According to Medical News Today, 30% of adults in the US have acute insomnia and 10% suffer from chronic sleep issues.
Amidst all the medications and sleep therapy sessions, Cannabis has come forward as a possible cure for the disorder. It is known to reduce anxiety and stress, and induce sleep.
But does it actually work, or does it aggravate the situation even further? Let’s find out. The reason why is that it restores your natural sleep cycle by working with your body.
Cannabis and Sleep
Insomnia is a condition wherein the person finds it difficult to fall or remain asleep. Some possible reasons for this disorder are poor sleeping habits, stress, depression, illness, or medication. An individual’s ability to function normally is deeply affected during this period.
For years now, Cannabis is being widely used to treat insomnia. Also known as marijuana, the medicinal benefits of this herb are not something we are unaware of. Though the name ‘marijuana’ has negative connotations in society, studies show it can be used to induce sleep in users. Many marijuana strains are said to promote sleep and combat insomnia.
What’s the science behind this?
Cannabis contains a chemical called Cannabinoid THC. It acts as a sedative and is responsible for making you fall asleep. Its active compound terpenes are also known for their sleep-boosting abilities. They have a therapeutic effect on the body and also reduce pain and inflammation.
Terpenes work by activating the body’s GABA system. Gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid that works as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. It inhibits the neural activity in the brain and body to induce sleep. It calms your mind and reduces stress and anxiety significantly.
Cannabidiol (CBD) takes on insomnia by reducing pain and anxiety. It relaxes your mind and body to calm you down. This makes it easier for you to fall asleep.
CBD keeps you alert by reducing daytime drowsiness. This balances your sleep-wake cycle which is important to treat insomnia. Also, it does so without making you feel ‘high’.
What does the research say?
There are numerous types of research performed over the years that prove the potency of Cannabis to treat insomnia. Here’s what they have to say:
A 2018 study talked about the usage of raw, natural medical cannabis flowers to treat insomnia under naturalistic conditions. 409 insomniac participants completed 1056 medical cannabis administration sessions. They were monitored using the Releaf App. There was a significant development in the condition of the patients using the Cannabis flower. Some patients are at a loss on what to buy and need a Nature Bloom guide to help.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound of Cannabis stimulates the brain cells to release dopamine. This creates a feeling of euphoria or ‘high’ in the user.
Another 2008 study states that a high amount of THC in a Cannabis strain reduces the amount of REM sleep in the user. REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement that occurs while you are dreaming.
THC limits dreams while sleeping which is beneficial for PTSD patients. It means their ‘nightmares’ reduce as their sleep quality improves. The result is deep sleep with fewer disturbances.
What should you do when cannabis acts as a sleep disturbance?
Cannabis is special because it is used for both medicinal and recreational purposes. It provides a euphoric feeling and elevates your spirit. But to experience these effects, you probably need to take a higher dose of the strain.
However, one should know where to draw a line. Ingesting too much marijuana at once without any guidance can cause anxiety issues. This, in turn, disrupts your sleep pattern and leads to insomnia.
If that is the case with you, a good solution is to follow a detox program. Detoxification is a process wherein all the harmful toxins including the residues of marijuana are flushed out of your body.
It can be done naturally or with the help of various THC detox supplements, according to this fact sheet. It is a 10-12 days program that fully cleanses your body. You can extend it according to your preference.
Once these foreign toxic substances are cleaned out, your natural sleep pattern is restored. A better quality of sleep in turn promotes your overall health and mental well-being.
Conclusion
Taking into account the facts and research, we conclude that Cannabis may help treat insomnia if taken in appropriate doses. Do not consume more than the suggested dose as it can worsen the problem and cause other health ailments.
To be on the safe side, it is always recommended to consult your doctor before using Cannabis as a sleep aid. Keeping in mind your health status they would know better if it would actually be beneficial for you.
The legalization of Cannabis and its acceptance as a legitimate medicinal compound has elevated its importance for sure. But there is still a lot of ground to cover if we are to unravel its full potency.
When we talk of sleep, out of the two varieties of Cannabis, Indica is considered better for that purpose. Its intake facilitates a quick sleep and ensures it stays restful.
Don’t rely, however, on any sleep medication to cure insomnia. Prescription and nonprescription sleep medications are only intended for occasional, short-term use.
If you continue to have insomnia, talk to your healthcare provider or consider consulting with one of our board-certified providers, who specializes in sleep disorders.
Established as the first independent diagnostic testing facility sleep clinic in Alaska in 2002, Alaska Sleep Clinic has grown to 4 locations and 13 beds. Alaska Sleep Clinic is the most comprehensive sleep clinic in Alaska. Contact us today @ 907-420-0540 for your FREE sleep assessment.
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Dr. Wright is the Medical Director for the Alaska Sleep Clinic’ s Soldotna location and is also currently Medical Director at the Minnesota Sleep Institute Sleep Disorders Center in Woodbury, MN.
In addition to comprehensive training in sleep medicine his expanded areas of interest include; clinical research and is the Principal Investigator at the Woodbury Clinical Research site.
Among his many accomplishments he has been awarded the Henry Christian Award for Excellence in Research by the American Federation for Clinical Research as well as the Will Rogers Memorial Foundation Research Fellowship.
Beyond the clinical setting he enjoys traveling, academics and spending time with his family.
