Jan Bo Timming, CEO & Founder of Swiss Original Cannabis believes it can.
Located in Alpine Switzerland, the small company has spent the last 18 months working with a partner to develop a cannabis oil with a high CBN content and just the right blend of cannabis terpenes.
The aim is to replace the traditional sleeping pill with nature’s own medicine, which causes far fewer side effects than the prescription sleeping pill which can be difficult to obtain from the doctor. Doctors have every reason to be cautious, however, as the traditional sleeping pill is highly addictive and comes with a plethora of side effects.
Many are now turning to CBN for help with sleep, and it is increasing in popularity. Swiss Original Cannabis expects to have its CBN product, specifically focused on sleep assistance, in shops by November 2020.
On a mission
As an entrepreneur, Jan Bo Timming knows all too well the importance of a good night’s sleep. While you’re sleeping, your body restores its natural balance in readiness for the challenges of the coming day – inside as well as outside of the workplace, where fitness training for many is an integral part of their daily life.
In 2019, Megafon conducted a survey for Danish daily, Politiken, on Danes’ sleeping habits. Here, a staggering 60 per cent reported experiencing some degree of insomnia within the last 14 days, while just under a third said they generally don’t get enough sleep. This clearly illustrates the growing problem that Jan Bo Timming is determined to address, so that people can feel re-energised and return to enjoying a full everyday life.
What is CBN?
CBN stands for cannabinol and is a cannabinoid just like CBD. However, the cannabis plant has a very low CBN content. Extraction is therefore very expensive, as it requires many cannabis flowers to produce a relatively small CBN yield. Unsurprisingly, it is also referred to as the Rolls Royce of cannabinoids on account of the vast number of resources needed to produce CBN oil.
Unlike the psychoactive substance THC, CBN is a non-psychoactive substance and does not give the user the feeling of being ‘high’. CBN is somewhat similar to CBD, which is also a non-psychoactive substance. So, if you’re looking for the next cannabinoid to get you high, CBN is not for you. With that said, CBN has some truly interesting properties and potentially life-changing benefits for the user.
Why is CBN thought to be good for sleep?
Researchers highlight CBN’s calming and relaxing effect as being incredibly promising and revolutionary, especially at a time when we are seeing an increase in people who suffer from sleep problems that affect their daily wellbeing. CBN could play a pivotal role in combating this unsettling trend.
The research into CBN for sleep is preliminary but research in mice has shown that CBN can prolong sleep time. The anecdotal evidence is also very promising and many are using CBN as a sleeping aid. For example, Kara McGrath, journalist for Bustle, took CBN oil for a month to see how it affected her sleep. She typically had trouble sleeping through the night but found that taking the CBN oil helped her sleep more deeply and would continue to use it on occasion.
There is also existing research which suggests that CBN has pain-relieving properties, which could certainly have an impact on ability to sleep and quality of sleep for those suffering from pain. A 2019 study on rats found that CBN relieved pain and the authors concluded that CBN might be able to soothe pain in people with chronic conditions.
What are the benefits of using CBN for sleep?
The key benefit of CBN as a sleeping aid is the reduced risk of addiction. Many opioid-based pain relief products cause serious side effects and increase the risk of addiction – especially in young people. CBN is thus one of the most effective and natural sleeping aids. As mentioned earlier, unlike THC, CBN leaves you clear-headed and ready to face the day.
Are there any disadvantages to using CBN for sleep?
The main drawback of CBN is its limited availability. It is simply not available in the same quantities as many of its cousins, as large-scale manufacturing of CBN is incredibly resource-intensive.
While a cannabis plant contains up to 30 per cent CBD or THC, CBN content is usually less than 1 per cent. Many more plants are therefore required to produce a CBN oil compared to a CBD oil – a fact clearly reflected in the price.
However, Jan Bo Timming is determined to ensure that everyone – regardless of income – has access to CBN in some form, which is why Swiss Original Cannabis will soon be releasing their anticipated and thoroughly researched CBN sleep aid product.
