| Reader, Most of Big Pharma's sleeping pills are an embarrassing flop.
They just don't work.
Studies show that if you take a sleep aid, you might get an additional 30 minutes of shuteye.1
Another study underwritten by the National Institutes of Health found popular prescription sleeping pills only give you about 11 minutes of extra sleep.2
Just 11 to 30 minutes — and in exchange, you expose yourself to a host of serious side effects. I'm talking about memory loss, rapid heartbeat, depression, and muscle cramps, among others.
And did I mention many of these drugs are quite addictive?
Patients trying to get off them experience "rebound insomnia." Their sleep problems end up worse than whatever drove them to take the pills in the first place.
But you don't have to take Big Pharma's addictive sleep meds. There are plenty of safe, natural sleep-aid alternatives that are quite effective.
I frequently recommend CBD for my sleep-deprived patients. It works so well that it might put Big Pharma's pill mills out of business.  Taking CBN before bed reduces the number of times you'll wake up during the night. | But CBD has a powerful "cousin" that doesn't get the attention it deserves…
I'm talking about cannabinol, or CBN.
This newly discovered cannabinoid is proving to be a powerful sleep agent because it interacts with special receptors in your body that cause sedation.
In a brand-new study published in the journal Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, researchers followed 293 adults, aged 18-55, who rated their sleep quality as "poor" or "very poor."3
Half the group was given CBN, and the other half took a placebo.
The study showed that taking 20 mg of CBN significantly reduced the number of times participants woke up during the night and enhanced overall sleep disturbance, indicating a more restful night's sleep.
The study also found no significant difference in daytime fatigue between the CBN and placebo groups, suggesting that CBN improves sleep without causing daytime drowsiness.
In a second study, researchers looked at the sleep cycles of rats – including REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM (NREM) sleep.4
They found that CBN increased both REM and NREM, leading to increased total sleep time and improved sleep quality.
The results were as effective as the Big Pharma sleep aid Ambien, but without the dangerous side effects.
As you know, Ambien can cause dizziness, headache, depression, and anxiety. It can lead to suicidal thoughts, memory loss, and hallucinations.
Some people report sleep-walking, and even unconscious sleep-eating or sleep-driving.
And because the drug stays in their system longer, elderly patients have increased risks. This includes cognitive and balance issues… next-day drowsiness… drug dependence… and dementia.
CBN is a byproduct of THCA, which is a precursor to THC.
But CBN does not produce intoxicating effects.
It works by binding to CB1 receptors but at only one-tenth the strength of THC.
A friend of mine who tried it said it worked so quickly he couldn't even get upstairs to bed and ended up sleeping peacefully on the living room couch all night.
I tried it, and I agree it works faster than anything I've taken before. But unlike my friend, I was able to get into bed before it kicked in.
While the participants in the study I mentioned took 20 mg, I recommend taking 10 mg about an hour before bed. If it's not enough, take another 10 mg. 2 More Natural Aids To Help You
Fall Asleep And Stay Asleep CBN is a great natural product for helping sleep soundly and deeply all night long. But if you need help falling asleep fast, I recommend adding a couple of natural sleep aids that work together with CBN to help you get a good night's rest. - Take A Tiny Amount Of Melatonin. Most people take way too much of this hormone. An MIT study shows you only need 0.3 mg for restful sleep. The usual dosage recommendation of melatonin is 10 times that amount. And taking too much causes receptors in the brain to become unresponsive.5
I suggest using a liquid or spray about a half an hour before bed. I also suggest using a liquid or spray. They're faster acting than the pills because they hit your bloodstream more quickly.
- Get More Magnesium. Many people diagnosed with sleeping disorders are deficient in this mineral. Magnesium promotes better sleep by helping to regulate the nervous system and promote muscle relaxation. It does this by activating GABA receptors, which calm the nervous system. Magnesium also plays a role in regulating melatonin.
I recommend supplementing with 1,000 mg a day. The most absorbable forms are magnesium citrate, glycinate taurate, or aspartate. Take it with vitamin B6 to increase the amount of magnesium that accumulates in your cells.
To Your Good Health, 
Al Sears, MD, CNS
References: - Cleveland Clinic. "Sleeping Pills." my.clevelandclinic.org. Accessed on June 24, 2025.
- Saul, S. "Sleep drugs found only mildly effective, but wildly popular." www.nytimes.com. Accessed on June 24, 2025.
- Bonn-Miller M, et al. "A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of the safety and effects of CBN with and without CBD on sleep quality." Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2024 Jun;32(3):277-284.
- Arnold J, et al. "A sleepy cannabis constituent: cannabinol and its active metabolite influence sleep architecture in rats." Neuropsychopharmacology. 2025 Feb;50(3):586-595.
- Brzeszinski A, et al. "Effects of exogenous melatonin on sleep: A meta-analysis." Sleep Med Rev. 2005;9(1):41-50.
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