyte sachets becoming an everyday necessity for people who aren’t actually dehydrated.
The truth is, many of these products were originally designed for very specific purposes: athletes training intensely for a competition, endurance recovery or short-term performance support when building up to a specific event. They were never intended to become permanent daily crutches or substitutes for balanced nutrition, sleep, hydration and lifestyle habits. And many trends, even including recommended daily exercise regimes, are NOT sustainable. If you’re not an athlete, calm the f&*k down. None of this pressure is helping our nervous system and just the stress of it all raises our cortisol levels. Which, guess what, negatively affects our sleep.
That’s why at The Tonic we believe wellness should be sustainable, informed and grounded in real evidence, not trends. One area where scientific interest is growing rapidly, however, is CBD, despite the constant attempts to restrict the industry here in the UK.
Unlike many wellness fads fuelled mostly by marketing, CBD (cannabidiol) has become the subject of extensive medical and scientific research, particularly around sleep, stress regulation, inflammation and the body’s endocannabinoid system. So what does the science say? (all the scientific reference papers to which we refer are at the end of this article)
CBD and sleep: why researchers are interested
One of the most studied areas of CBD research is sleep support. A 2023 review published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research examined the use of CBD in managing insomnia and sleep difficulties. Researchers found that CBD may help improve sleep quality in some individuals, particularly when anxiety, stress or nervous system overstimulation are contributing factors.
Importantly, the researchers also noted that CBD doesn’t appear to work like traditional sedatives. Instead, scientists believe it may support the body’s own regulatory systems involved in stress response, relaxation and sleep cycles.
Another major review published in Sleep Medicine Reviews explored how cannabinoids interact with circadian rhythm, REM sleep, nervous system signalling and sleep latency (how quickly we fall asleep). The findings suggest that cannabinoids may influence several biological pathways linked to healthy sleep regulation.
The endocannabinoid system: the body’s regulation network
Much of the current scientific focus centres around the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is involved in regulating sleep, mood, stress response, appetite, inflammation, immune signalling and overall balance within the body. Researchers are particularly interested in how CBD may interact with this system to help support homeostasis - the body’s ability to maintain internal stability.
A 2024 molecular review titled Cannabinoids and Sleep: Exploring Biological Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potentials highlighted how CBD may influence cortisol and stress signalling, serotonin pathways, inflammation and nervous system regulation.
While research is still ongoing, the scientific conversation around CBD is far more nuanced and evidence-led than many wellness trends currently dominating social media.
CBD is not a miracle cure…but it sure does help!
At The Tonic Tribe, we believe honesty matters. CBD is not a magic fix. It is not a replacement for proper sleep habits, balanced nutrition, movement, stress management, or medical advice.
And importantly, scientists themselves continue to emphasise that more long-term clinical research is needed. But what makes CBD different from many trend-led wellness products is that there is a growing body of peer-reviewed scientific research investigating its effects seriously and rigorously.
That’s why we always encourage our community to stay curious, informed and evidence-aware rather than chasing every new viral health obsession that appears on TikTok.
Real wellness is rarely about extremes. Often, it’s about supporting the body consistently, gently and intelligently. And sometimes, the best thing we can do is return to the basics:
- quality sleep
- nervous system regulation
- hydration
- whole foods
- movement
- and giving the body the support it actually needs, not just what algorithms are selling this week
Scientific references you may find useful…
Use of cannabidiol in the management of insomnia
Published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research (2023). This is one of the best overall reviews specifically on CBD and insomnia. Key findings: CBD may improve sleep in some people, especially when anxiety is contributing to insomnia, but larger clinical trials are still needed.
Cannabinoid therapies in the management of sleep disorders
Published in Sleep Medicine Reviews. This is a highly respected review paper. Discusses: CBD, THC, circadian rhythm, REM sleep, anxiety reduction, sleep latency and sleep architecture.
Cannabinoids and sleep: exploring biological mechanisms and therapeutic potentials
Excellent for understanding: how CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, stress hormones, inflammation, neurotransmitters, and sleep regulation pathways. 2024 Review: Cannabinoids and Sleep Mechanisms
Cannabinoid treatments for anxiety
Published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. Key findings: CBD showed anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects in several studies, reduced anxiety may improve sleep quality, dose matters significantly.
CBD and the endocannabinoid system
The ECS regulates: sleep, mood, appetite, stress response, immune signaling, and some endocrine activity. The 2024 review explains this well. CBD, ECS, and Sleep Regulation Mechanisms
PubMed search portal is the best direct medical database
You can search terms like: CBD insomnia, cannabidiol sleep, CBD cortisol, cannabidiol anxiety, endocannabinoid hormone regulation
In conclusion, the research currently suggests:
CBD may help sleep indirectly by reducing anxiety, pain, hyperarousal, inflammation, stress. But, it is worth considering that results vary by dose, formulation matters, THC contamination changes outcomes and long-term evidence is still limited. Also, in many scientific tests, they use CBD isolate and not full spectrum CBD derived directly from plants.
Hormone regulation claims are not yet strongly proven clinically, though there is mechanistic evidence involving cortisol, serotonin, the HPA axis and endocannabinoid signaling.